City says parking deck remains on budget as council considers capital-transfer resolution for added scope

City staff told the Mobile City Council that the parking deck and related arena work remain on budget even after recent change orders that expanded the original contract scope to include sidewalk connections, an access road, security cameras, fire alarm and suppression work, and painting.

A city official speaking on behalf of the administration said some items were added to the original parking-deck contract so work could proceed on an accelerated timeline; staff moved $150,000 from an existing contingency budget for marketing and an additional $150,000 from capital reserve to cover other added items.

Council staff noted the capital-transfer measure (a resolution on the agenda) concerns transfers from capital improvement reserves to cover the change orders. The agenda listed that resolution (CIP resolution 09779) and related capital project transfers; at the meeting that resolution was held over for later consideration.

Why it matters: The adjustments are change orders to the original construction contract rather than increases in the core project line items, according to the administration’s explanation. The transfers affect how the city allocates contingency and reserve funds for the Civic Center/parking-deck complex and move several punch-list items forward to ensure completion.

Details: The administration said sidewalk work will make sidewalks contiguous with existing Claiborne Street sidewalks, an access road from Canal Street needed to be connected to the garage, and camera and security systems were added to the garage scope. Staff characterized the moves as re-prioritizing items that were not in the original contract rather than a budget overrun of the primary garage or arena construction.

The resolution to transfer capital funds related to these changes was on the council agenda but the council held that resolution over for further consideration at a subsequent meeting.