TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Adam J. Lindsay, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Jeffrey A. Yates, Assistant City Manager / Interim Chief Financial Officer
Kimberly Leonard, CLGFO, CLGBO, CPA, MPA, Budget and Evaluation Director
Lisa Reid Public Safety Communications Manager
DATE: March 24, 2025
RE:
Title
Authorize PSAP (911 Center) Architectural Agreement
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
2
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Type Goal 4 - The City of Fayetteville will be a highly desirable place to live, work and recreate.
Executive Summary:
PSAP facility project was identified as a top priority in the 2022 public safety bond. To proceed with the project, City of Fayetteville staff have been working for several months to identify an ideal property and select an architectural firm for the project. The committee conducted a document qualification and in-person assessment of several qualified architects. The top candidate has over a decade of experience in Public Safety Answering Point design and has provided the city was an AIA agreement to begin design.
Background:
The current City of Fayetteville Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) or 911 Center has proximity to both a hazardous materials railroad right-of-way and is in the heart of downtown where a lot of civic activity occurs. Additionally, the current facility requires additional staff to handle increased calls for service experienced over the past decade but is restricted by available square footage. Given the safety risks posed and the lack of expansion, the city identified the PSAP as a priority project and voters overwhelming approved of designating bond funding for this project. The city contracted with Mission Critical Partners, an Owners Advisor consulting firm specializing in Public Safety Answering Point operations, construction, and technology, to assist in a needs assessment, feasibility study, and architect selection for a new PSAP.
The City previously set up a capital project ordinance to allow staff to enter into contract with Mission Critical Partners and begin the search for land and an architect.
Issues/Analysis:
This project was one of the first that City staff worked on following the 2022 GO Bond approval. At that time, Council asked staff to re-engage with Cumberland County about a possible joint facility that considered consolidation or co-location. That effort did not yield an agreement to do either nor a hybrid approach and the City refocused efforts to pursue a stand-alone PSAP. As presented, this AIA contract supports an objective to pursue the 2026 NC911 Facility Construction Grant. This application deadline is May 30, 2025 and requires a conceptual design and budgetary quotes. If awarded, the City may receive several million dollars towards facility construction costs and be able to migrate to the new facility in 2028. This grant may be available next year, but that is unknown at this time. The County and City have re-engaged on the possibility of a joint partnership for some type for 911 operations but the pace and timing will not coincide with this year’s NC911 Facility Construction Grant.
Budget Impact:
The GO Public Safety Bond funding will cover the design, land acquisition, and construction of the PSAP project.
Options:
City Council authorizes the City Manager to execute AIA agreement to contract Schrader Group Architecture for the design and construction administration of the facility.
City Council does not authorize the City Manager to Execute AIA agreement to contract Schrader Group Architecture for the design and construction administration of the facility and provides further direction.
Recommended Action:
Execute AIA agreement to contract Schrader Group Architecture for the design and construction administration of the facility.
Attachments:
Proposed Architect Professional Services Agreement
Proposed Architect AIA Form
Proposed Management Amendment to Professional Services
Presentation Slides