District provides timeline to put transportation facility out for bid; public urges heated bus bays

During public comment and later in the facilities discussion, a parent and district resident warned the board about plans for a new transportation facility that they had heard would include unheated bays.

"I'm hearing rumors about the new transportation facility. It's not going to be heated for the buses," Braun told the board, adding that the district currently can only house two hydraulic buses in heated bays and that an unheated structure "is really not going to be very beneficial to us." Braun urged the district to "build the best that we can."

Board members replied on the record that no final decisions had been made. One board member said several items were "still on the table" until budget estimates and bids are complete and that engineers and architects are still engaged in the design.

In response to questions from the board, Mr. Buzzard said he had "just spoke[n] with our architect this afternoon" and that the project team was "looking at going out for bid July 6 with a bid opening of August 3." He said plans and alternates were still under consideration and that what is publicly shared before bidding might be revised based on price and scope.

Board members asked staff to make available renderings or proposals for the public and transportation department to review; staff said they could provide materials but cautioned that alternate bids could change final scope depending on cost.

The discussion closed with the expectation that more solid information would be available after bid documents are finalized and that the facilities committee would review bids and cost information before making recommendations to the full board.