The Hays City Commission on June 12 approved a guaranteed maximum price of $5,991,250 and authorized the city manager to execute a phase‑2 design‑build agreement with PWC Inc. for a new police station and municipal core facility to be paid from general obligation bonds not to exceed $8,000,000.

Deputy City Manager Colin Belzer told commissioners that the design‑build team (PWC with architecture firms BKV and JGR) produced preliminary exterior renderings and interior floor plans that relocate public access to the lobby, courtroom and restrooms while securing officer work areas and evidence storage. "We don't have public restrooms right now in our police station, so that'll be a nice addition," Belzer said.

The nut of the project: the existing police facility houses just over 8,000 square feet (including about 1,500 square feet of rented storage). The proposed work will convert the Astra Bank building into more than 20,000 square feet of space, add roughly 2,600 square feet of off‑site storage buildings, convert an existing teller building into a small garage and construct about 2,000 square feet of facility space near the new fire station. The city previously budgeted $8 million for acquisition, construction and furnishings and equipment; the bond package will include funds for FF&E, with staff returning later for a price‑not‑to‑exceed for those items.

Commissioners discussed capacity and future growth. Belzer said the design provides space for roughly 20 years of growth without additions and identified an underground courtyard area on the south side that could support a two‑story expansion of about 2,000 square feet, which could extend usable life further.

A motion "to accept the guaranteed maximum price of $5,991,250 and authorize the city manager to enter into an agreement with PWC Inc. to perform phase 2 design build services for the new police station/municipal core facility to be paid from general obligation bonds to be issued in an amount not to exceed $8,000,000 to pay for acquisition of 1100 Fourth Street, construction costs, and FF and E needs" was moved by Commissioner Reuter and seconded by Commissioner Cunningham. The measure passed unanimously, 4‑0.

The commission directed staff to return with FF&E pricing and said they expected to receive a project update about a year from now.

Background context: Belzer said the design team includes BKV, which specializes in law enforcement centers, and JGR, an architecture firm with prior local work. The commission previously approved the initial design‑build contract in November to allow preliminary architectural work and establish a GMP. The city will eliminate current rental storage costs by providing space in the new facility.

The vote ends the agenda item; commissioners asked for a future walkthrough of final plans when available.