Council rejects aquatic center roof bids, directs staff to rewrite specifications

The mayor and City Council voted to reject all bids for the Hillside Aquatic Center roof project and directed staff to rewrite the bid specifications and re-advertise the work. The motion passed on a voice vote with all members saying “aye.”

Council action followed a public presentation from a local roofing representative who said his company could deliver a different, lower-cost roofing system and asked that the council consider rebidding to allow alternative specifications. The project had a $200,000 line in the budget; the lowest qualified bid under the current specifications was from Capital Roof Inc. of Cheyenne at $179,800, and the local presenter said his firm’s proposal was about $100,000 lower than that price while offering a 20-year, all-inclusive maintenance program.

The contractor, who identified himself as Tyler, described his company’s approach as a spray-applied, monolithic membrane. “Our motto is ‘no seams, no problems,’ ” Tyler said, explaining the system is applied over salvaged sound roof areas and replaces only wet or damaged insulation rather than performing a full tear-off. He said the company provides biannual inspections and a 20-year system backed by on-site manufacturing techniques.

City staff and council members noted the original bid specifications called for a full replacement using TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) membrane, which would require a complete tear-off under the current scope. A staff member said the specification reflects the existing roof material and a full replacement down to the cover board. Council members raised scheduling concerns: the current bid calls for work to be completed by mid-June, and rebidding would likely delay construction.

“I sort of feel like for the amount of money we’re looking at, I think it’s okay to hit the pause button, reject these bids, do a little research, and come back with the second bid,” the mayor said during the discussion.

After discussion, a councilmember moved to reject all bids and direct staff to rewrite the specifications and re-advertise the project; another member seconded the motion. The council voted to reject all bids and authorized staff to issue a new solicitation under revised specifications. The council did not record individual roll-call votes in the transcript.

Clarifying details from the meeting record: - Budgeted amount for the roof project: $200,000 (budget line item). - Lowest qualified bid under the current TPO specification: Capital Roof Inc., $179,800. - Local firm’s proposed alternative: described as roughly $100,000 less than Capital Roof’s bid; presented as a 20-year, all-inclusive system with biannual inspections (exact bid amount by the local firm was not read into the record). - Project deadline in current bid documents: mid-June; rebidding would likely extend that timeline.

Next steps: Staff was directed to prepare revised specifications that would allow consideration of alternative membrane systems and to re-advertise the work. The council did not adopt a substitute specification on the spot and did not set a new bid deadline during the meeting.

Ending The council’s decision pauses immediate selection of a contractor and opens the procurement to additional roofing systems; staff will return with new bid documents and a revised schedule for the council to consider.