Council advances $64M maintenance‑operations and license/passport/dance project to design development

The Roseville City Council on Monday voted to advance a multi‑phase capital program — a single‑story licensing/passport/dance center and an expanded Maintenance Operations Center (MOC) — into the design‑development phase after receiving schematic plans, cost updates and public comment.

Public Works Director Jesse Fryhammer introduced the project and the consultant team: LHB Architects (design) and Kraus Anderson (construction manager at risk). Martin of LHB reviewed the schematic intent: a north MOC vehicle storage and functional yard, a south MOC expansion around newer portions of the existing building, and a single‑story licensing/passport/dance building sited to maximize buffering for nearby residences. Designers emphasized vegetative buffers, material choices (brick accents), stormwater measures (a proposed pond on the northwest corner and consideration of underground storage) and options for sustainability upgrades such as green roofs.

Construction management presented cost estimates. The current schematic estimate for the licensing/passport/dance building was roughly $13.1 million total (including soft costs and a $0.5 million placeholder for potential sustainability upgrades); the MOC schematic estimate showed a construction total near $57.6 million and a total project cost around $64.1 million — approximately $75,000 under the $64.2 million local‑option sales‑tax allocation. The team said design contingency and escalation (10% contingency; 4% escalation) remain in the budget and that two further formal estimate updates are expected as design progresses.

Council and members of the public raised several topics during Q&A and public comment: whether additional funding would be available if needed (staff said sales‑tax funding is capped at $64 million and that any additional funds would require a policy decision or alternative financing), questions about stormwater and salt‑runoff containment for wash bays and salt storage (consultants said containment and treatment options are being explored), concerns about the east face of the north MOC that faces residences (staff committed to continued neighborhood engagement and design refinement), and resident requests for more public outreach (one resident asked why there had not been an open house prior to the meeting).

Resident Roger Hessen urged a strong first‑class dance facility that could be flexible for broader performing-arts use and asked whether the city could bond for overruns; staff responded that they had treated $64 million as a hard cap for sales‑tax funds and that additional funding would require a separate policy decision. Another resident, Matt Droll, praised splitting the program across sites for neighborhood preservation. Staff noted acquisition costs for parking and additional site work are included in the budget’s soft‑cost line items.

Following the presentation and public comment, Councilmember Strahan moved and Councilmember Graf seconded a motion to approve moving the projects to design development; the motion carried unanimously. Staff said the next project milestones include an update in late August or early September, a pre‑bid update before trade bidding, and a construction‑award phase by December with phased construction beginning in spring 2027 (licensed center) and continuing through the projected completion of later MOC phases in 2029–2030.