Warrenville council approves $85,295 Kluber study to review city buildings' space and accessibility

The Warrenville City Council voted Nov. 17 to hire Kluber Architects and Engineers for a phase 1 space needs assessment of three primary municipal buildings — city hall, the police department and public works — under a professional services agreement for $85,295.

Phil Cooper told the council staff reviewed three consultants’ statements of qualifications and negotiated an $85,295 contract with Kluber, roughly $15,000 below staff’s earlier estimate. Cooper said the project is expected to begin in January after the holidays and be completed in the summer; later phases or capital work would be considered if the assessment shows a need for reconfiguration or additions.

Charlie Johnsos, Kluber project manager and architect, said the firm’s scope is intentionally non-invasive: Kluber will make measurements and note visible accessibility issues rather than run specialized destructive or civil tests. "We're not gonna hunt down and find code violations... it's more of that look of it," Johnsos said, adding the firm will measure obvious elements (toilet and fixture heights, walking-surface deltas, doorway widths) and can coordinate specialized testing if required. Council members asked specifically about ADA and whether the firm would address wheelchair access; Johnsos said visible elements and widths would be examined and specialist work could be hired if needed.

Alderman Lockett moved and Alderman Wilkie seconded the resolution to approve the Kluber agreement; the motion carried by roll call of members present. Staff said they will seek a small elected-official work group to collaborate with staff during the study’s data-collection phase and return recommendations to council once the study is complete.