Board approves $97,800 renovation to create private office for Health Department

The Board of Public Works and Capital Assets voted to award the First Floor office renovation project to Broadway Construction for an estimated $97,839 to create a small private office for the Health Department. The project, designed by Rinca Architects, would create a roughly 10-by-10 office by removing a single cubicle to provide a private space for confidential meetings and interviews. The board voted to approve the award during its Sept. 16 meeting and directed staff to proceed using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds the Health Department has available. Matt Sullivan, assistant city administrator and city engineer, told the board the Health Department currently handles private meetings at a cubicle and lacks appropriate privacy. “Right now they’re currently working on the floor in a cubicle, which really doesn’t provide that space for…confidential and privacy,” Sullivan said, explaining the project scope and design. He said the bid — about $100 per square foot — was within current market ranges for a small office renovation given recent price increases in construction since 2020. Sullivan said the project was put out to bid and only one contractor responded. He and Rinca discussed the submitted price and determined it aligned with market expectations for a small-to-medium renovation that includes wall construction and associated mechanical adjustments. The project will be paid from ARPA funds available to the Health Department; Sullivan said the grant has sufficient remaining funds for this work. Board members had no substantive objections at the time of the vote. The board approved the motion by roll call; the minutes show multiple members voting "aye." The contract award authorizes staff to begin contract execution and scheduling with the selected contractor. The work is limited to the interior build-out described at the meeting and does not expand the Health Department’s footprint. The timeline for construction and an expected completion date were not specified at the meeting.