Council OKs schematic design for Ultra Sports Complex Phase 2, approves preconstruction work despite operational questions

The Grand Forks City Council Committee of the Whole voted Monday to move forward with schematic design and preconstruction work for Phase 2 of the Ultra Sports Complex, endorsing staff’s recommendation for a four-court addition with consolidated sports-training space while directing staff to return with refined cost and operations estimates. The motion passed after a voice vote with one dissent.

City staff said schematic design will allow the project team to refine costs and prepare firmer bid packages; staff also presented two conceptual options — a 4-court, 60,000-square-foot addition and a 2-court, 38,000-square-foot option — and requested authority to proceed with design work and a construction manager at-risk preconstruction fee.

The council’s action follows months of design and stakeholder engagement by the city, GLG (design team) and the Park District. Under the preferred 4-court option staff estimated a phase-2 construction cost of about $19.5 million and a total project all-in estimate of about $109.5 million; the 2-court option was estimated at about $13.7 million construction and a $103.6 million all-in budget. Staff stressed these are conceptual, rough-order-magnitude estimates to be refined in schematic design.

City project manager Todd Phelan told the committee the design team developed program options with park-district operators, youth sports groups and other stakeholders to maximize flexibility and year-round use. "We are really trying to be holistic and create an…