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Doraville council authorizes about $9.38 million GMP amendment to Choate to begin City Center site work
Summary
The Doraville City Council on March 30 authorized a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) amendment with Choate for site work on the City Center project — a package presented at roughly $9.38 million — and authorized the city manager to execute the amendment. Council discussed contingencies, change-order thresholds and timing for vertical pricing and material orders.
Doraville Mayor Garmon and the City Council on March 30 authorized a guaranteed maximum price amendment with contractor Choate to begin horizontal/site work on the City Center project and directed the city manager to execute the contract amendment.
City Manager Chuck Atkinson introduced the amendment, saying it covers site preparation and related work and that a copy of the amendment was included in the council packet. City staff and the construction team presented the site-work package as roughly $9.38 million (the packet cites line items of $9,000,000 and $379,883), and Gary, a project representative, told the council the overall budget for the building and infrastructure remains $32 million. “The budget for the project for the building and the infrastructure is $32 million,” Gary said.
Council members asked procedural and budget questions before the vote. Councilmember Simmons sought clarity about change orders, asking whether unforeseeable work would be handled outside the GMP; staff replied that unforeseen items would return to council as change orders if they push the cost above the GMP. “Any unforeseens will be change orders not included in the GMP,” Simmons said, asking staff to confirm the approval process.
Council members also pressed for an approval threshold for staff to use on smaller contingency items. Staff said the city manager already has delegated authority up to $100,000 for the project and that items exceeding budgeted numbers would be brought back to council. Councilmember Hinshaw and others stressed the need to avoid convening frequent emergency sessions while preserving oversight.
On timing, Gary said Choate could have crews back on site within two weeks of approval, with active dirt-moving likely by mid-April. Staff noted the land disturbance permit is in hand and that prompt council decisions would help contractors order long-lead items; Gary added that a firm vertical GMP is expected soon and that council may need a special called meeting to consider vertical pricing and any value-engineering options.
The motion to approve execution of the GMP amendment and to authorize the city manager passed on a roll call after a motion and second. The council meeting packet indicates the site-work amendment and an earlier demo/remediation amendment together total just over $10 million for those two packages; staff said they will return with firm vertical pricing and a line-item analysis for council review.
Next steps: staff expects to preview vertical pricing in the coming days, refine it with the construction management group and architects, and deliver a draft line-item analysis to council within about one to 10 days to inform any value-engineering decisions and final approvals.
