Site work and new construction of a municipal facility in Gilbert, Arizona. Completed plans call for the construction of a municipal facility; and for site work for a municipal facility.

https://www.gilbertsunnews.com/news/gilbert-crime-lab-police-hq-expansion-delayed/article_a49c1475-b96e-402d-9d57-c7a7086f2c9f.html Gilbert officials delayed the Gilbert Police crime lab and its public safety building expansion by two years, due to concerns of economic uncertainty and construction cost increases. Previously, those two projects were among either included in the Group A of so-called Quality of Life Projects, which are funded by Gilbert’s sales tax hike that took effect last year. That group also included the next two phases of the Victims Advocacy Center, the second phases of Gilbert Regional and Desert Sky parks, a public safety and large apparatus maintenance facility, the San Tan Police Substation, and a fire administration building. Last June, two projects from Group B, the Freestone Park splash pad and pickleball courts, were moved to Group A, bumping the crime lab and public safety building projects to a lower priority. Besides costs and concerns about the economy, town administration also wanted to put the funds that were available to projects that might be more popular with residents. “We know that there's some economic uncertainty out there. We also know that you're seeing service rates rising, infrastructure demands are more sensitive to the public spending right now – you're hearing it every day,” Town Engineer Susanna Struble told the council last month. “What we want to do is make sure that we can ensure our ship stays on course,” she said. “We want to continue to sail towards that quality of life request that we are working for with the community We want to continue to provide that right future for this community.” According to Capital Improvement Projects Manager Ryan Blair, various factors affect project costs – including refined project scopes, market volatility or even changes in what the community needs or wants. “We look at the cost, make sure we're accurate on today's dollars, and optimize value by understanding the project functions, and that helps us to manage outcomes and costs for the future,” he said. Based on the Mortensen Construction cost index, Blair said that since 2020, construction costs in the Valley have risen by 45%. The town’s budget for projects in Group A currently is about $686 million in the current fiscal year. That cost would have risen to $739 million if the crime lab and public safety building expansion were kept in the budget for the fiscal year that begins this July 1. “Really the big point, what we're trying to accomplish with CIP …is the data-driven decisions; we want to make sure we have that data that we can back the decisions,” he said. Blair also said the sequencing of the projects is “a balancing act” as many of the projects would take years to complete and the town must factor in the start and end of each project and then measure that against with the availability of funds and demands for other projects. The crime lab project, he explained, was downgraded due to its complexity and a lengthy timeline. As for the public safety building expansion project, Blair said it would be undertaken the San Tan Substation is built. It is more immediately needed and could possibly affect planning for the public safety building expansion, Blair said. photo 2.jpg By delaying Gilbert crime lab and Public Safety building expansion projects for another two years, the town is able to budget $577 million for its priority capital projects. (Town of Gilbert) The crime lab construction was expected to start this year and become operational in 2031. The Public Safety expansion was supposed to start last year and be completed in 2029. Projects like Gilbert Fire Station #4, Riparian Education Center, South Gilbert Recreation center and trail lighting are still under Group B, and are expected to be completed between 2030 and 2034. Based on the new sequencing, Blair said that the FY2026 budget for quality of life projects in Group A projects will remain $686 million, but will drop to $577 million next fiscal year, freeing up essential sales tax dollars for other uses. Most of the council understood the need to delay both projects, though some members questioned its impact on public safety. Vice Mayor Bobbi Buchli asked if Gilbert had already given notice to Mesa about pulling out of its agreement for Gilbert Police to use Mesa’s crime lab. Police Chief Michael Soelberg said Gilbert only has to give a year’s notice, which the town has not done. Mesa would have to provide Gilbert with a five-year notice if it can’t accommodate Gilbert, Soelberg said, because the town lacks its own crime lab. Buchli also questioned if there were implications of delaying the projects. Struble said that the work done on the Gilbert Victims Advocacy Center and the San Tan Substation would provide key insights to improving the construction of the crime lab and Public Safety building expansion, a point Soelberg concurred with. “I think secondarily from there is that knowledge of how many people are going to go down to the substation down south that is happening basically at the same time,” Struble said. “Learning from that allows us to be able to position those people all in the right places, so we don't have them sitting in that building when we have to renovate and add to that building.” Councilman Kenny Buckland said that while the two-year delay is realistic, he would love to see that gap reduced. “Optimistically, I would hope to bring them back to a one year gap between the projects, but there's a lot of work that goes in between these, as I've learned over the years,” he said. Soelberg said that completing the advocacy center phases took priority as currently Gilbert PD’s main station did not have room to house the 60 additional employees that will work there. Councilman Monte Lyons warned staff to factor in future budget deficits before breaking ground on huge projects, especially considering the financial forecast for FY2027. Struble noted that the town is constantly evaluating its CIP budget. Councilwoman Yung Koprowski also said that the town ensures that it has enough money to complete a project even before starting construction. Interim Town Manager Leah Rhineheimer added that not completing some of these projects would impact Gilbert’s public safety personnel in the later years. “There is significant risk to the community if many of these projects were not to move forward,” she said. “We're starting at a deficit today. To not construct these buildings means we will accept that we're going to house our public safety personnel in trailers for the next decade-plus.” -------------------------------------------------------- The project consists of design and construction oversight of the Architect/Engineer and CM@R selected for the project. The responsibilities of the PM/CM are set forth in the attached Pro forma contract for PM/CM services (Form 4.1.4) and PM/CM Scope of Work (Form 4.1.5). The total program budget for the project is approximately $55,378,000, including internal and external costs. This will be a Construction Manager at Risk Project pursuant to ARS Section 34-601 et seq. A general description of the Project is: The project will provide the design and construction for the phase 2 and phase 3 of the Advocacy Center proposed on the lot adjacent to the Public Safety Complex at the Civic Center. Phase 2 will be located south of new Advocacy Center phase 1 (currently under construction). Phase 2 building will provide office space for police investigators, advocates, forensic interviewers, and other supporting functions. Approximate gross square footage of Phase 2 is 31,000. Phase 3 building will provide multipurpose/ multidisciplinary space to accommodate the growth and operations of the facility. Location of this phase 3 has not been determined but will be on the Public Safety Complex site. Approximate gross square footage of Phase 3 is 6,000. GILBERT is an equal opportunity employer. Minority and women's business enterprises are encouraged to submit on this Project. GILBERT reserves the right to waive any irregularities in any submittal and to reject all submittals and re-advertise or cancel the project in its entirety, at its sole discretion. GILBERT, or its consultants and advisors, will not be responsible for any cost incurred by any firm submitting a SOQ or responding to this notice. Pre-Bid Meeting :- A pre-submittal conference will be held in person Arizona Local Time at the Gilbert Civic Center, Town Hall Administration Building, 50 East Civic Center Drive, Heritage Room 300. Construction Start Q4 2027 ; Completion- November 30, 2028. Questions shall be submitted via the Town's electronic bidding platform only. Questions must be received by December 12, 2025, by 5:00P.M. Arizona Local Time, so that response may be posted on the Trimble Unity Construct (e-Builder) Platform as an addendum to the RFQ.