City approves $6.34 million increase to 1500 Scribner campus construction contract; overall cost approaches $98 million

The Community Development committee approved a $6,343,299 increase in the construction management agreement for the 1500 Scribner municipal campus project, bringing the contract to a total not-to-exceed figure of approximately $98,190,904.

City staff said construction is roughly 65% complete across a multi‑building campus that will house more than 200 city employees and about 300 vehicles. As crews opened walls and dug site work, staff encountered hazardous materials removal, unknown site conditions and additional programming needs that increased scope beyond early estimates. Staff said the project originally carried a 5% contingency but that the scope and complexity of multiple simultaneous trades and seven near‑separate work packages would have justified a larger contingency (staff noted a 12% contingency is typical for similar capital work).

The requested increase includes costs for change orders to date, added design and construction services, temporary workspace accommodations (trailers, restrooms, locker rooms) and additional contingency to reach a completion-ready contingency level. City staff said the office building portion should be finished late summer and fleet/refuse buildings by year end. Staff also reviewed inclusion metrics: through March the project showed about 10.3% spend with minority-, women- and local-business enterprises (MBE/WBE/MLBE), translating to about $6.6 million and 14.1% of hours worked by minority workers and 8.2% City resident employment on-site.

Committee members approved the increase by voice vote. Staff said ancillary contracts (fiber, primary power extension, furniture and technology) are separate procurements and will be authorized independently.

Ending: The project continues under the revised budget; staff will return with schedule updates, inclusion reporting and any further change‑order requests.