Palmetto approves seawall contract, work to begin Jan. 12

PALMETTO -- With all obstacles out of the way, Palmetto officials on Monday approved work to begin on several hundred feet of seawall stretching east and west of the Green Bridge, with the most intense work taking place near Riverside Park West.

City commissioners voted unanimously to approve a $346,610 contract with Palmetto-based Quality Marine Construction, as well as an additional 10 percent contingency fund.

With a $3 million Florida Department of Transportation and Southwest Florida Water Management Agency multi modal trail project scheduled to begin after the Feb. 6 Bradenton Area River Regatta, time was of the essence to have the seawall repairs completed. Quality Marine gave a completion schedule within 43 working days compared to an average completion schedule of 120 days submitted by nine other contractors. Punta Gorda's Marine Contracting Group submitted the lowest bid, but its timetable for completion did not match the city's top priority when releasing the request for qualifications.

Marine Contracting Group appealed the city's decision, but lost.

The multi modal trail project is the first phase of a six-phase project worth more than $10 million that will eventually connect the city's entire park system with a red brick paver multi-modal trail featuring historic lighting and new landscaping. The remaining phases were delayed until 2021.

With the multi-modal trail project looming, the city conducted an inspection of the seawall in July only to receive an alarming report that it was in a "near failure" stage. The city issued a public emergency declaration that allowed the city to expedite the project. The scope of work will require an almost complete replacement of the seawall west of the Green Bridge and a new cap on the sections east of the bridge.

Another factor in expediting the project was a $200,000 contract awarded to Reef Innovations to construct what is being called a first of its kind living shoreline, which will be built in the Manatee River about 10 feet away from the seawall. Work on the living shoreline could not begin until seawall repairs began.

The living shoreline will feature man-made materials mimicking a coral reef that will allow marine life and vegetation to thrive. The living shoreline will offer a spectacular view of the river's ecosystem, especially when further improvements at Riverside Park West continue with a new facility featuring a concession stand and bait shop, which is still in the design phase. As part of the design, a new upper deck will be built that will allow visitors a better view over the protected mangrove shoreline.

Marine Contracting Group questioned whether Quality Marine Construction could achieve its timetable. City clerk Jim Freeman said Quality Marine will devote its entire workforce to the project and expressed confidence it has the resources to meet the timetable. If not, he said, there will be financial penalties.

According to Section Eight of the contract, "Owner and contractor recognize and agree that this is an emergency procurement, that time is of the essence, that (the city) would suffer financial losses if the agreed time frame is not achieved and that contractor was selected ... due to contractor's timetable. As such, in the event contractor is unable to complete the contract ... contractor will be liable for liquidated damages in an amount equal to $715 per day for each day beyond the completion date."

Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him on Twitter@urbanmark2014.

This story was originally published January 4, 2016 at 9:03 PM with the headline "Palmetto approves seawall contract, work to begin Jan. 12 ."