Naples council to consider $120,000 contract for new city hall AC system

Naples City Council is expected to consider a $120,000 contract to design a new heating, ventilation and cooling system for city hall during its regular meeting today.

Council's approval would appropriate $110,605 from the general fund contingency toward the contract with Matern Professional Engineering, Inc. of Maitland Fla, north of Orlando.

The need for a new air conditioning system first came up Monday at a meeting addressing the city's annual capital improvement plan program. The entire system will cost about $620,000 to design and build, staff estimated.

The existing system has slowly failed to cool the more than 35-year-old building where some offices bake in 85 degree heat in the summer months.

At Monday's meeting, Community Services Director Dave Lykins said the city has tried to repair the system over the years but a total replacement is now necessary.

Councilman Gary Price wants to discuss an investment with such a high price tag on a building built in the 1970s.

"We don't know what the state of the building is," he said, adding that he hopes it has as many years left in it as a new air conditioner would.

"It's a large number to be confronted with," he said of the price. "I don't think staff did anything wrong. ... I think it's prudent to get some professionals in there to tell us what's wrong and what we're fixing."

Downtown apartment decision

Council is expected to decide whether or not to allow a downtown architect to add a small apartment onto the side of an existing gallery and office space.

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Naples council to consider $120,000 contract for new city hall AC system