Resolution FPRA 19-01  Appointing two (2)  At Large members to the CRA Advisory Committee. 

 

Update on the Request for Qualifications No. 2019-003 Redevelopment of the Former H.D. King Plant Site and selection of shortlist to enter the Request for Proposals phase.


Shyanne Helms, Communications Economic Development Manager, made a presentation to the Board. Ms. Helms provided an overview of the H.D. King Plant Site. She mentioned that the FPRA provided input in regards to their desires. The feedback was consistent and everyone would like to see a hotel with Moore’s Creek connectivity. She also mentioned that they went out into the community to seek additional input, including five (5) King Plant Pop-Up sessions at various locations to get input from community members. Their desires were also consistent with the FPRA’S request.
The review committee began a two-phase solicitation process. Phase 1 includes Request for Qualifications (RFQ). Phase 2 includes Request for Proposal (RFP). The solicitation was distributed on many different websites. They were given ten categories they had to meet in addition to providing a preliminary development project program. The review committee received five submittals. They were Virgin Trains, Audubon Development, BH3 Management, Marina View Partners and Jeanne Arias.
The review committee is requesting that the FPRA Board select a shortlist to enter the RFP Phase. The City and the FPRA will notify the selected respondents and provide a specific RFP to each of the selected respondents. They are seeking seven requirements that include:
1. A conceptual preliminary development plan including a preliminary site plan showing proposed scale, height, and architecture of the proposed development.
2. A detailed description of the manner in which the proposed development plan achieves the goals established in the Fort Pierce Redevelopment Agency Community Redevelopment Plan.
3. A preliminary assessment of the traffic impacts of the proposed development plan.
4. An analysis of the economic feasibility of the preliminary development plan.
5. A description of a proposed financing plan.
6. Proposed property acquisition terms.
7. A preliminary project implementation schedule.
 
Once the FPRA Board selects the shortlist, the invitation letters will be sent to those applicants to notify them that they can enter the RFP Phase.  The responses will be due by April 17, 2019 and the presentations to the FPRA Board will be in May.
The FPRA Board thanked all the applicants and they all agreed to move forward with four of the five submittals that were received. They include Virgin Trains, Audubon Development, BH3 Management, and Marina View Partners.

Commissioner Perona asked that a consultant be hired to help the FPRA Board through the selection process. Nick Mimms, City Manager, explained that consultants will be hired to assist them with the technical expertise that they need. They will hire Financial, Planning and Engineering Consultants. In addition to these experts, an external facilitator will also be hired to walk them through the evaluation, ranking and deliberation process so that the Board can adequately and professionally rank these firms with their proposals. The cost for these professionals will be about $65,000 - $100,000.

Chairwoman Hudson thanked Mr. Mimms for obtaining those professionals because she knows that will help them make the right decision and help give credibility once the right decision is made.

Commissioner Sessions mentioned that he would like to be part of the consultant selection process. The other members of the Board stated that they were comfortable with the consultants that Mr. Mimms selected and they did not wish to be part of that selection process.