CJC project change order 5 details reviewed; commissioners told shortfall could reach several hundred thousand dollars

County project staff updated commissioners on change order 5 for the new Children’s Justice Center (CJC) and the overall project budget. The presentation listed multiple small change items and identified a remaining project shortfall.

Scott Mendoza and other staff described the components of change order 5, including a 90-day time-extension allowance (WC 22) with an estimated cost of $54,983.77, elevator-installation cost pressure due to lack of permanent power, relocation of a call station and enunciator to preserve a mural wall (WC 27, $318), a planned children’s donation cabinet funded by the project’s Friends Board rather than the construction contract (WC 29, estimated $7,400 to build shelving and platform), an air-conditioning relocation in a control room (WC 31, $1,900), added attic access panels (WC 32, $19,380 total; the contractor agreed to fund two of five), and interview-room soundproofing changes required by the fire marshal that increased cost ($4,008.27, WC 34R1). A stairwell lighting change (WC 306) was also included.

Staff presented a revised budget showing original revenue and uses and noted a remaining shortfall. The project’s original plan included $7.25 million in revenue (ARPA, sale of existing building, donations) and $7.80 million in uses; the gap has been managed from contingency. Staff said they have about $24,000 left in contingency; they expect change order 5 and an upcoming change order 6 (including underground ductwork and an outstanding soil contractor bill of roughly $17,000) will push the project into an additional shortfall. Project staff and the Friends Board have secured some donations and pledged to finance certain items (appliances, aquarium, shelving). If additional state funds do not come through, staff estimated a county capital-projects contribution potentially as high as the mid six-figures (staff used figures in the presentation that ranged to roughly $400,000–$600,000 as worst-case depending on donations and state awards).

Commissioners asked about which costs the county would carry and which items the Friends Board would cover. Staff said donated items paid directly by the Friends Board do not pass through the county budget; county-paid items do. Commissioners asked staff to press the architect for responsibility on some missing attic access items and to continue seeking state and private donations to reduce the county contribution.