09 - Agreement with WRA Architects for pre-design services for Love Civic Center Restoration Project

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Item No. 9 Memorandum TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager SUBJECT: Love Civic Center Restoration Project Architecture Firm for Phase I Services DATE: February 8, 2021 BACKGROUND: In 2017, the Chamber of Commerce hired the services of an Architectural Firm to perform an Assessment of the Love Civic Center. This Assessment produced nearly $3 million in potential rehabilitation/restoration work. Working with the City, a ballot measure was produced and the people voted to approve a 2% Hotel Occupancy Tax rate increase (Ord. 2019-023) to fund a $1.5 million bond (Combination Tax and Surplus Revenue Certificates of Obligation) that was later obtained by the City in 2019. Upon my arrival in late April, I was contacted by the Chamber and my assistance was requested to guide them towards next steps. Some initial work from the Assessment (Audio / Visual Equipment) was done by a local entity using Cooperative Purchasing, but the City and Chamber agreed at this time that a re-evaluation needed to take place on how to go about prioritizing the remaining amount of funding and identifying someone, via a procurement process with contract, capable of advising the City and Chamber in making those decisions. After reviewing the remaining items in the initial Assessment, it was decided that an Architectural Firm was needed to assist the City with this task. Pursuant to Texas Government Code 2254, a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was created and sent out. This RFQ was designed to split up the project in to the following two phases: 1. Phase 1 — Consult with the City and Chamber and produce a priority list of tasks based on the Facility Assessment and available funding.