Medina council approves $7.674 million GMP for municipal courthouse, invokes emergency clause

The Medina City Council on April 28 approved Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) No. 3 for the municipal courthouse project, adopting Ordinance 84-25 by a 6-0 vote and approving the ordinance's emergency clause.

City Engineer Patton said the agreement is GMP No. 3 and described its value: “This is GMP number 3. Council has previously approved GMPs 1 and 2. The total value of this agreement will be $7,674,000, bringing the total construction cost, not including architect fees and some other fees. Total construction cost to the courthouse at $10,671,000.”

The ordinance was passed with the emergency clause after a roll call vote that the clerk recorded as unanimous. The emergency clause was presented as necessary to “lock in these costs, allow us to get materials ordered and the project moving,” Patton said during discussion.

Why it matters: Council and staff framed the vote as a long-delayed step toward finishing a project the city has discussed for decades. Mayor Hamill and council members described the funding plan and the expectation that court fees and partner jurisdictions will help repay the city's outlay over time.

Council discussion and funding: During the meeting the mayor and council members outlined project totals beyond the GMP itself. Mayor Hamill said the $7,674,000 GMP brings total construction costs to roughly $10,671,000 and that architectural and other fees push the project closer to $11,400,000. The mayor described a funding mix that the council discussed: about $3,400,000 expected from the city and roughly $8,000,000 from the municipal court's special project fund, which the mayor said had about $5,000,000 earlier in the process. He said the city will effectively loan money to the court special projects fund and be paid back over time as court fees are collected.

On operational benefits, the mayor and staff pointed to efficiencies of collocating municipal and county-related court services in one facility, shared security screening and holding arrangements, and reduced duplication for residents who must visit different court locations. “We're saving money as a city to accomplish this goal,” the mayor said.

Next steps: With the emergency clause in place, staff said procurement and material orders can proceed. Council did not change scope in the meeting; the vote formalizes the next-phase contract costs and authorizes the city to move forward under GMP No. 3.

Outcome: Ordinance 84-25 (GMP No. 3 for the Medina Municipal Courthouse) and its emergency clause passed by roll call vote, 6-0.