Council takes care of City business at September 10 meeting

 

Members of the Globe City Council: Mayor Al Gameros, Vice Mayor Mike Stapleton (District 4), and Council members Freddy Rios (District 1), Mike Pastor (District 2), Jesse Leetham (District 3), Mariano Gonzalez (District 5), and Fernando Shipley (District 6). All members were in attendance at this meeting.

This Council meeting didn’t have any large issues or presentations, so we’re focusing in more on the details of the smaller matters that were discussed. We hope this will be interesting for people who would like to know more about how the City Council does its job.

Cottonwood Bridge Project delays cause cost overruns

Public Works Director Luis Chavez presented to council about the status of the Cottonwood Bridge project, which has encountered cost overruns requiring the allocation of an additional $70,000 in funds. This funding covers unexpected expenses related to construction delays and adverse weather conditions.

The Cottonwood Bridge Project is primarily supported by a federal grant, but the city is responsible for any cost overruns. These overruns resulted from two major factors: a delay in obtaining a right of entry permit from the Arizona Eastern Railway and an unexpected flooding event that stalled construction.

“For us, the best interest of the project was seeing your bridge get completed. We definitely didn’t want to have a situation where there’s no bridge.”

According to the construction contractor, the delay in receiving the necessary permit from the railway resulted in the contractor being pushed into an unfavorable construction timeline. Heavy rains in late March caused Globe’s creek to flood, inundating the worksite. By then, the contractor had already removed the old bridge and begun installing the rebar and forms for the new bridge. 

The flood not only halted progress for five weeks but also damaged the partially completed construction, forcing the contractor to redo much of the work, including re-excavating and reinstalling materials.

The contractor initially claimed more than $400,000 in additional costs due to these delays. After negotiations, the claim was reduced to $167,420, most of which will be covered by federal funding. The city, however, remains responsible for the final $70,000 to close out the project. The funds are coming from monies that were already allocated to the bridge through a special appropriation, according to City Manager Paul Jepson.

Daybreak waterline to get hydrants

Council approved providing an additional $31,385 to add three fire hydrants to the Daybreak waterline, through a contract with Scholz Contracting.

This project had been a high priority for the city’s water department due to ongoing issues with the waterline infrastructure. In May, Schultz Contracting was awarded the contract to execute the work. Construction is now approximately 60% complete on the Fourth Street waterline portion, with the focus shifting towards the Daybreak section.

City officials realized during the early stages of the project that fire hydrants had not been included in the initial plans for the Daybreak waterline. This omission was a cause for concern regarding the safety and fire protection for residents in the area. 

Although the Daybreak community is situated in the county, the city is responsible for providing water services to these residents. As a result, the decision was made to add fire hydrants along the line, with each hydrant spaced approximately 500 feet apart to ensure sufficient coverage.

Contract renewals for on-call civil engineering services approved

Council approved several key contract renewals aimed at maintaining momentum on critical public works, water, wastewater, and flood management projects. The contracts for on-call civil engineering services involve three different engineering firms—EUSI LLC, Rick Engineering, and Barnes Engineering LLC—and extend through June 30, 2025, with each contract not exceeding $80,000. Potential grant reimbursements may help offset these costs.

EUSI has been an integral partner for the city, helping ensure regulatory compliance and assisting in a variety of infrastructure projects. Rick Engineering provides both on-call civil engineering support services and on-call engineering survey services, and has been instrumental in developing documentation, grant proposals, and preliminary plans for city projects. The contract for survey services will support small-scale projects such as easement definition and property boundary documentation.

Barnes Engineering LLC specializes in flood management services. Former Globe Public Works Director Jerry Barnes’ expertise has been crucial in managing floodplain areas and ensuring infrastructure projects comply with regulatory standards. Council noted the importance of retaining Barnes for his in-depth knowledge.

On-call contracts allow the city to bypass lengthy procurement processes, enabling quick access to necessary services for infrastructure projects. With pre-approved documentation and certifications in place, city staff can engage contractors efficiently, reducing project delays. The availability of multiple engineering firms ensures that the city can match specific project needs with the most appropriate service provider.

EUSI to provide program management services

Council also approved a task order authorization for EUSI, LLC, for civil engineering and professional support services related to program management, in an amount not to exceed $40,000. The contract will run through June 30, 2025.

Public Works Director John Angulo explained that this is an expansion of the existing contract with EUSI to provide program management services. With the recent addition of Travis Ashbaugh to Globe’s team, the city has reduced the overall budget for this contract, as Travis will take on more leadership in managing projects, reducing reliance on external consultants. Despite this reduction, John highlighted the need for additional services to support the city’s infrastructure projects.

One of the key tasks under this order will be managing the city’s five-year infrastructure plan, which includes crucial water and wastewater services. While the city has been focusing on larger projects like bridges and swimming pools, John emphasized that maintaining core infrastructure is a priority. 

Council approves final payment on Community Pool rehab contract

Council approved two negative change orders to a contract with Structural Preservation Systems, the contractor on the Community Pool rehab project, and also approved the final payment to Structural, bringing the contract to a close.

Negative change orders mean the City will be paying less than expected to Structural.

One negative change order is in the amount of $63,250 and is the result of the city taking on some of the project tasks itself rather than contracting them out. Work left on the punch list from the previous year was addressed during the winte, with city staff and contractors completing tasks that were initially planned for external vendors. 

The second negative change order is in the amount $30,000 and also results from City staff handling various tasks, such as repairing a stucco wall in the staff lounge, installing safety handrails, and completing epoxy flooring in high-traffic areas. 

Council members expressed satisfaction with the quality of the internal work, highlighting improvements such as the front gate, additional handrails, and reinforced bathroom fixtures. The stucco wall was particularly noted for its aesthetic appeal, with some suggesting that it may be a suitable location for future murals. 

The Council also approved a final payment to Structural in the amount of $86,160, contingent on the completion of remaining punch list items, such as minor leaks and technical problems with the pool’s autofill system. Most major punch list items have been completed, and any remaining issues will be addressed under the warranty.

The final payout will close out the pool rehabilitation contract, marking the near-completion of a project that has been a significant undertaking for the city. The Council expressed pride in the community’s involvement and the successful outcome of the pool’s renovation.

Council members also took the opportunity to reflect on the broader success of the pool project. The pool, which reopened in June 2023, has been well-received by the community, with visitors praising its cleanliness, management, and location. 

Council members acknowledge various local contractors, such as Kino Floors, for their roles in the renovation.

The pool is expected to remain open until late October, with decisions on extending the season dependent on weather conditions. City staff are also continuing to improve operations, including offering additional programs such as adult swimming lessons.

Hazardous waste cleanup at Haven building

Council approved an amendment to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation (SGCEDC) to facilitate the cleanup of hazardous waste at the Haven Building. This amendment allows the city and the SHCEDC to seek grant funding for environmental mitigation, a crucial step for the redevelopment of the site.

The Haven Building, now owned by the Southern Gila County Economic Development Corporation, was donated to the organization, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. However, the building requires hazardous waste mitigation, which will be costly. While the MOU initially outlined that the City of Globe would assist with maintenance through the use of existing Brownfield grants, it did not specify the city’s ability to seek additional funding for cleanup through federal programs, like those offered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The amendment explicitly authorizes the city to apply for and secure grant funding on behalf of SHCEDC. This is critical for pursuing cleanup grants from the EPA to address hazardous materials found in the building. SHCEDC, which lacks the resources and expertise to manage such grants and oversee the environmental mitigation, will now rely on the city’s capabilities to handle these aspects.

Council members highlighted the importance of this partnership between the city and the SHCEDC, noting that without the city’s involvement, the necessary cleanup work would not be feasible. They also acknowledged that this amendment represents a significant step forward in revitalizing not just the building but the broader community.

Public comment on sport field lighting

During the public comment portion of the meeting, a letter from Sarah Langston, a recent returnee to the Globe-Miami area, was read aloud. Langston, who now resides in the Miami Gardens area, brought attention to deteriorating lighting conditions at the Globe Community Center’s sports fields. The letter highlighted the potential long-term impacts on community sports if the lighting issue persists. Langston urged Council and staff to inspect the facilities and address the problem. Council could not respond to the letter, but Mayor Gameros suggested staff would look into the issue.

Motions approved

Council also approved motions for the following:

• Accounts payable in the amount of $977,091.52.
• Approving a request for new exterior finishes for the building located at 274 N. Broad Street
• Approving a request to reconstruct the awning on an existing frame for the building located at 190 N. Broad Street

To view this meeting online, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27CeUQ0Yoq8.

To view documents related to this meeting, click here. 

Full minutes can be found by visiting the City Hall website .

The Globe City Council meets every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. The meetings are currently open to the public at 50% capacity. Members of the public are requested to wear a mask except when seated. Seating is limited to allow for social distancing.

Members of the public can also participate in City of Globe public meetings by viewing the meeting live on YouTube. To view the Council meeting live stream, go to the City of Globe’s YouTube channel (search for City of Globe Arizona). Or click on the “Live Stream on YouTube” link at the top of www.globeaz.gov.

To speak to agenda items before or during the meeting, call or text (928) 200-0154 or email council@globeaz.gov. If you desire to speak to the Council during an agenda item.