City councilors on Dec. 15 postponed a decision to hire OPN Architects to design permanent restrooms at the Jamie Herd Amphitheater after heated debate over design scope and cost.

The council considered a $112,270 lump‑sum design contract; staff estimated construction could be in the $600,000–$750,000 range based on comparable projects. Council members pressed for options to lower costs, including prefabricated restroom buildings used by Polk County. “We need a roof, walls, and doors that lock, and flushing toilets,” said one council member arguing for a simpler, lower‑cost approach. Another member urged staff to ensure any design respects the amphitheater’s event needs and family restrooms for weddings and large gatherings.

Council members and staff discussed whether the architect’s scope should be refined before contract execution. City staff said the item before the council was the design expenditure and that construction funding would be considered later in the capital improvement plan; some members suggested the Finance & Administration subcommittee review cost alternatives and vendor examples before the city executes a design contract. The council ultimately moved to defer the motion to allow staff and the architect to refine scope and contract language and to explore lower‑cost prefabricated options.

The issue will return to the council after staff and the architect present alternative designs and pricing; construction is anticipated to be programmed after the amphitheater season (construction earliest 2026, with a target for completion in 2027 if approved).