Douglas County approves design work to finish Public Safety Building main floor; commissioners OK negotiation for amendment

The Board of Douglas County Commissioners on April 2 authorized the county administrator to negotiate an agreement amendment with Trainer Architects to complete professional design and construction administration services for Phase 2 of the Douglas County Public Safety Building. The motion passed 5–0; commissioners and staff emphasized that the action covers design services only and does not authorize construction expenditures.

Jay Zimmersheid, director of Capital Projects for Douglas County, introduced the item and said the project team — Trainer Architects (Jeff Lane) and JE Dunn (Tim Akingay) — was before the commission to seek authorization to complete design for finishing out the main level of the Public Safety Building (PSB). Zimmersheid said the county is seeking design fees so the team can prepare detailed construction estimates and a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for a later commission decision.

Architect Jeff Lane reviewed the intent of the phase‑2 work: finish the main‑level tenant fit‑out so the sheriff’s administration, investigations and evidence storage are fully built out, and complete associated parking. Lane said the lower level (previously finished under the earlier GMP) will house 9‑1‑1 dispatch and emergency management; finishing the main level now reduces the risk of heavy construction over an active dispatch center and yields operational and cost benefits.

JE Dunn’s Tim Akingay said completing the work as part of the existing project minimizes disruption, reduces overall cost (the team estimated roughly a 15% savings by adding the work into the current project rather than building later) and shortens total construction compared with a standalone future project. He said preliminary construction‑value estimates range from about $2.5 million to $2.8 million; staff cautioned these are estimates and the commission was only being asked to approve design fees of roughly $200,000 to complete detailed design and obtain firm construction pricing.

Timeline: staff said design would proceed immediately if the commission approved the amendment; the team expects to return with a GMP request in late July 2025 for a construction decision. Staff estimated adding the work now would extend the overall project by two to three months but would still be shorter and less costly than doing a separate project later. Jay Zimmersheid noted some schedule sensitivity related to a major local event and said the team was coordinating timing to minimize operational conflicts.

Commissioners asked about moves and sequencing and staff reiterated that the county expects phased occupancy for lower‑level dispatch (move in May–June 2026 is in the project timeline as stated) and that loud demolition and heavy work would be completed before dispatch occupancy whenever feasible. Commissioner Reid called the proposal a sensible cost‑saving approach and moved approval; the commission authorized the county administrator to negotiate the agreement amendment, with the understanding that construction and final pricing would return to the commission for separate action.

Ending: The commission’s authorization allows staff and the design team to complete drawings and pricing needed for a later construction decision. The record shows the county did not commit construction funds or a GMP on April 2; that decision will come after the design and estimating work is complete and the county has a firm price to consider.