Monona council holds first read of CD Smith construction management contract; $10,000 preconstruction cap emphasized

Monona — The Monona City Council held a first reading on a contract to hire CD Smith as construction manager for the Civic Center campus and made clear the only commitment under consideration at the meeting was for preconstruction services to finalize a detailed cost estimate.

City staff told the council the city had run a competitive RFP process (eight proposals received, four interviewed and two shortlisted) and the ad hoc committee recommended CD Smith. Neil, the city staff presenter, said the council was being asked to approve preconstruction services only so the team could obtain a final cost estimate; any decision to proceed into construction would require a separate council action.

The nut of the matter: approving preconstruction services allows the design team and construction manager to develop a more precise budget and phasing plan before council commits public funds to construction. Council members repeatedly emphasized that the meeting’s action was limited to a roughly $10,000 preconstruction commitment and that terminating the agreement after the preconstruction phase would leave the city no further liability if council chose not to proceed.

Corey Hentrell, CD Smith’s preconstruction lead, described the firm’s role in ongoing estimating and coordination with design and engineering staff. "From an estimating standpoint, there's multiple phases of estimating throughout this process. It never really ends," Hentrell said, adding that CD Smith would present periodic budgets and work with staff on schedule, phasing and logistics. He told the council the preconstruction phase would be billed monthly and that the firm had quoted an $8,000–$10,000 cap for the initial preconstruction scope.

City Attorney Bill Cole noted the contract uses an AIA A133 form (a standard industry contract for construction management) and that the city had negotiated a few changes that staff would discuss further in closed session. Nancy, an alder, confirmed with staff that the only financial commitment the council was approving that evening was the preconstruction phase limited to approximately $10,000…