$600,000 Spent On Undergrounding Consultants

Josh Horning from engineering firm Kimley-Horn answers questions about the proposed utility undergroudning project, March 19, 2019. (Key News/Tony Winton)

As Key Biscayne leaders consider a plan to bury the village’s power and telephone lines, they learned Tuesday what they’ve spent so far: about $500,000 to engineering firm Kimley-Horn and another $100,000 to Raftelis, which is developing an assessment methodology.  

Kimley-Horn officials say the project will cost $46 million in three phases. The firm is hoping to be selected to oversee the project, but Village Council members had many questions. Even so, the council scheduled a vote April 9 for up to  another $350,000 to pay for a binding estimate from Florida Power and Light and a survey.

With the numbers mounting, some council members’ frustration was evident.  “I will not pay any more taxpayers’ money, not one cent more,” for further consulting, said Council Member Luis Lauredo.

Council Member Ed London took issue with the phased approach, and also said he preferred a “design-build” methodology for hiring contractors instead of using Kimley-Horn to supervise the work. Design-build “in most cases is far superior, it’s far quicker, it’s more economical, and of course, the problem is, it eliminates people like you,” London said to lead Kimley-Horn representative Josh Horning.

Vice Mayor Allison McCormick listens to fellow council members as they debate the utility undergrounding project, March 19, 2019. (Key News/Tony Winton)

Horning replied that design-build may not be any faster in this case, because any contractor would have to wait while utility providers like AT&T and Comcast design their own portions of the underground system. “They move at their own pace,” Horning said.

While the debate about the project’s design and implementation continued, the council also heard from residents and property owners on opposite sides of the proposed funding method.  The Underground Utilities Task Force recommended using a new “assessment” method developed by Raftelis instead of traditional property taxes that have been used for other public works projects, but that approach has proven controversial.  Village Manager Andrea Agha has said staff is also working to come up with alternatives, including a “hybrid” system, for the council’s later consideration.