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Burleson council directs staff to advance police headquarters design despite $1.3 million variance
Summary
Council heard a design-development update on a multi-building police campus, was told the estimated cost rose from $42.7 million to about $44.0 million (a $1.3 million, ~3.1% variance), and gave staff direction to proceed with construction drawings while considering cost-reduction options.
Burleson officials on Tuesday received a detailed design-development update on a proposed multi-building police headquarters and instructed staff to proceed to construction drawings despite a roughly $1.3 million increase in the estimated project cost.
Deputy City Manager Eric Oskerson told the council the schematic budget had been about $42,700,000; design development work with the city's architect and contractor now estimates the project at roughly $44,000,000, a variance of about $1,300,000 (approximately 3.1%). Oskerson said the variance is within common construction margins for projects of this size and described seven options staff and the architect identified to reduce cost if council prefers.
Police Chief Billy Cordell walked the council through the site and building program. The plan includes a primary two-story building with public safety communications and administrative space, a separate SWAT/asset building, secured evidence and property storage, training facilities and expanded parking. Cordell described changes such as moving property and evidence into the main building and adding hardened evidence bays and secure vehicle-processing areas to protect evidence and support major-case operations.
Staff and the architect presented options that range from removing nonessential amenities (saving about $25,000) to switching some buildings from masonry (CMU) to pre-engineered metal construction (saving several hundred thousand dollars), eliminating an enclosed connector (about $500,000 savings), and simplifying the sally port (about $226,000). Combined, the options could reduce cost by roughly $1,390,000, though several measures would alter long-term durability or protective features.
Several council members emphasized operational needs and expressed support for keeping the project scope intact. One council member said cutting the masonry walls or other protective elements would undermine long-term safety and functionality; another noted that a 3% variance is reasonable for projects of this magnitude. Oskerson said staff would present a contract amendment for the architect at an upcoming meeting and move to full construction drawings so the city can begin procurement and GMP (guaranteed maximum price) packages in phases.
The council did not take a formal vote to increase the project budget at Tuesday's meeting; instead members provided direction to staff to continue with final design and to return with contract amendments and cost details as the project advances. Staff estimated the construction period would run about two years once underway.
