Rosstown Council authorizes RFP to refine Civic Center master plan, moves project forward (4–1)

The Rosstown Council on June 11 authorized staff to issue a request for proposals to the 10 teams that responded to the town’s April qualifications request, starting a technical, operational and financial validation of the Citizens Advisory Committee’s civic-center concept.

Councilmember Dalling moved to release the RFP; the motion passed 4–1 after a narrow dissent. David Kelly, the town’s program lead, told the council the RFP’s work would refine the preferred concept into a fully documented amendment, including validated space programs, circulation, utilities and fully burdened cost estimates. “We need a planning foundation before committing hundreds of thousands of dollars to design,” Kelly said, arguing that the step will reduce later change orders and improve the accuracy of cost estimates.

A number of council members pushed for speed. “We need to move as quickly as feasible,” Mayor McMillan said. Others worried that jumping straight to schematic design without ironing out unresolved site issues — secure police parking, the public works yard location, FEMA elevation questions for emergency vehicle bays — could produce expensive change orders. Councilmember Salter voted against issuing the RFP, saying he preferred hiring an architect immediately and moving to schematic design so voters would see precise building plans and costs.

Griffin Structures, retained as the town’s owner’s representative, told the council that a planning‑level, validated cost estimate prepared by experienced cost consultants is commonly sufficient to set a ballot measure ask; they also described how schematic design would later refine those figures. Chief Dan Mahoney and Ross Valley Paramedic Authority interests were listed as key stakeholders for the validation work because the project affects public‑safety facilities.

The RFP will ask teams for a fixed‑fee proposal covering six tasks including technical validation, updated cost estimating and program refinement. Staff said proposals would be returned in roughly three weeks and that a recommended consultant selection would follow council subcommittee review. Councilmembers asked staff to pursue an expedited schedule and to provide availability for possible special meetings in late July.