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Commissioners reallocate ARPA, CO funds to advance Hilltop Community Center design; seek ARPA compliance review
Summary
After extended debate about budgets, procurement and architect fees, the court approved reallocating $3.5 million in ARPA and CO funds to complete design development for the Hilltop Community Center, with conditions that legal and procurement staff confirm ARPA eligibility and compliance with 2 CFR.
The Nueces County Commissioners Court voted to reallocate funds—including $3.5 million of ARPA and previously allocated capital (CO) funds—to advance design development for renovations at the Hilltop Community Center.
County staff and outside architects reported a base construction estimate of roughly $9.2 million and additional architect/design development fees of approximately $627,000 to reach final construction documents. Commissioners sought clarity on the architect’s fee schedule (which the contract describes as a percentage of construction cost, historically about 12.8–14%) and asked the county attorney and finance staff to confirm that using ARPA funds for the design and procurement steps complies with 2 CFR requirements and ARPA rules.
Commissioners expressed two distinct concerns: (1) transparency and confidence in how architect fees are being calculated relative to evolving construction estimates, and (2) ensuring procurement and contract steps meet ARPA and federal procurement rules so future federal reimbursement is not jeopardized. County counsel and finance staff committed to a compliance review and to preparing the necessary capital-project and budget change orders.
The motion to reallocate the commissioner’s precinct funds and the specified ARPA monies carried after a clarification that any ARPA expenditure would be contingent on legal confirmation of allowability under federal rules. Commissioners also asked staff to return with more detailed cost breakdowns for architect scope, bidding contingencies, and any additional construction administration costs before the county issues solicitations.
The court emphasized the motion at this meeting was to move the project to a state where final construction documents can be prepared and bids solicited, not to award construction contracts that would obligate additional funds beyond those reviewed and confirmed for ARPA use.
