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Caribou council approves schematic design for fire station project
Summary
The Caribou City Council voted to approve schematic design drawings for renovations and reuse of the Lions Club building and fire station spaces, moving the project to design development while Harriman and city staff refine cost estimates and scope.
The Caribou City Council on Sept. 15 approved schematic design drawings for the city—9s fire station project and instructed staff and the architect to continue cost refinement and plan development. The schematic package, prepared by Harriman, covers renovations to the existing fire station and the adjacent Lions Club space, including new dormitories, gender-separated sleeping and shower facilities, a new kitchen, accessible restrooms and an enclosed workout and training area.
The schematic approval follows an owners9meeting process and the production of an initial cost estimate, which city staff and the architect said will be used to pare the project to available funds. Amanda Giardro of Harriman presented the drawings and told the council the estimate provides a starting point for determining which items will remain in the project and which may be reduced or deferred. Chief LaJoie told the council he had shown the plans to crews and that most concerns can be addressed as design continues.
The schematic package includes asbestos testing results; test reports showed asbestos-containing mastic and cove base in areas that will require abatement, and the estimate includes abatement line items. Harriman indicated the schematic phase includes a higher contingency and that successive estimates during design development will reduce contingency levels as the design is refined. The project team said they will also develop phasing and construction measures to protect a 24-hour facility during abatement and renovation.
City Manager Penny Thompson reviewed budget sources discussed in the packet: approximately $2.35 million in total project funding has been identified from a mix of grants (including $1.4 million referenced in packet materials), previously appropriated city funds and ARPA allocations. Thompson and Harriman said the schematic approval does not finalize scope but gives a working design that the team will adjust to meet the budget before advancing to design development.
The council voted to approve the schematic drawings as presented. Council members asked the project team to continue value-management work and to return with a revised estimate and a clearer itemization of trade-offs prior to advancing to the next design phase.
For next steps, staff and Harriman will use the schematic estimate to identify potential reductions or phased work and prepare the design development package and a second cost estimate with reduced contingencies.
"It gives us a place to start and either work forward or backwards from that number," Amanda Giardro said during the presentation.
The council approved the schematic design by voice vote.
The schematic approval does not authorize construction; the council will consider further motions on final design, bidding and construction once cost alignment is completed and funding is confirmed.
