Consideration and possible action to approve the Professional Services Agreement contracting WGI of Frisco, Texas in the amount of $825,000.00 for the Architectural/Engineering Design of a Parking Structure to be located at S. Austin Ave and 6th Street -- Jennifer Bettiol, CIP Manager; Eric Johnson, Public Works Director

The City of Georgetown entered into a contract with Carl Walker, Inc on December 9, 2014 for the Downtown Parking Study. The final report of the Downtown Parking Study is dated July 2015 and was presented to City Council on August 25, 2015.  Long term recommendations of the study included construction of Parking Structure Facilities.

Carl Walker, Inc was originally the name of the Parking Solution Division of WGI.  After the Downtown Parking Study was complete, the “Carl Walker” name was dropped, and the Parking Solution Division absorbed the name of the parent company, WGI.  The City entered into a contract with WGI on October 2, 2018 to study the feasibility of a parking structure at Main Street and 6th Street.  The results of that report were presented to City Council on January 22, 2019.  In 2021, after WGI conducted a review of several potential locations for a downtown parking garage, City Council identified three locations to consider:

• Tamiro Plaza, southwest corner of 6^th St and S Austin Ave.

• 9^th and Main St, entire square block

• 6^th and Main St, southwest corner

During the March 22, 2022 City Council Workshop, Assistant City Manager Laurie Brewer presented the results of the three sites reviewed by WGI and the City’s Public Engagement efforts.  City Council unanimously agreed to move forward with the land swap for the S Austin Ave and 6^th St site, as well as the procurement of a Professional Services agreement for Architectural and Engineering Design Services.

Given their extensive background in Parking Structure Design, and their extensive background in the specific needs and requirements of the City of Georgetown, we recommend WGI as the most qualified consultant to design the proposed Parking Structure at S. Austin Ave and 6th Street. If approved, the contract for this new location will replace the previously approved contract for design and construction services at the prior location at Main and 6^th Street.

Design phase budget will be $950,000 to include Design, Geotech, Geological Assessment, Replat, Topographic Survey, Asbestos & Demolition of existing structure.

The Downtown Parking Garage is funded through the remaining $140,000 2019 Certificates of Obligation, $7,800,000 American Rescue (ARPA) funds, and future Certificate of Obligation.

 The debt will be served through the property tax rate and from the dedicated tax rate from the Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone.