Daly City council authorizes additional design services for two‑story early learning and event center

Daly City on Sept. 23 authorized the city manager to execute an additional services agreement with Dorman Associates to add a second‑floor event center to a planned early learning center at 1401 Sullivan and to appropriate $318,460.50 from the general fund for the expanded design work.

Director Tatum Mothershead told the council the amended design envisions a two‑story, approximately 12,100‑square‑foot building: a 5,900‑square‑foot ground floor early learning center serving up to 42 infants and toddlers in six classrooms with about 3,100 square feet of outdoor play space, and a 6,200‑square‑foot second‑floor event center that staff estimated could accommodate up to 400 people for trainings and community events.

Mothershead said the ASA increases the design contract cap to approximately $1,022,000 and that project funding will be a mix of federal CDBG‑eligible sources, grants and general fund dollars. She listed grant and loan sources discussed with council: roughly $1,000,000 previously identified, $800,000 from the Jackie Speer Foundation, and a $1,500,000 award to Peninsula Family Services; staff said additional project costs could be addressed via a Section 108 loan repaid from annual CDBG allocations.

Council members asked about elevator requirements, parking and how the event center would be scheduled so daytime childcare is not compromised. Staff confirmed an elevator will be included and said the event center would be programmed primarily for evenings and weekends, using Civic Center parking when available. Council discussion also covered design‑fee percentages and whether more of the project could be CDBG‑eligible; staff said they are coordinating with HUD on eligibility.

The council adopted the resolutions on a roll call vote recorded as ayes by Miss DeGiovanni, Doctor Raad, Miss Perano, Glenn Sylvester and Miss Manalo.