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New City Hall and Library

UPDATE ON CITY HALL/LIBRARY COMPLEX

May 27, 2008

City Hall Complex Construction as viewed from State Highway 3

May 28, 2008.  

Possible design modifications were presented to the City Council by Mr. Bill Hall of Hall, Barnum & Lucchesi at several different Council meetings during January, February and March of 2008. While incorporating most of the possible design modifications to bring the Project into budget, the one design modification that the Council chose not to approve was to go with a low-slope roof for the buildings. Even with the design modifications that were incorporated, the Project exceeds the original construction cost by $1.5 million. At the April 22, 2008 meeting, the Council allocated $400,000 of the unreserved/undesignated fund balance from the 2006-2007 Fiscal Year to the Capital Projects Fund specifically to fund a portion of the excess construction costs. The City also submitted a request for additional funds of approximately $316,000 to Galveston County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1; however, Galveston County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 denied the City’s request at its May 12, 2008 Board meeting. At this time, the City anticipates that it will be able to fund the excess construction costs through unexpended fund balance for Fiscal Years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. City staff is also working diligently to identify any other potential funding sources for the excess construction costs.

On March 11, 2008, the Council authorized the City Administrator to proceed with issuing a Request for Proposals to retain a Construction Manager at Risk for the project. The Request for Proposals was issued by the City on March 19, 2008. The proposal opening occurred on April 3, 2008, with only one proposal being submitted by Durotech. The RPF was awarded to Durotech by the Council at the April 8 Council meeting, and City staff was instructed to proceed with negotiation of a contract. A contract with Durotech was approved at the April 22, 2008 Council meeting.

Between April 22, and May 13, 2008, temporary fencing was erected around the construction site and a construction trailer was located on the site. Demolition of the old foundations for the former muffler shop and old houses and underground utilities that were on the site was conducted the week of May 12, 2008. A building permit for the Project was issued by the City on May 27, 2008, and a ground breaking ceremony is scheduled for May 29, 2008 at 4:00 pm.

Watch for updates as the Project progresses.