Staff recommends Council approve the contract with A & E Design for concept design of the Multi-Generational Community Recreation Center.

In May 2019, A & E Design completed the South billings Aquatic & Recreation Center Master Plan & Feasibility Study.  The focus of the study was to review the feasibility for a future indoor recreation center in the South Billings area.  The goal of the plan was to create a framework for a multi-generational facility that best reflects the needs of the community, best practices for programming a recreation center, site visibility, and budget.  The Master plan process took place over a nine-month period culminating with the selection of a preferred site and two program options.  The primary outcomes of the Master Plan were to:

• Identify recreation programming for the South Billings Aquatic & Recreation Center specific to the City of Billings and the surrounding region based on community feedback. 
• Select a site for the future facility.
• Determine a conceptual program layout and capital budget for the project.
• Organize program layout in a manner that allows for potential phasing based on funding available.
• Develop an operation pro forma range to evaluate the potential cost recovery for the program options and phases. 

The master plan was presented to Council at the November 15th Work Session.  On December 13th Council Business Meeting the master plan was adopted by resolution.

At a previous Work Session, Council directed staff to move forward with this project.  A Request For Proposals (RFP) was sent out to solicit qualified consultants to build upon the master plan study and develop a design concept for a Multi-Generational Community Recreation Center.  Two firms responded A & E Design of Billings and JLG Architects of Williston North Dakota.  On October 13th a Selection Committee comprising representatives from Parks and Recreation, Public Works, Planning, School District 2, and South Billings Urban Renewal Association (SBURA) met to evaluate the proposals.  A & E  Design was selected as the top-ranked firm.  Staff met with A & E Design to develop a scope of work and fee.  The purpose of the Design Concept study is to take the information developed in the master plan and build upon it collecting more data and doing more analysis to determine the building configuration and size, the amenities included, construction budget, operating pro forma and cost recovery, potential donation opportunities and project timeline.  A critical component of this study will be to solicit public engagement and determine the needs of the community through public meetings, surveys and website access.  This study will require 7 to 8 months to complete.  The outcome of the study will be presented to Council for approval and further direction.  Upon approval, the consultant will proceed with design development and construction documents with the goal of bidding the project in November of 2023.  The fee for this phase of will be $244,436.00.
 

City Council may:

• Approve the contract for concept design with A & E Design for the Multi-Generational Community Recreation Center; or,
• Not Approve the contract and provide staff with additional guidance.

$250,000 was budgeted in FY 22 through the SBURA for this portion of the project.