Council authorizes owner-representative contract for City Hall feasibility study

The Mexico City Council voted to allow the city manager to sign contract documents with Navigate Building Solutions for owner-representative services to evaluate whether the former Audrain Medical Center (cancer wing) could be adapted for City Hall and public-safety functions.

Staff said the initial task order would cover an assessment of the current City Hall and public-safety facilities, meetings with department staff to document space needs, a site plan and block diagrams to visualize workflows, and a project schedule and cost estimate. The task order amount presented at the meeting was $19,215.88; staff said the FY2025 budget contains $25,000 earmarked for a space-needs study.

Drew (city staff) said the city hopes to solicit demolition bids in December and estimated on-site work could start in March if timelines hold. He described Navigate as an owner-representative firm that serves as an intermediary between the city, architects and contractors and cited positive references from other Missouri municipalities.

Council discussed phasing, future task orders to cover later design and interior work, and how the consultant would evaluate fire-bay access and other public-safety requirements. Staff said any subsequent task orders would return to council for review.

The resolution to allow the city manager to sign the Navigate agreement passed on a roll call vote.