Rehoboth City Hall project moves forward
Rehoboth Beach officials are set to select a construction manager for the proposed $18 million City Hall project.
City officials will approve a contract at the commissioners’ regular meeting, 7 p.m., Friday, March 20, for contractor EDiS Co. to prepare construction and bid documents, solicit bids and manage the construction.
City officials intend to finalize details on the project before seeking voter approval at a referendum in late April or early May. Mayor Sam Cooper said he wants to hold referendums on the City Hall project and the proposed $40 million ocean outfall project at the same time.
Pending voter approval, demolition of the existing City Hall complex is scheduled to begin in November.
“If this project is to remain on the course that we have set forth, with starting construction this fall and this winter, this has to get started,” Cooper said.
Cooper said EDiS would act as the construction manager working with the city and overseeing the project. Cooper said the cost of EDiS’ services would be $2.6 million of the $18 million project and would also include architectural services, improvements to the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center and building temporary facilities.
The city plans to borrow money for the project, requiring a public referendum. City officials have also factored in the potential sale of city-owned property at 306 Rehoboth Ave. to help pay for the project. The value of the property has been estimated at $2 million.
On March 9, architect Mike Wigley presented the last piece to the puzzle: a new building for Rehoboth Beach Main Street and the parking meter department.
The new, 3,500-square-foot building will be built on the site where the two departments now have separate facilities. The parking meter department will have two inside windows for customers to buy parking permits and pay fines. The department will also have a supervisor’s office and a breakout room.
Main Street’s office will feature a main reception area, an office for the executive director and a conference room that can be shared by both departments. Each side of the building will have a separate entrance.
Wigley did not give any timetable for construction or demolition of the existing buildings but said he would prepare a more refined design for the City Hall Master Plan Task Force’s next meeting, which has not yet been scheduled.
EDiS plans to select a contractor for the project Friday, Nov. 13. The convention center would close while construction is ongoing. EDiS has projected the new City Hall to open in January 2017.
City council to meet March 20
In addition to study of City Hall, the Friday, March 20 commissioners meeting will include discussion with Jeff Sturdevant of city engineer GHD on the status of the city’s wastewater outfall project, including upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant and the budget for these projects.
The commissioners will consider adoption of the 2015-16 budget and set a public hearing for an ordinance relating to the merger of lots.
Finally, the commissioners will hear a presentation on the use of audio/visual technologies in the new City Hall building.
