Council committees advance contract request for schematic design of City Hall and Justice Center

City Engineer Michael Tiedecki and other staff presented a request on Jan. 6 asking council to authorize a contract with an architectural firm for schematic design work on a City Hall and Justice Center project and to use emergency wording. The request was discussed in City Properties and then in Finance and Personnel.

Tiedecki told committees the work is a next step beyond preliminary renderings and will involve detailed programmatic design to determine department adjacencies, circulation and room sizes. “The renderings you have are a step in the process. These hone in to the next step of design,” Tiedecki said, describing a deeper design phase that would engage department managers on workflow and layout.

Committee members asked where the remaining design funds would come from. Finance committee members quoted an “ask” of $104,200 for the contract and asked where an additional $42,100 would be sourced. Staff said the Barberton Community Foundation awarded a grant of $100,000 that will be applied and that the city will cover remaining reimbursables from existing court or project funds; staff noted multiple funds could be used including the general fund and previously earmarked ARPA dollars.

Finance and Personnel voted to advance the request to full council with the recommendation that staff provide the detailed funding breakdown when the purchase order and legislation are prepared. The committee discussion did not produce an ordinance number; the request letter and committee minutes will accompany the ordinance when introduced to full council.

Council did not take a final vote on award of the contract at the committee meeting. Staff said they would locate the foundation grant documentation and provide a clear funding source before final council action.