Assistant Public Works Director Aaron Nitsch told the council that bids for a secure‑fencing project surrounding the civic center and court area returned a low bid of $393,199, against a staff cost estimate of approximately $491,000. “The cost estimate for the project was approximately $491,000. Our low bid that we got for this project is $393,199, so almost a $100,000 savings,” Nitsch said.
Nitsch said the project will be paid from an existing grant and budgeted city funds for 2025 and that staff had conducted property‑owner outreach and planned message boards; he said the vacated road in the project area has been closed for about 2½ years and will be closed to the public during construction. Council moved to forward Resolution No. 1393‑0725 (awarding the secure‑fencing project to Universal Time Holdings Northwest LLC) to the Sept. 2 action agenda; the motion carried on a voice vote.
Separately, the council voted to adopt Resolution No. 1392‑0725 authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement with Genetec for placement, programming, commissioning and testing of the Genetec security system and associated equipment for the civic center security project. Nitsch said the Genetec services contract is approximately $59,000 and will follow construction so the vendor can place and program cameras, access control devices and other equipment and train staff.
Why it matters: The combined measures aim to improve building security and safer access for officers and court staff. Staff said the project will include software, hardware and training and that funding is available from a grant plus city budgeted amounts.
Council comments: Council members thanked staff for incorporating earlier requests and emphasized officer and court‑staff safety; no substantive amendments were made at the meeting.
Next steps: The award resolution for the fencing project will appear on the council’s Sept. 2 action agenda for final consideration and contract execution; Genetec’s services agreement was adopted at the Aug. 19 meeting.