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Virginia council declines $87,887 epoxy flooring change order for new Public Safety Center
Summary
Council considered Change Order 65 to add epoxy flooring at the new Public Safety Center (apparatus bays, dispatch, restrooms, evidence area, PD garage) at a cost of $87,887 from construction contingency; after discussion the motion failed and the change was not approved.
Sean Lewis of Carl Sanderson told the City Council's Committee of the Whole that the new Public Safety Center is substantially complete, has a certificate of occupancy and that a construction contingency of roughly $186,000 remained available for enhancements. Lewis recommended returning epoxy flooring to several high-traffic areas after it had been value-engineered out of the project during 2023 cost increases. "The change order request is for $87,887," Lewis said, outlining coverage for the apparatus bays (fire and ambulance), dispatch room, restrooms adjacent to dispatch, the open area of evidence storage and the police garage.
Councilors asked how the epoxy would affect move-in timing and operations. Lewis said crews could do the work by November but scheduling might push some work into December; Deputy Chief told the council that adopting epoxy would not interrupt emergency services and that operations would continue from the old station until transition was complete. Police Chief Nicole Mattson added that a separate IT delay — a missing FBI/BCA router — could leave officers without in-vehicle terminals for one to two days, and that staff were prepared to wait for the epoxy installation rather than move equipment outdoors.
Opposition and support split along lines of experience and priorities. Councilor Bach Schneider said she would not support the epoxy based on previous personal experience that professionally-applied epoxy did not hold up in other settings. Mayor Cuffee and Councilor Paulson described positive long-term results from epoxy installations and said they favored using contingency money for durability and safety. Councilor Paulson pressed staff for warranty information and was told the warranty varies and staff would provide specifics later.
After discussion, Councilor Freely moved and another councilor seconded approval of Resolution for Change Order 65, using contingency funds. The motion was put to a roll-call vote and did not carry. The committee recorded that the motion failed and the requested epoxy flooring change order will not be added at this time.
