LEGISLATIVE ACTION ITEM
SPONSOR: D.C. Reeves, Mayor
SUBJECT:
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MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT RELATED TO THE CHAPPIE JAMES FLIGHT ACADEMY AND MUSEUM BUILDING EXPANSION PROJECT
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RECOMMENDATION:
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That City Council approve the memorandum of agreement between and among the City of Pensacola, Chappie James Museum of Pensacola, Inc., and General Daniel “Chappie” James Flight Academy, Inc. to store classroom and office equipment purchased by the Flight Academy at a climate-controlled City facility during the construction period of the Flight Academy and Museum building expansion project. Additionally, the City agrees to make the Chappie James Flight Academy financially whole in the sum of $125,158.44 in the event the expansion project fails to take place.
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HEARING REQUIRED: No Hearing Required
SUMMARY:
Chappie James Museum of Pensacola, Inc. applied for a grant in the amount of $470,000 for the expansion of the the Museum and Flight Academy in 2021. In July of 2022 the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) entered into an agreement with the Museum to serve as the fiscal agent for this expansion project under the CRA. The award and execution of the grant was delayed until late 2022, which caused a delay in entering an agreement with the City which was between March and May of 2023 with the City serving as the project and grant managers of the project.
Bidding is currently underway for the expansion project with bids due July 30th.
Chappie James Flight Academy Inc., a co-inhabitant of the building, received a grant award in 2022 that was set to expire in August of 2023 to purchase classroom/office equipment designated to coincide with the expansion project. The Flight Academy was anticipating the beginning of the bidding and beginning of the construction projects prior to ordering equipment and after unsuccessfully seeking an extension to the original grant agreement reached out to the City for assistance as they were concerned that they would either lose the grant entirely or risk buying equipment they could not use as due to the project delay was a sign it would not occur and that they would be forced to incur a cost adjustment to the funding entity in excess of over $100,000.
Therefore, it is recommended that the City of Pensacola enter into a memorandum of agreement that we are willing to repay their cost in the event to expansion could not take place and that we would then take sole possession of the property in question (all equipment, computers, televisions, etc.) and while the expansion is underway the City agrees to store this equipment at one of the City’s secure, climate-controlled locations.
PRIOR ACTION:
The City of Pensacola CRA has discussed options of storing the equipment for the academy but was unable to come to a solution at the time.
FUNDING:
No funding will be required at this time.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
$125,158.44 in event expansion project fails to occur.
LEGAL REVIEW ONLY BY CITY ATTORNEY: Yes
7/6/2023
STAFF CONTACT:
Kerrith Fiddler, City Administrator
William Boyer, Grants and Special Projects Coordinator
Amy Lovoy, Finance Director
Victoria D’Angelo, CRA Division Manager
Amy Tootle, Public Works Director
James Cook, Deputy Public Works Director
ATTACHMENTS:
1) MOA Flight Academy Storage
2) Chappie James Flight Equipment
PRESENTATION: No end