City Commissioners will be asked during their April 16 meeting to approve a $873,158 contract to Cushing Terrell for the library remodel design.

Staff is recommending approval and the library board approved the contract in March.

Library approves contract for remodel design

The top goal identified in the library’s 2023-2026 strategic plan is to “create a safe, accessible library that will serve the community for the next 50 years,” according to city staff, and a step in reaching that goal is hiring a consultant to develop detailed designs for the proposed remodel.

The library requested proposals as required by city finance policies.

The city received three proposals that were reviewed and scored by a selection committee consisting of two library board members, a city engineer, two library staff members and two library foundation board members.

They recommended Cushing Terrell, which scored the highest.

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The scope of work includes architectural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, structural, civil engineering and landscape design services required to complete final construction documents based in general on the scope of work outlined in the masterplan completed in 2022, according to the staff report.

“Cushing Terrell understands that the masterplan began to address a series of improvements throughout the existing building, and that our team will need to review each with your team and further inform the direction for the renovation. This proposal includes a hazardous materials inspection and excludes bidding and construction administration, as these services are anticipated to be needed later in the project, following full funding. Services not
anticipated to be needed include platting, geotechnical engineering, traffic study and public utility extensions,” Cushing Terrell wrote in their proposal to the library.

Library reviewing proposals for remodel design [2023]

The design work will help library and foundation staff raise funds for the remodel by providing budget estimates and defining sections of the project, according to staff, and for the foundation in requesting funds from private citizens.

Accessibility improvements in the library can qualify for Community Development Block Grants and energy efficiency improvements can qualify for other federal funds designated for green projects, according to the city staff report.

The design is being funded by private funds.

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The library currently has $117,000 in library funds designated for the project, which are foundation funds previously given to the library for other projects but redesignated toward the remodel as those projects are on hold.

As Cushing Terrell submits invoices, the library will use those existing funds, then request dedicated funds from the foundation.

There are two funds related to the library within the city budget, the library fund holds operational funds and the library foundation fund, which holds donated funds.

Library seeking design services for remodel [2023]

The library staff, board and foundation spent most of 2022 developing a library master plan that would help staff “design the future of public library service for Great Falls and Cascade County. A master plan helps communities create a vision of what they want to look like in the future. It is about making the connection between buildings, services, and community needs,” according to the library at the time.

Library projects, including master plan remodel plans, continuing [2023]

Commissioners approved a $68,000 contract to MMW Architects for the library master plan and the project was funded by the library foundation.

The master plan included an online survey, focus groups and multiple public meetings.

In September 2022, the library board approved the master plan, which calls for a major remodel of the entire library.

Library presents master plan, levy proposal to city commission [2022]

The library is funded primarily through the city, but also receives funding from Cascade County and the Montana State Library.

The library board voted 4-1 with Noelle Johnson dissenting but she didn’t provide her reasoning for voting against the contract during the meeting.