Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Capital Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves $109,991 feasibility study for proposed public safety building
Summary
The council authorized a Phase‑1 feasibility study from Port City Architecture — a schematic design and probable‑cost exercise — at a cost of $109,991 and allocated $103,133.90 from a public‑works site‑search account and $6,857.10 from engineering funds.
The Belfast City Council voted to accept a revised Phase 1 feasibility proposal from Port City Architecture to develop schematic (20%) design documents and a probable‑cost estimate for a proposed public safety building.
Economic Development Director Thomas Petrich described the procurement process, saying the city solicited responses, interviewed firms and narrowed the field to Port City Architecture. The revised Phase 1 scope removes two items scheduled for a later phase (public engagement meetings and attending multiple public meetings) and lowers the immediate cost to $109,991.
Petrich told the council the firm estimated the feasibility study could be completed in roughly 120 days after contract approval. "This is the initial phase — an opinion of probable cost and schematic design — to help us better define square footage and program needs," he said, noting the work will inform project scoping and future funding requests.
Council approved the proposal and the recommended allocation of $103,133.90 from the public works site‑search account and $6,857.10 from engineering funds to pay for the study. Because the project will later require review by USDA Rural Development (a funding partner for construction), the city manager will execute contract documents once the firm’s contract is drafted and reviewed.
Councilors described the study as a fact‑finding step to refine project size and projected costs before asking voters or funders for construction dollars.
