Council awards $1.43 million contract for city gateway and park signage; engineering and oversight contracts also approved

Rochester Hills City Council on Monday authorized a $1,428,884.60 contract to Warren Contractors Development Inc. (Shelby Township) to construct a package of gateway and park signs at designated locations across the city and approved a separate contract for construction engineering oversight not to exceed $75,000.

City staff presented a plan — developed with parks, planning, facilities and the mayor’s office — to install 21 signs of six different types (primary, secondary, tertiary, park, secondary park and tertiary) at major entry points and parks. Staff said the plan traces to an original gateways strategy developed in 2003 and updated in 2023, and is intended to reinforce city branding and create a consistent “sense of arrival.”

The project was rebid after an initial 2024 solicitation returned a single bid of roughly $2 million. Value‑engineering reduced scope and produced a single complete bid of about $1.5 million; the recommended award of $1,428,884.60 fits within the council‑proposed budget with staff forecasting additional savings from contractor efficiencies and other parks work coming in under budget.

Senior staff said the bid gap of approximately $100,000 could be offset by contractor‑identified efficiencies (estimated at up to $65,000) and an anticipated $200,000 underrun on the Spencer Park parking lot project. Staff characterized the contract as a "not to exceed" award and described efforts to keep maintenance costs within existing grounds and facilities budgets; no irrigation system is planned for the sign plantings.

Councilmember Walker moved the authorization; Councilmember Moreland seconded. President Diehl read the resolution awarding the contract and authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement acceptable to the city. The motion passed unanimously.

Separately, council authorized a contract blanket purchase order for construction engineering services for the signage project to Orchard Hills McClelland (Livonia) in an amount not to exceed $75,000. That motion also passed unanimously.

City staff said design work includes a primary gateway at Rochester Road and M‑59, a secondary gateway near Walton Boulevard north of Oakland University, two signs at Borden Park and additional park and secondary signs. The Bloomer Park color shown in earlier renderings was revised to match the city palette. The Nowicki Park sign and museum‑area roundabout were excluded from this immediate package because of separate design or partnership considerations.