The Urbandale City Council approved a resolution to retain Sidekick Development as owner's agent for a proposed new Urbandale Police Department headquarters. Assistant City Manager Curtis Brown described the project as a complex public safety facility (roughly 70,000 sq ft) with substantial design and security requirements and an estimated cost in the neighborhood of $50 million.

Brown said an owner's agent acts as an extension of city staff to manage design, procurement and construction oversight. The recommended firm, Sidekick Development, led by principal Angie Fonkou, has experience on public safety projects in nearby communities, Brown said. The standard fee proposed is 1.75% of the managed construction cost (rising to 2% if Urbandale selects a traditional general‑contractor delivery instead of a construction manager). On a $50 million project that percentage equates to an estimated $875,000, Brown noted, but he emphasized that is an estimate contingent on final project cost.

To limit early spending, the firm's agreement caps Sidekick's fee at $100,000 for pre‑referendum work through the city's anticipated November 2026 referendum. "From now until our decision to proceed, anticipated to be in November of '26, no more than $100,000," Brown said. Council approved the resolution to hire Sidekick Development and to proceed with pre‑referendum planning under the capped fee.

Why it matters: Hiring an owner's agent is intended to protect the city's priorities through design and construction and to improve the project's odds of being delivered on time and on budget. The decision also starts visible work on a large capital project that the city plans to put before voters in 2026.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with services under the capped pre‑referendum limit, begin architect selection and preliminary design work, and include the project in materials for the November 2026 referendum if council decides to proceed.