The City Council is being asked to approve the contract with A&E Architects for $149,803 to complete the South Billings Aquatic and Recreation Center Concept Development Plan (See attached contract). The City Council approved $150,000 in Tax Increment funds for this plan from the South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District (SBBURD) as part of the FY19 City Budget and in the 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Plan earlier this year. An RFP was issued by the City of Billings for the delivery of a Concept Development Plan including specific site assessments, facility elements, development and operation costs, and other information to begin development of a South Billings Aquatics & Recreation Center project for the City of Billings and Yellowstone County. Five proposals were submitted and a selection committee evaluated the proposals and selected A&E Architects and its consultant team to carry out this study effort.

A study was completed in 2017-2018 to determine the needs in Billings for local and regional recreation and sports facilities. Victus Advisors completed the study and determined a need exists for large indoor aquatics, courts and ice facilities to serve the community, the State and the region. The Concept Development Plan for the South Billings Aquatics & Recreation Center will provide information to allow all parties to make decisions on the design, scale, operations, funding and overall scope of constructing future facilities. The plan is expected to be completed in April 2019.
 

City Council may:

• Approve the contract with A&E Architects for $149,803 to complete the South Billings Aquatic and Recreation Center Concept Development Plan, or;
• Disapprove of the contract with A&E Architects for $149,803 to complete the South Billings Aquatic and Recreation Center Concept Development Plan. This plan and funding is approved in the FY19 City Budget and FY19 - FY23 CIP, and is in alignment with the City's goal of study the feasibility, design and construction of a South Billings Aquatic and Recreation Center.

The City Council approved Tax Increment funds to complete the South Billings Aquatic and Recreation Concept Development Plan in the FY19 City Budget and in the 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Plan earlier this year. The proposed budget of $149,803 is just under the $150,000 in funds allocated for this plan as an element of the South Billings Aquatic and Recreation Facility feasibility, design and future construction effort. The South Billings Boulevard Urban Renewal District has this expense included in its FY19 Budget as approved by the City Council.

Staff recommends the City Council approve the contract with A&E Architects for $149,803 to complete the South Billings Aquatic and Recreation Center Concept Development Plan.