CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
WEEKLY MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor MacLean, Councilors and Department Heads
FROM: Jeffrey Kobrock, City Manager
DATE: November 16, 2007
RE: Weekly Memo
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Sidewalk Committee. November 20, 6 p.m., Council Room
Bundled Projects
We have completed the majority of the consultant selection process for the "bundled projects" initiative. This is an innovative strategy to bundle thirteen ongoing projects and solicit an integrated proposal. The individual elements are:
Waterfront Redevelopment - Final Site Plan
Sidewalk Revitalization - Design, Engineering, Inspection
Common Park - Final Site Plan, Capital and Fundraising Plan
Combined Sewer Overflow - Update Master Plan
Citywide Green Space Master Plan
Alternative Transportation Master Plan
Johnson Hall Renovation Project - Fundraising Plan
Gardiner Main Street - Capacity Building Plan
Libby Hill Business Park - Phase II Marketing & Business Plan
Housing Action Plan Update and Implement Action Plan
Citywide Signage Design Plan - Wayfinding, Business Park, waterfront, downtown signage
Comprehensive Infrastructure Project - Funding, Preliminary Engineering, Project Planning
Downtown Access Improvement - Fundraising Plan
We received three proposals for the entire bundle and interviewed all three teams. The review committee of Planning Board Chair Pat Hart, Wastewater Advisory Board Chair Charlie Batchelder and Gardiner Water District Trustee/President Bill Barron ably assisted by Jason Simcock and Chuck Applebee are developing a recommendation for Council consideration.
This bundled project is noteworthy for its creative approach. All of these projects are interrelated, some extra-ordinarily so. By bundling we have achieved:
A far superior product - strengthening the integrated aspect of these projects maximizes community impact.
Significant savings - we bring one consultant team into the City and eliminate the all the redundancy of having multiple consultants investigating similar issues from slightly different perspectives.
Dramatic Staff Efficiencies - by designating a lead consultant City staff are not managing the activities, needs and products of numerous consultants, giving staff the ability to focus on developing the possible products for the community, rather than coordinating consultants.
Gardiner is noted for its creative approaches to problem solving and this is a fairly impressive example. Hooray to Jason, Chuck and the review committee!
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