By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
City council members have approved a contract for the rehabilitation of the city’s historic Paul Poag Theatre.
The council voted 7-0 during its regular meeting May 26 to approve a resolution authorizing and directing Interim City Manager Manuel Chavez to award a contract in the amount of $2,529,960 to Jose Ernesto Salazar LLC, doing business as JESCO, for the Paul Poag rehabilitation project.
After City Secretary Mari Acosta read the heading of the agenda item, Mayor Al Arreola asked if there were any questions before he called for a motion.
Arreola added, “I think there were some concerns at the last meeting.”
Councilman J.P. Sanchez commented, “The other day we had a meeting with JESCO, and we had some questions. The council had some questions, and I approached JESCO with our questions, and all the questions were answered satisfactorily. We asked him for some additional information, and he provided it to the city, so I’d like to go ahead and make a motion that we award the contract for the Paul Poag renovation to JESCO.”
Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez gave the second, although several other members of the council also attempted to second Sanchez’s motion.
Arreola asked if there were any comments, then said, “We’ve been waiting three years for this.”
Councilwoman Elsa Reyes said she wished to comment and asked to speak directly to the representative of Able City, the city’s consulting firm on the Paul Poag rehabilitation project.
After Victor Montes, Able City’s representative at the meeting, moved to the podium, Reyes said, “First of all, thank you for the detailed information you provided. … I would like, for clarification and transparency for the citizens, if you could briefly let them know that this is a lot of behind-the-walls construction that’s going to happen. I don’t want people to have the misconception that they’re going to walk in and see new seating and new this and that. It’s the bones that we’re fixing, right?”
Montes responded, “Yes, that’s correct. We had a presentation to the city council about a year ago where we went over what we were going to be performing, the different levels, and, yes, right now we are sticking directly with the necessities. That means just the bare bones, just trying to get all that up and running.
“I think there’s still going to be work needed later on, where we can get the bells and whistles, but first comes meeting all the requirements and getting the building up to code,” Montes added.
“Safety, safety, safety,” Reyes said.
“Yes, correct,” Montes concurred.
Reyes added, “I just wanted to make sure, and I’m so happy that this happened. One, because it’s in my district; two, because, like I said, it was my home in the fall for 25 years.”
Arreola said, “As the mayor, I’m proud to serve with two people that have kind of lived the story on that building, and it’s nice that you are going to raise your hand to get that renovated and ready for the public,” referring to Reyes and Councilman Leno Hernandez Jr.
Hernandez then indicated he wished to comment as well.
Hernandez said, “First, I want to thank Able City for all the hard work that they put into it, the collaboration between them and the city staff. … Everybody was amazing. … I got to review it from the inside out, and so I was excited to see this item get moved from the last meeting so I could vote on it, and that was selfish of me, I know, because a lot of people wanted it done at the last meeting.
“And I’m very proud of this council for doing its due diligence to make sure that we’re doing the right move and moving forward with this project. I’m very excited to work with you and to work with JESCO, and I know Scot (Carcasi, operations and compliance auditor) is going to be on top of it, and thank you, Scot, for being the eyes on a project that’s very, very dear to our hearts and, honestly, my heart for sure, so thank you so much,” Hernandez added.
Hernandez also thanked by name Chavez, Interim Finance Director Roxy Soto and Purchasing Agent/Interim Assistant Finance Director Luis Menchaca.
Councilman LeRoy Briones also commented.
Briones said, “It was an honor to have my first council meeting and talk about something so historic, so I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done, but I also wanted to thank Councilman Sanchez, our new mayor pro tem, because he took the time to have that meeting, and there were a lot of questions that came up. But they weren’t questions because we didn’t want to do it. I think all of us are nervous to spend $2.5 million and then not have the project completed as it’s indicated on paper.
“The questions that we had were recommendations as councilmen and councilwomen, and also for the community, because I know there were some questions around the community, and so I’m glad we were able to do that. I just wanted to thank everybody for that and thank you, Mr. Sanchez,” Briones added.
Reyes then asked Chavez, “Mr. Chavez, will you be able to give us a monthly update on this project, please?”
Arreola said, “We’re all going to put our noses in it.”
“I walk by there almost every day, so I’ll be peeking in the window,” Reyes added.
Chavez responded, “It may not be on a monthly basis, but we will provide some periodic updates.”
Montes added Able City representatives come to the community monthly, take photos of the ongoing work and send those in with their report.
“We’ll be sending those to the city, and they can share those,” Montes said.
Reyes then asked about the scheduled completion date.
Montes replied, “I’m sorry, I don’t have that off the top of my head.”
“What are you guesstimating?” Reyes pressed.
“I think we said eight months,” Montes replied.
Arreola asked Montes to speak to Chavez if the company or contractor needed anything from the council, adding the project has been one of the council’s priority projects for the past two years.
“And the public is ready to hang the mayor first and then the other council members,” Arreola joked.
Hernandez then asked Chavez, “If there is any cost savings that is identified as the project is going on, is that something that can be applied? Does that require any type of action from council? Or can staff do that directly?”
“Are you talking about at the end of the project, if there are any additional funds?” Chavez asked.
When Hernandez replied in the affirmative, Chavez said the project is funded by certificates of obligation.
“So as long as any project fits that requirement, yes, we can utilize them, but we’ll have to wait until the project is complete,” Chavez said.
“But as the project is getting completed, as you’re ripping down stuff and discovering the back of the walls, I know that there are things like change orders, where you’re having to apply more money for something, but if the opposite happens, if they’re able to find savings, is that something that can be done internally?” Hernandez asked.
Menchaca told the council, “Yes, there’s always the possibility in every project of change orders and changes in scope. The amount that Texas law allows us to modify it is up or down 25 percent, so as long as the contract isn’t changed more than 25 percent, up or down, we can always work with the contractor.”
“Without requiring action from council, right?” Hernandez asked.
“The only way we would have to bring it up to council is if it’s over $100,000,” Menchaca replied.
Arreola then asked if there were any other questions and, hearing none, called for the vote.
The council unanimously approved Sanchez’s motion.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
