The Empire Parking Garage will be completed later this month.  In order to prepare for its opening and efficient operations, staff recommends that the City Council approve the five (5) elements contained in Change Order #7.  The five parts are as follows:  175 signs for hourly and leased spaces in the garage’s City owned section; conduit for electricity at the trees on Montana Avenue; removing and replacing most of the sidewalk and stamped concrete on all three of the garage frontages; adding two (2) demising walls to separate the retail ownerships on Montana Avenue and; adding graffiti resistant coating on most of the garage’s lower surfaces. 

Signs designating hourly and permit parking are used in all City garages and are necessary for proper operations, but because the types and locations of these spaces were unknown when Sletten bid the project, they were not part of the original sign package.  Conduit and electric receptacles near the trees will allow future tree lighting, outdoor events and other activities that require power.  Sletten Const. is required to replace all concrete that is damaged during construction, but this change will increase the amount of replaced concrete and improve appearance and pedestrian safety.  Demising walls between condominium ownerships are usually provided by the developer.  They help in describing the units and their exact square footages when the units are ready to be transferred to the new owners.  Graffiti coating up to 10’ on the exterior walls will allow easier removal of graffiti and is particularly important on the rear, or alley side of the garage.  

The total change order cost is $54,652.58.  The cost is within the City’s planned construction contingency.  Change Order #7 will make the total contract with Sletten Construction $12,957,013.29.

Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Empire Parking Garage Change Order #7 for $54,652.58.