Board of Estimate and Contract:
RESOLVED, that an Ordinance adopted by the City Council on September 23, 2026, and signed by the Mayor on September 24, 2026, authorizing the Mayor to Enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor Architecture and Engineering, PC for the 4th Street Park Improvements Project - (the cost of the Professional Services Agreement shall be funded through available funding awarded to the City through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Green Infrastructure Grant Program (GIGP) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), subject to the availability and eligibility of such funds); be, and the same is hereby approved.
City Council:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR
TO ENTER INTO A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH PAULUS, SOKOLOWSKI AND
SARTOR ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING, PC
FOR THE 4TH STREET PARK IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT
Whereas, in correspondence dated September 15, 2026, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works (“DPW”) formally requested authorization Mayor, on behalf of the City of Mount Vernon, to enter into and execute a Professional Services Agreement with Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor Architecture and Engineering, PC (“PS&S”) for professional engineering, architectural, design, permitting, bidding, construction administration, field services, and project closeout services in connection with the 4th Street Park Improvements Project, substantially in accordance with the Scope of Services and Fee Proposal, Revision 1, dated August 5, 2026; and
Whereas, the Department of Public Works (“DPW”) has identified the need to advance improvements to 4th Street Park, a City-owned recreational facility of approximately 0.7 acres located within an Environmental Justice Area in the City of Mount Vernon; and
Whereas, 4th Street Park is a historic neighborhood basketball venue that experiences ongoing drainage and ponding problems resulting from poor grading and extensive impervious surfaces, and substantial portions of the property remain underutilized and in need of improvements; and
Whereas, the existing conditions limit the community’s ability to fully utilize 4th Street Park as a safe, accessible, and functional public recreational facility; and
Whereas, the Department of Public Works completed a Green Infrastructure Feasibility Study and developed a community-supported schematic design for the redevelopment and improvement of 4th Street Park; and
Whereas, in December 2025, the Department of Public Works requested authorization to issue Request for Qualifications No. 2025-RFQ-001 for the purpose of retaining a qualified professional consulting team to advance the approved schematic design through final design, permitting, bidding, and construction; and
Whereas, following evaluation of the qualifications and submissions received in response to RFQ No. 2025-RFQ-001, the Department of Public Works recommends the selection of Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor Architecture and Engineering, PC (“PS&S”) to provide the required professional services; and
Whereas, PS&S subsequently met with representatives of the City to further develop and coordinate the scope of services and submitted a revised Scope of Services and Fee Proposal, Revision 1, dated August 5, 2026; and
Whereas, the proposed professional services will advance the project from the approved concept through construction and closeout and are anticipated to include renovated basketball courts, improved pedestrian circulation, ADA accessibility improvements, grading and drainage improvements, and integrated green infrastructure measures designed to address the existing drainage conditions; and
Whereas, the project will also be coordinated with Con Edison’s adjacent geothermal project to ensure appropriate coordination of design, construction, utility, and site activities; and
Whereas, PS&S’s proposed services include project initiation and coordination; existing conditions assessment; design development and preparation of contract documents; permitting and agency coordination; bidding assistance; and construction administration, field services, and project closeout; and
Whereas, the existing conditions assessment will include boundary, topographic, and utility surveys, a tree inventory by certified arborists, a geotechnical investigation consisting of five soil borings and infiltration testing, and a limited soil and groundwater environmental study; and
Whereas, the design and contract document phase will include design submissions at the 35%, 60%, 90%, and final milestones, preparation of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (“SWPPP”), cost estimates, and complete plans and specifications suitable for public bidding; and
Whereas, permitting and agency coordination services will include support for the requirements of the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (“EFC”) Green Infrastructure Grant Program (“GIGP”) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (“OPRHP”) Environmental Protection Fund (“EPF”), New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“NYSDEC”) stormwater permitting, and Westchester County Health Department approval for the proposed new water connection; and
Whereas, bidding assistance will include a pre-bid meeting, responses to bidder questions, preparation of addenda, bid evaluation, and an award recommendation; and
Whereas, construction administration and closeout services will be provided throughout the approximately twelve-month construction period and will include review of submittals and payment applications, weekly and monthly progress meetings, approximately twenty (20) field visits, stormwater inspections, punch-list activities, record drawings, and grant closeout assistance; and
Whereas, the total compensation for the professional services to be provided by PS&S, including estimated reimbursable expenses, shall not exceed Three Hundred Ninety-Four Thousand Dollars ($394,000.00); and
Whereas, the proposed fee consists of $3,200 for Phase 1, $104,200 for Phase 2, $165,400 for Phase 3, $8,700 for Phase 4, $11,500 for Phase 5, $93,000 for Phase 6, and estimated reimbursable expenses of $8,000, for a total not-to-exceed amount of $394,000; and
Whereas, the proposed agreement includes $93,700 in services to be performed by certified Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (“MWBE”) subconsultants, consisting of $78,300 for EnTech Engineering’s geotechnical and environmental evaluation services and $15,400 for Nasco Construction Services’ cost-estimating services, representing approximately twenty-four percent (24%) of the total contract value and exceeding the project’s twenty percent (20%) MWBE participation goal; and
Whereas, the cost of the professional services agreement will be funded through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Green Infrastructure Grant Program and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Environmental Protection Fund; and
Whereas, all work performed under the agreement shall comply with all applicable federal, State, County, and City laws, rules, regulations, grant requirements, procurement requirements, and applicable MWBE participation requirements; and
Whereas, the City Council finds that entering into the proposed professional services agreement with PS&S is in the best interests of the City and will facilitate the timely advancement of the 4th Street Park Improvements project, address long-standing drainage deficiencies, improve accessibility and recreational amenities, and restore and enhance an important neighborhood recreational resource; now, therefore, be it
Section 1. Authorization to Enter into Professional Services Agreement. The City Council of the City of Mount Vernon hereby authorizes the Mayor, on behalf of the City of Mount Vernon, to enter into and execute a Professional Services Agreement with Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor Architecture and Engineering, PC (“PS&S”) for professional engineering, architectural, design, permitting, bidding, construction administration, field services, and project closeout services in connection with the 4th Street Park Improvements Project, substantially in accordance with the Scope of Services and Fee Proposal, Revision 1, dated August 5, 2026.
Section 2. Compensation. The total compensation payable to PS&S pursuant to the Professional Services Agreement shall be an amount not to exceed Three Hundred Ninety-Four Thousand Dollars ($394,000.00), inclusive of all phases of services and estimated reimbursable expenses, unless otherwise authorized in accordance with applicable law and by further action of the City Council where required.
Section 3. Scope of Services. The authorized services shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
1. Project Initiation and Coordination, including project management, scheduling, bi-weekly design meetings, and coordination with the City and adjacent utility and geothermal work;
2. Existing Conditions Assessment, including boundary, topographic, and utility surveys; tree inventory; geotechnical investigation; infiltration testing; and limited soil and groundwater environmental evaluation;
3. Design Development and Contract Documents, including design submissions at the 35%, 60%, 90%, and final milestones, preparation of a SWPPP, cost estimates, plans, and specifications suitable for public bidding;
4. Permitting and Agency Coordination, including support for GIGP and EPF grant requirements, NYSDEC stormwater permitting, and Westchester County Health Department approval for the new water connection;
5. Bidding Assistance, including pre-bid meetings, responses to bidder questions, addenda, bid evaluation, and award recommendations; and
6. Construction Administration, Field Services, and Project Closeout, including review of submittals and payment applications, progress meetings, field inspections and visits, stormwater inspections, punch-list activities, record drawings, and grant closeout.
Section 4. Project Improvements. The project is anticipated to include the redevelopment and enhancement of 4th Street Park, including renovated basketball courts, improved pedestrian circulation, ADA accessibility improvements, grading and drainage improvements, and integrated green infrastructure measures designed to address existing drainage and ponding conditions.
The project shall also be coordinated, as appropriate, with Con Edison’s adjacent geothermal project.
Section 5. MWBE Participation. The City hereby recognizes and approves the proposed participation of certified MWBE subconsultants in connection with the Professional Services Agreement, including:
• EnTech Engineering - geotechnical and environmental evaluation services for approximately $78,300; and
• Nasco Construction Services - cost-estimating services for approximately $15,400.
The anticipated MWBE participation of $93,700, representing approximately twenty-four percent (24%) of the total contract value, exceeds the project’s twenty percent (20%) MWBE participation goal.
Section 6. Funding. The cost of the Professional Services Agreement shall be funded through available funding awarded to the City through the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation Green Infrastructure Grant Program (GIGP) and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), subject to the availability and eligibility of such funds.
All expenditures shall be made in accordance with the applicable grant agreements, funding requirements, procurement requirements, and all other applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Section 7. Mayor Authorized to Execute Documents. The Mayor is hereby authorized to execute the Professional Services Agreement with PS&S and any documents reasonably necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Ordinance, subject to approval as to form by the Corporation Counsel and compliance with all applicable procurement, grant, and legal requirements.
Section 8. No Additional Authority for Material Modifications. Any material modification to the scope of services or any increase in the authorized compensation beyond the $394,000.00 not-to-exceed amount shall require such additional authorization as may be required by law, including further action by the City Council where applicable.
Section 9. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any other provision or application of this Ordinance that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Ordinance are declared severable.
Section 10. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council and subsequent approval by the Board of Estimate and Contract.