Claremont awards Fire Station No. 2 construction contract; council approves short‑term funding plan

Claremont — The City Council awarded the contract to build and renovate Fire Station No. 2 and directed staff to provide a multi‑year funding plan for construction of future stations.

Procurement Director Freddy Suarez presented Mulligan Constructors Inc. as the lowest responsive bidder for construction of Fire Station No. 2 at $2,975,290 with an estimated 300‑day construction schedule. Contractor Jason Mulligan confirmed a typical monthly billing and completion schedule and estimate of progress payments: roughly 30–35% of work could be completed in the current fiscal year depending on permitting and start timing.

Council discussed which funds to use. Staff noted the city’s fire impact fee fund and a previously budgeted $900,000 general‑fund allocation. After reviewing projected collections and obligations, council approved awarding the contract and agreed to apply $900,000 from the general‑fund reserves to support FY2026 work while directing staff to return by July 1 with a five‑year plan describing the mix of impact fees, grants, general‑fund resources, and debt needed for this station and planned future stations.

Mayor Tim Murray and council members emphasized the need to balance impact‑fee eligibility (some renovation work is not eligible for impact fees) with the city’s capital plan, and asked staff for a transparent schedule showing which funding sources will cover each project phase. The motion to award the contract and adopt the short‑term funding step passed on record.

What happens next: Mulligan Constructors will begin permitting and work after city contract execution; staff will return with a five‑year capital plan and a recommended funding strategy for remaining payments and future stations before the FY2027 budget cycle.