Council orders plans for City Hall security, office remodel; architects estimate about $3 million if built at once

The Albert Lea City Council on April 14 authorized staff to proceed with design and bidding for a City Hall security and office remodel aimed at improving staff safety, workspace efficiency and building maintenance.

Wayne Sorensen of Lisonbee and Hobby Architects presented a building committee feasibility study developed with staff and three council members. The architects recommended concentrating on the First and Third floors, selectively removing interior hallways that create a "fatal funnel" security layout, adding observation windows and secure public‑facing service windows, installing a citywide key‑card access system and consolidating IT into a secured server room near the main incoming fiber. "That long center hallway down the middle of 2 sets of offices is about the worst security setup you can have," Sorensen said.

Architects provided phased cost estimates: the lower level scope and related citywide exterior items had an estimated architect total of about $793,336.50; upper‑level work was estimated at $594,175. The architects' aggregated estimate for bidding both phases as a single project was roughly $3,024,000; doing the phases separately was estimated to cost about $151,000 more because of lost economies of scale. The City Manager recommended budgeting $1,500,000 initially to cover design, some IT improvements and borrowing costs, and indicated approximately $1,000,000 would be financed by levy and about $500,000 by utilities.

Council members who served on the building committee said they pared the list to needs rather than wants. Councilor Holland said the priorities were security, efficient workspaces and staff amenities such as employee restrooms and a break room. Councilor Anderson — who also said he sat on the committee — urged the council to consider submitting both an all‑in bid and separate phase bids so the council can compare numbers when the bids are returned.

Several councilors emphasized fiscal caution. Councilor Baker said he was concerned about spending design funds (the manager estimated roughly 10% of project cost for design — about $70,000–$140,000 depending on scope) and then not moving forward with construction; the city manager compared the risk to other engineering projects and noted the council would vote again on final bid awards.

After discussion the council voted to authorize preparing plans and soliciting bids. The motion passed on a recorded roll call: Christiansen (Aye), Baker (Aye), Howland (Aye), Van Beek (Aye), Anderson (Aye) and Mayor Murray (Aye).

Why it matters: City staff described multiple security gaps and deferred maintenance (windows needing caulking, old data cabling) that affect employee safety and workspace function. The project aims to create secure, accessible public interactions and consolidated IT/server infrastructure.

What happens next: Architects will complete construction documents and the city will advertise the project for bids; the council will review bids and vote on award(s) before construction proceeds. Staff said bidding the full project together is likely to be most cost‑effective but can be presented to council as either combined or separated bid alternatives.