Council accepts public works space-needs study, authorizes schematic design contract

The Forest Lake City Council accepted a final space-needs study for a new Public Works facility and authorized staff to execute a schematic design contract with Wold Architects & Engineers for the city-owned site on Highway 61 and 200 and Second Street with a fee not to exceed $321,000, inclusive of expenses.

Mark (city staff) presented the study and outlined the phased design approach. He said the schematic design phase will provide greater detail on site layout, cost estimates, and design choices and that staff can stop the process after the schematic phase if the council chooses. Mark said staff and consultants believe the chosen site is appropriate and noted potential to reserve about 3.5 to 5 acres of the northwest corner of the site for taxable redevelopment, subject to further planning.

Council members said they have reviewed the project in previous workshops and expressed support for moving to design. One council member said the current Public Works buildings include structures from the 1950s and noted safety and staffing needs as drivers for the project.

The council voted to accept the space-needs study and later voted to authorize staff to sign a contract with Wold Architects & Engineers to perform schematic design services for the city's future public works building, with a not-to-exceed fee of $321,000. Staff said the fee is a significant investment but necessary to reach a level of design that will produce reliable cost estimates and site details. The council discussed that schematic design does not commit the city to construction and remains an investigatory phase. No specific funding source for later construction phases was approved at the meeting.