REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CONSTRUCTION

 

January 16, 2007

 

The Honorable,

The Board of Commissioners of Cook County

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Present:

Chairman Murphy, Vice Chairman Butler, Commissioners Beavers, Gorman, Moreno, Schneider, Silvestri, Sims and Steele (9)

 

Absent:

None (0)

 

Also Present:

 

Bruce Washington – Director, Office of Capital Planning and Policy; Karen Crawford – Executive Assistant to the Director Capital Planning and Policy; Curtis J. Florence – Project Director, Office of Capital Planning and Policy.

 

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

        Your Committee on Construction of the Board of Commissioners of Cook County met pursuant to notice on Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at the hour of 11:30 A.M. in the Board Room, Room 569, County Building, 118 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois.

 

        Your Committee has considered the following items and upon adoption of this report, the recommendations are as follows:

 

 

283663

OFFICE OF CAPITAL PLANNING AND POLICY, by Bruce Washington, Director, transmitting a Communication, dated November 29, 2006:

 

transmitted herewith for your approval is a request for authorization for the Purchasing Agent to advertise for bids for the Countywide Fire & Life Safety System Upgrade Project, Package No. 7 (4th District Campus and the Department of Corrections South Campus Buildings 1 & 4).  It is respectfully requested that this Honorable Body approve this request.

 

Reason: This project provides for the upgrading or replacement of fire detection and alarm systems at these locations.  This work is necessary to replace obsolete equipment and to remain compliant with current building and life safety codes.

 

Bond Issue (20000 Account).

 

Sufficient funds have been appropriated to cover this request.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Construction on December 19, 2006.

 

 

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Vice Chairman Butler, moved the approval of Communication No. 283663. The motion carried.

 

Commissioner Schneider voted No on the above item.

 

283664

OFFICE OF CAPITAL PLANNING AND POLICY, by Bruce Washington, Director, transmitting a Communication, dated November 29, 2006:

 

transmitted herewith for your approval is Amendment No. 6 to the contract with
CCH DESIGN GROUP, the County’s Executive Architect for the
New Cook County Hospital, in the amount of $281,669.49.  It is respectfully requested that this Honorable Body approve this request.

 

Reason:  This amendment provides for final payment and closeout of the professional services contract for the design of Stroger Hospital of Cook County.  The post substantial completion services extended beyond the six months provided for in the contract.  Design professionals were on-site responding to regulatory bodies, resolving contractor questions, and performing construction observation through December 2002, the month the hospital opened.  The contract could not be closed out until final disposition of all related claims.  This budget was approved by the Board of Commissioners on June 22, 1994.

 

                                                Contract No. 96-43-190

 

                  Original Contract Sum:                                             $15,592,000.00

                  Total Changes to-date:                                                 5,700,463.00

                  Adjusted Contract to-date:                                        $21,292,463.00

                  Amount of this Modification:                                             281,669.49

                  Adjusted Contract Sum:                                           $21,574,132.49

 

Estimated Fiscal Impact:  $281,669.49.  Bond Issue (22000 Account).

 

Sufficient funds have been appropriated to cover this request.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Construction on December 19, 2006.

 

Commissioner Silvestri inquired whether CCH-Design Group had the authority to continue to perform the services at Stroger Hospital after the contract had expired.

 


Bruce Washington, Director, Office of Capital Planning and Policy responded the following:  Additional work was to be performed after the contract had expired, and the Office of Capital Planning instructed CCH-Design Group to remain on site and address all questions that were presented by the State and regulatory agencies in meeting the compliance of the structure that was constructed.

 

After discussion of the item Commissioner Silvestri suggested to the Chairman that the item needs additional review of the documents by which the administration is trying to pay the contract.  Commissioner Silvestri stated that he is reluctant to pay the $281,669.49 for a contract that expired even under Mr. Washington’s explanation in December of 2002.

 

Chairman Murphy asked Commissioner Silvestri to make a motion to defer the item.

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Sims, moved to Defer Communication No. 283664.

 

Mr. Washington called upon Karen Crawford, Executive Assistant to the Director of Capital Planning and Policy to add additional insight on the item.

 

Karen Crawford, Executive Assistant to the Director of Capital Planning and Policy, stated that the standard contract for services provides in it that it stipulates that the County can request for additional services; and in this case the Office of Capital Planning and Policy requested for additional services so that CCH-Design Group could continue performing duties necessary for opening the hospital.  Further, Ms. Crawford stated that the $281,669.49 falls within the amount of contingency that is available on the professional service contract.

 

Chairman Murphy raised a concern as to why the County is just receiving an invoice in 2007 when the work was completed in 2002.

 

Mr. Washington stated that it should be noted that the Office of Capital Planning and Policy suspended the services do to a number of errors of omission that the County was looking at the consultant.  The Office of Capital Planning and Policy did not want to make any payments until the errors of omission was reviewed and satisfied by the County.

 

Commissioner Silvestri asked if the County was satisfied.

 

Mr. Washington responded in the affirmative.  The Office of Capital Planning and Policy brought an item before the County Board where the County was awarded approximately $17 million dollars; once the County received those funds, and then the Office of Capital Planning and Policy moved forward to process the close-out of the contract.

 

Commissioner Silvestri inquired whether it would impose a problem by deferring the item until the next construction committee meeting, so that the committee can receive more information regarding this item.

 

Mr. Washington asked what type of information the committee is looking for.

 


Chairman Murphy stated that the committee would like a copy of the contract and the process by which the Office of Capital Planning arrived at this point.

 

In closing, Commissioner Silvestri stated that there is no legal authority for the County to pay the $281,669.49, due to the fact that there was no contract, no extension of contract and it appears that the Office of Capital Planning and Policy did not seek permission from the President and the Board of Commissioners to do this.  That is why he is asking for the deferral so that the commissioners can have an opportunity to look at the contract and speak to the State’s Attorney, and makes sure that the County has legal basis by which to pay the $281,669.49.

Commissioner Moreno recommended authorizing payment subject to the State’s Attorneys approval of this payment.

 

Commissioner Silvestri withdrew his motion to Defer Communication No. 283664.

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Steele, moved the Approval of Communication No. 283664, subject to receiving an opinion from the State’s Attorney’s Office, that such payment is legally acceptable and advisable.  The motion carried.

 

Commissioner Schneider voted No on the above item.

 

283665

OFFICE OF CAPITAL PLANNING AND POLICY, by Bruce Washington, Director, transmitting a Communication, dated November 29, 2006:

 

transmitted herewith for your approval is Change Order No. 1 to the contract with SIMPSON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC., contractor for the Kitchen/Cafeteria Renovation Project at the Criminal Courts Administration Building.  It is respectfully requested that this Honorable Body approve this request.

 

Reason:  This change order provides for mold remediation in contaminated areas found in the kitchen and bathroom areas. This is an unforeseen condition that could not be identified until after demolition had started and wall areas were exposed.  This remediation will include the encapsulation of the affected areas until condition assessments can be conducted and the contaminated drywall is abated and removed.

 

Contract No. 06-53-420

 

                  Original Contract Sum:                                           $1,802,000.00

                  Total Changes to-date:                                                           0.00

                  Adjusted Contract to-date:                                     $1,802,000.00

                  Amount of this Modification:                                          44,488.00

                  Adjusted Contract Sum:                                         $1,846,488.00

 

Estimated Fiscal Impact:  $44,488.00.  Bond Issue (20000 Account).

 

Sufficient funds have been appropriated to cover this request.

*Referred to the Committee on Construction on December 19, 2006.

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Moreno, moved the Approval of Communication No. 283665. The motion carried.

 

283666

OFFICE OF CAPITAL PLANNING AND POLICY, by Bruce Washington, Director, transmitting a Communication, dated November 29, 2006:

 

transmitted herewith for your approval is Change Order No. 9 to the contract with THE LOMBARD COMPANY, contractor for the Renovation of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Offices at the Criminal Court Administration Building.  It is respectfully requested that this Honorable Body approve this request.

 

Reason:    This change order will provide for the removal and installation of new carpeting in the law library thus bringing uniformity to the renovated 12th floor space.

 

Contract No. 04-53-686

 

                  Original Contract Sum:                                           $2,475,000.00

                  Total Changes to-date:                                                114,006.27

                  Adjusted Contract to-date:                                     $2,589,006.27

                  Amount of this Modification:                                          36,897.00

                  Adjusted Contract Sum:                                         $2,625,903.27

 

Estimated Fiscal Impact:  $36,897.00.  Bond Issue (20000 Account).

 

Sufficient funds have been appropriated to cover this request.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Construction on December 19, 2006.

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Moreno, moved the Approval of Communication No. 283666. The motion carried.

 


 

284048

OFFICE OF CAPITAL PLANNING AND POLICY, by Bruce Washington, Director, transmitting a Communication, dated December 22, 2006:

 

Transmitted herewith for your approval is Amendment No. 2 to the contract with TRICOR SECURITY GROUP, INC. in the amount of $78,995.00 for temporary security services at the Hawthorne Warehouse.  It is respectfully requested that this Honorable Body approve this request.

 

The County is still transitioning into its use of this facility and the long term security needs are currently being finalized.  It is recommended that existing services be extended until a long term security plan is executed. This amendment will provide for a time extension of existing services for the period of January 1, 2006 2007 through June 30, 2006 2007.

 

 

 

Reason:   This vendor currently provides twelve (12) hours per day Monday through Friday and twenty-four (24) hours per day Saturday and Sunday coverage of the interior, exterior entranceway and parking lot.  Extending this service will provide for the safety of staff inside and outside of the facility, as well as the protection of the County Clerk’s election equipment.

 

                  Original Contract Sum:                                              $  24,750.00

                  Total Changes to-date:                                                  16,296.00

                  Adjusted Contract to-date:                                        $  41,046.00

                  Amount of this Modification:                                          78,995.00

                  Adjusted Contract Sum:                                            $120,041.00

 

Estimated Fiscal Impact:  $78,995.00.  Bond Issue (20000 Account).

 

Sufficient funds have been appropriated to cover this request.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Construction on January 9, 2007.

 

Commissioner Sims inquired as to how many employees are employed at the facility.

 

Curtis J. Florence, Project Director, Office of Capital Planning and Policy, responded the following:  There are two employees at the facility, one inside the facility and one outside the facility in a vehicle.

 

Chairman Murphy inquired if the employees were full time.

 

Mr. Florence stated that they run three shifts (six hours each) inside the facility, and one employee on the outside.

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Moreno, moved the Approval of Communication No. 284048. The motion carried.

 

Commissioner Schneider voted No on the above item.

 

284049

OFFICE OF CAPITAL PLANNING AND POLICY, by Bruce Washington, Director, transmitting a Communication, dated December 19, 2006:

 

Transmitted herewith for your approval is Change Order No. 2 to the contract with FHP TECTONICS CORPORATION, contractor for the Countywide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Study & Renovations - Phase II.  It is respectfully requested that this Honorable Body approve this request.

 

Reason     This change order provides for bathroom, electrical, and other miscellaneous modifications that resulted from unforeseen conditions that were not exposed until the construction phase of this project.

 

Contract No. 04-53-717

 

                  Original Contract Sum:                                           $4,474,000.00

                  Total Changes to-date:                                                 -47,985.65

                  Adjusted Contract to-date:                                     $4,426,014.35

                  Amount of this Modification:                                          57,212.42

                  Adjusted Contract Sum:                                         $4,483,226.77

 

Estimated Fiscal Impact:  $57,212.42.  Bond Issue (20000 Account).

 

Sufficient funds have been appropriated to cover this request.

 

*Referred to the Committee on Construction on January 9, 2007.

 

Commissioner Silvestri, seconded by Commissioner Moreno, moved the Approval of Communication No. 284049. The motion carried.

 

Commissioner Silvestri moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Moreno.  The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned.

 


YOUR COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING ACTION WITH REGARD TO THE MATTERS NAMED HEREIN:

 

Communication Number 283663                               Approved

 

Communication Number 283664                               Approved - subject to receiving an opinion from the                                                                                      State’s Attorney’s Office

 

Communication Number 283665                               Approved

 

Communication Number 283666                               Approved

 

Communication Number 284048                               Approved

 

Communication Number 284049                               Approved

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Committee on Construction

 

 

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Joan Patricia Murphy, Chairman

 

 

Attest:

 

 

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Matthew B. DeLeon, Secretary