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Council to seek outside project manager for planned Fire Station 85; standard design and path connections included
Summary
Staff presented site and floor plans for the planned South Side Fire Station (Station 85), explained grading and path tie-ins, and recommended engaging an external project manager to advance bidding and construction; staff will return with proposals and recommendations.
Staff briefed the council on the Station 85 firehouse site, floor plan and schedule on Feb. 25 and recommended hiring an outside project-management firm to carry the project through bidding and construction.
Justin (city staff) said the site is the former animal-shelter parcel acquired in a land swap with Fayette County and that demolition of the old shelter is complete. CPL, the architectural firm, provided a floor plan adapted from a prior station design; the station would be a three-bay building with a pull-through apparatus area, day room and residential bunks, commercial and residential laundry for turnout gear and living spaces, offices and a small gym. Staff said the plan intentionally uses a repeatable design intended for use at future stations so firefighters have a consistent layout.
The site grading plan shows a new cut from Highway 74, a pull-through apparatus drive, a graded pad for potential future building area, and a connection to the city’s path master-plan network. Staff noted the Mill Farm development already constructed path connections to the property line and that the proposed station path would tie to the Rockaway tunnel connections and the city’s cart-path network.
Given the city’s limited in-house experience with commercial construction project supervision, staff recommended soliciting proposals from project-management firms rather than assigning the work to existing staff. Staff said they have contacted at least one firm and will solicit multiple quotes and return with a recommendation; the council discussed whether the city should consider hiring a full-time project manager as capital programs increase, but members said for this singular major construction project, a contract project manager is appropriate.
Council did not vote on the project-management procurement at the meeting; staff said they would return with vendor proposals and a recommended contract-scope for council consideration.
