Aransas Pass council drops new-build GMP, directs study of renovating existing firehouse and adding living quarters

The Aransas Pass City Council on Monday declined to approve a guaranteed maximum price for a combined new fire station and police department renovation and instead voted to direct staff to explore renovating the existing fire station to house the police department and to add new living quarters to the west side of the fire engine bay.

Council members had been considering a construction manager-at-risk guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $13,509,563 from Weaver|Jacobs for both projects. Staff reported the total project cost including allowances and design fees would reach about $15.13 million; the standalone construction cost for the proposed new fire station was listed at about $9.59 million.

The vote followed more than two hours of public comment and discussion. Council members and residents raised concerns about the city's overall debt load, loss of funds available for street repairs, and whether renovation of existing facilities would be a lower-cost alternative. Several speakers also asked for detailed cost breakdowns from the construction manager at risk and for time to review separate pricing if the council chose to pursue only the fire station now.

Why it matters: The council approved bonds for public safety facilities last year; the outcome determines whether the city proceeds with a new-build approach that would tie up most bond proceeds in a multiyear project or pursues a remodel that could leave more funds available for streets and other needs.

Council discussion and contractor responses

City staff presented the GMP package and a line-item breakdown supplied by the construction manager, Weaver|Jacobs. Chris, identified in the record as a Weaver|Jacobs representative, described the procurement process and said subcontractor bids and detailed cost breakdowns are provided to the city and its representatives.

Justin Myers with Martinez Architects, who participated in the discussion, said renovation options exist but that the project's constrained site and functional requirements limited some choices. "There's almost always a way where there's a will to do some sort of renovation," Myers said, adding that the existing building was not originally designed for a vertical expansion and that any retrofit would require a new evaluation of structure and cost.

City manager Sandra (first name used in the meeting record) flagged three options for council consideration: approve both projects as presented; approve only the fire station and defer police work; or go back to the drawing board and pursue renovation. She warned that redoing designs could delay the timeline and risk higher materials costs in future months.

Several council members and residents pushed for a narrower approach. One council member said the city had spent roughly $1.22 million on design to date and that remodeling could be explored, but emphasized that doing so would require returning to design and bidding and could carry unknown cost risks.

Final action

After debate, Councilman (name not specified in the audio) moved to amend the agenda item language to instead direct staff to look into remodeling the current fire quarters for the police department and to add new living quarters on the west end of the engine bay. That motion was seconded and passed. Council then voted to approve the amended direction to pursue renovation/addition work rather than the GMP as presented. The council did not authorize a GMP payment; the contractor said he would return within about one week with firm separation pricing for the fire-only scope if the council wanted that option.

Quotations from meeting participants

"Get your best bang for your dollar and get the pricing in now," said a Weaver|Jacobs representative while explaining why the two projects were bid together. "We went through every single step and process that we're supposed to legally, and in a transparent manner." (Chris, Weaver|Jacobs)

"There's almost always a way where there's a will to do some sort of renovation," said Justin Myers with Martinez Architects.

What happens next

City staff and the contracted construction manager said they will return with clarified fire-only pricing and, separately, the cost implications of pursuing a renovation path. The council's direction means the city will not proceed immediately on the combined GMP as presented; staff said redesign, re-bidding and a revised timeline would be needed if the council pursues renovation.

Ending: The decision leaves the city's bond funds allocated to public safety on hold while staff compiles new cost information and options for council review.