Councilman Tanner Sayers introduced Pizzuti Solutions and Bradley Payne advisers and asked them to brief the council and the public on next steps for Mount Vernon's multi‑facility municipal buildings program.

Jim Russell, managing Pizzuti Solutions, described the owner's‑representative role the firm would play if contracted: overseeing project planning, budgeting, scheduling, and peer review of architects' and contractors' work; enforcing an Owner's Program of Requirements (OPR) at each design phase; and signing off on design submittals to prevent design creep. Russell said Pizzuti emerged from a qualifications process with nine respondents and has already advised on early design decisions, site work and selection of BKV as the design architect and the chosen construction manager at risk for the police station.

Andrew “Andy” (Bradley Payne advisers) told council the firm is preparing a five‑year affordability forecast and debt capacity analysis to inform how the city could pay for the projects. He outlined options the city could pursue — public bonds, bank placements, federal or state loan programs, or grants — and described the municipal advisor role under post‑2008 SEC guidance recommending an independent advisor separate from underwriters. Andy said the firm is modeling income‑tax and assessed valuation growth, projecting revenues from new development and community authorities, and expects to present affordability options within weeks so council can decide whether to advance legislation for financing and, later, construction.

Sayers said the resolution to authorize the safety‑service director to contract with Pizzuti (Resolution 2025‑107) received its second reading and could return for final action at the council’s next meeting (a third reading noted as possible on Nov. 17). He emphasized the administration wants to avoid showing renderings the city cannot afford and will confirm feasibility with Pizzuti and Bradley Payne before wide public displays.

Councilmember Bruce publicly criticized a Pizzuti representative’s performance at a recent historical review commission meeting, saying the representative appeared unprepared to explain demolition rationale; Russell acknowledged the misstep, said the firm would prepare fuller materials in future hearings, and pledged it would not recur. Administration clarified the historical review commission had not rejected demolition but had requested more information and renderings; the administration said it would return to the commission with additional design detail in December.

Next steps: council discussed timing for finalizing the Pizzuti contract and for committee reviews of financing options. Resolution 2025‑107 remains at second reading; no final contract vote occurred at this meeting.