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County approves $130,933 increase for Sellwood Library refresh project
Summary
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the Sellwood Library refresh contract by $130,933.11, citing added scope including upgraded lighting and a replacement storefront door to be paid from bond contingency funds.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to increase the contract price for the Sellwood Library refresh by $130,933.11, the board clerk announced after a roll-call vote.
County procurement staff told commissioners the increase is needed to cover added scope including upgraded lighting and replacement of the storefront door, and that the funds will come from contingency within the library capital bond fund.
The change exceeds the 33% contract increase threshold that requires board approval under a county procurement rule cited by staff. Heidi Leibrant, procurement and contracting manager for the Department of County Assets, told the board the increase surpasses the 33% authorized limit on a contract and therefore required formal approval.
Kate Vance, deputy director for the library capital bond program, said the Sellwood refresh is part of a program of “light-touch” updates to 11 branches that are not undergoing full renovations. Vance said executive leadership authorized releasing a portion of the program’s contingency to combine lighting upgrades and the storefront-door replacement with the existing refresh work to minimize overhead and reduce disruption to patrons and staff.
Vance also identified the project accounting: the resolution affects the library capital bond program fund labeled in staff materials as “fund 25-17” and the bond that authorized the work as Measure 26 (as referenced in staff materials to the board). She said the contingency funds being used are already in the county capital construction bond fund and that no change to the Multnomah County capital construction bond fund is required.
During public testimony, Charles Johnson urged the county to consider broader housing and equity outcomes when allocating bond funds and to ensure advisory boards reflect community representation; the board heard that comment before voting. Commissioner roll-call responses indicated unanimous support: Commissioner Moyer, Commissioner Singleton, Commissioner Brim Edwards, Commissioner Jones Dixon and Chair (recorded as) McPherson voted in the affirmative.
The resolution was adopted. Staff said the increase will be processed and the Sellwood refresh will proceed with the added scope funded from the bond fund contingencies.
The county did not provide an updated timeline for when the additional work will be completed during the public discussion.
