Kingsburg finance committee recommends council review lower-cost space needs proposal for City Hall

Kingsburg Finance Committee Chairman Smith and committee members on Jan. 27 voted to recommend that the City Council consider a space needs assessment proposal from Integrated Designs that would cost less than a previously selected bidder.

Member Alexander Henderson presented the item, saying the city had received five responses to an RFP for a City Hall space needs assessment and that Griffin Structures had earlier been selected as the most complete respondent. ‘‘We budgeted for up to $75,000,’’ Henderson said, ‘‘their original amount came in at $125,000 and then we . . . received some direction from the city council’’ that led Griffin to reduce its price to $109,500. Henderson said staff solicited a proposal from a local firm, Integrated Designs by Solman Inc., which offered two options: $45,000 using an existing conceptual design and $60,000 for a new conceptual design.

Henderson said Integrated Designs’ proposal is more limited in community outreach than Griffin’s but noted it produced design renderings and floor plans for the City of Reedley, which were included in the committee packet. ‘‘They did provide a proposal, which is included in your packet this evening,’’ Henderson said. ‘‘The highlights of their three phases of work include phase 1 would be an assessment and conceptual design . . . and then phases 2 and 3 would be, down the road if we got to the point of construction.’’

Committee members raised questions about the example work and tradeoffs between cost and community outreach. One committee member said the Reedley example ‘‘looks very, very similar to the new Mendota council chambers’’ and wondered whether the same company prepared both. Henderson said he had spoken with Reedley staff who were ‘‘very pleased with their work product’’ and recommended them. Councilor Wright said the lower-cost proposal ‘‘is something worthy to take to council to have a discussion about.’’

After discussion, Councilor Wright moved to recommend bringing the Integrated Designs proposal to City Council for consideration; the motion was seconded and passed. The committee did not direct staff to award a contract or to select a final design; the item will be considered by the full City Council before any procurement or contract decisions are made.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes: motion to approve the minutes was moved and seconded and the committee voted in favor; outcome: motion carries (no count specified in the record).

- 2024–25 water rate study update: staff requested the item be pulled and continued to a future date while updated rate tables are finalized. The committee voted to table the item to a date to be determined; outcome: motion carries (no count specified in the record).

- Space needs assessment proposal (Integrated Designs vs. Griffin Structures): Councilor Wright moved and a committee member seconded that the committee recommend the Integrated Designs proposal be brought to City Council for consideration; outcome: motion carries (no count specified in the record). The committee did not approve any contract award.

Context and next steps

The committee’s action sends the lower-cost Integrated Designs proposal to the full City Council for further discussion; any decision to award work, select a conceptual design type (existing versus new), or to authorize construction-phase services would be made by the City Council and subject to normal procurement and contracting processes. The water rate study item was pulled and will return when updated rate tables are available.