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Committee backs $1.47 million design contract for municipal building renovation
Summary
The Finance Committee recommended Monday approving a Plan 1 Architects contract not to exceed $1,474,550 to design a full renovation of Cheyenne’s municipal building; one councilmember opposed forwarding the recommendation without broader council discussion about staff displacement and alternate temporary space.
The Cheyenne Finance Committee recommended approval of a professional services agreement with Plan 1 Architects to design a complete renovation of the municipal building, with a not-to-exceed design fee of $1,474,550 drawn from the 2021 specific purpose option tax fund.
Adele Bartel, public works staff engineer, told the committee the project scope for the design contract is a “complete renovation” that would involve gutting non-load-bearing walls, replacing mechanical and electrical systems and producing a new layout and future-proofed HVAC. “All the mechanical will be coming out, electrical. Everything is gonna come out, and they will do redo a new complete new design, complete new layout,” Bartel said.
Nut graf: The committee voted to forward the recommendation to the full City Council, but the item drew questions about staff displacement during construction, potential temporary office locations and whether the municipal court building’s second floor could be adapted. Councilman Moody said he would vote no at the committee level because he believes the staffing and relocation questions warrant full council discussion.
What the design covers: Bartel and Plan 1 Architects described a full interior reconstruction: removal of non-load-bearing walls, new office layouts with individual department spaces, and HVAC systems sized to the redesigned interiors. Plan 1 Architect Brett Morgan said the landscaping line item of $42,000 covers sitewide landscaping, including an employee outdoor area, not just the new exterior addition: “The landscaping originally was just around the new exterior addition, and so the additional landscaping is the entire site,” Morgan said.
Staff relocation and temporary space: Committee members pressed staff on plans for employees during construction. Public works staff said they would seek an off-site location for about a year to keep employees out of the building during construction. Greg Delotte, public works, said the city has “obtained Floors 5 And 3 over at the US Bank building” as potential temporary space and that the municipal court building’s second floor might be possible with build-out.
Council discussion and vote: Councilman Seagrave moved the recommendation; Councilman Moody seconded. Councilman Moody explained his committee “no” vote: he supports the project but said unresolved questions about staff relocation and use of municipal building space should be discussed by the full council. The chair recorded the committee’s recommendation to forward the contract to the Monday night council meeting for approval.
Ending: The contract is scheduled for full council consideration; staff were directed to supply additional information on temporary office solutions and whether design funds could cover modifications to alternate municipal space.
