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Burlington shows trimmed Fire Station No. 3 design and $1M spent to date; training tower remains separate project
Summary
Fire Chief updated council on Fire Station No. 3 design changes (about 18,000 fewer square feet than earlier plans), exterior mock-ups, and roughly $1 million of project spending so far; the training tower shown in renderings is a separate future project and bonding will follow when the city is ready to bid.
Chief Tubes updated the City Council on the Fire Station No. 3 project at the Feb. 23 work session, showing revised floor plans, exterior mock-ups and an updated cost summary for expenses to date.
"Big takeaway here is approximately 18,000 less square foot than the original project," Chief Tubes said, describing interior layout reductions the department signed off on so consultants could proceed. He showed images of the proposed exterior, noting plans call for precast walls that simulate brick and that garage doors may be red.
Officials clarified that a three-story training tower shown in aerial visuals is not part of the station project currently moving forward; the tower is a separate project that staff may site adjacent to the station in the future if council approves that next step. Chief Tubes also described a detached three-bay storage/garage that will accommodate trailers, training props and maintenance equipment so apparatus bays remain clear for response vehicles.
Staff also reviewed project costs incurred so far: land purchase, appraisal and design work with consultant firms including DCI, OPN, CanCo and Klinger, amounting to just over $1 million expended to date. Chief Tubes said the city has satisfied contractors to date and that the project is being accrued in a project fund; the plan is to bond and reimburse that fund when bidding and award timing are appropriate.
Why it matters: The reduced square footage and design refinements aim to lower overall project costs while preserving operational needs; the separate training tower and storage decisions affect future capital needs and possible additional bonding. Council members acknowledged the presentation and thanked the department.
Next steps: Staff will proceed toward final bid documents in coordination with the financial plan; bonding timing and the scope of capital borrowing will be discussed with the city's financial adviser before formal action at a future council meeting.
