CC MEETING: March 3, 2026
DATE: February 23, 2026
TO: Erin Rinehart, City Manager
FROM: Jonathan Wheat, P.E., Director of Engineering
Shannon Hicks, P.E., Assistant City Manager
Title
Consider A Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Negotiate And Execute A Professional Services Agreement With Hoefer Welker, LLC, For Design, Plan Preparation And Construction Administration Assistance For The Fire Station 5 And South Service Center Replacement Project In An Amount Not To Exceed $2,835,000.00.
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BACKGROUND:
The existing Fire Station No. 5 was constructed in 1986 and has served its expected lifespan. The cladding system, with exposed steel elements set behind thin concrete panels, has not withstood the test of time. A 2018 engineering report on the structure determined that there is no practical way to renovate the apparatus bays to accommodate modern fire operations, and that the costs of recladding and remodeling are high enough to outweigh the value of attempting to extend the lifespan of the building. The report ultimately concluded that, given the physical deterioration, functional obsolescence of the facility, and cost to repair, a new facility was recommended to accommodate drive-through apparatus bays and expanded bays to allow for the mobile barrier (blocker) trailer and truck.
As the current site is too small for a suitable replacement facility, Fire and Engineering personnel identified an opportunity to relocate Station 5 to the City-owned property which the South Service Center is located on. The new site provides sufficient area for modern fire operations and maintains or improves emergency response times. Additionally, the property is owned by the City, providing the advantage of allowing for construction of the new station without disruption of existing emergency services. The existing facility will likely be demolished once the new station is constructed and operational.
The new facility will contain three full-length drive-through bays and be capable of accommodating seven firefighters and an officer. The station will be designed to meet current and reasonably anticipated emergency services needs with a minimum service life of approximately 35 years.
The South Service Center was originally constructed in 1963, underwent an extensive remodel in 1990, and has served its expected lifespan. Multiple roof trusses have deficiencies and, similar to Fire Station 5, the cost to replace outweighs the value of attempting to extend the lifespan of the building. The current South Service Center will be replaced with a building that meets the needs of the City and will feature two shop bays for IT to complete work, a sign workshop for Public Works, and offices and space for Traffic Operations. The facility will be designed to meet current and reasonably anticipated service needs with a minimum service life of approximately 35 years.
The Texas Local Government Code requires a government entity to select a provider of professional services, including architectural and engineering services, on the basis of demonstrated competence and qualifications to perform the services. In the selection of engineering and architectural professional services for the Fire Station 5 and South Service Center project, Staff determined the most qualified team for this project to be Hoefer Welker given the experience and qualifications highlighted during design of Fire Station 6.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Hoefer Welker has submitted a proposal to the City to perform architectural and engineering design services for the facility in an amount of $2,700,000. This includes all professional consulting fees, topographic survey geotechnical investigations and reimbursables. The proposal was evaluated against other Carrollton facilities in recent years along with several industry benchmarks and was found to be consistent with projects of comparable magnitude and complexity.
Given the age and history of the building on-site, Staff is recommending a design contingency of $135,000.00 (5%) to address any unforeseen challenges that may arise during design.
Funding is available in the Public Safety Capital Fund (854155).
IMPACT ON COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY:
This project will support the City Council’s strategic objectives and vision of building a community that families and businesses want to call home by:
• Enhancing public safety through the design of a modern fire station capable of supporting current and future emergency response demands. (Healthy)
• Improving emergency response reliability by providing drive-through apparatus bays and appropriately sized facilities that reduce operational constraints and improve deployment efficiency. (Optimize)
• Optimizing municipal facilities by replacing aging, structurally deficient buildings with modern, energy-efficient structures designed for a minimum 35-year service life. (Optimize)
• Exercising economical stewardship by replacing facilities whose rehabilitation costs exceed practical value, thereby reducing long-term maintenance and lifecycle costs. (Economical)
• Promoting hospitality and professionalism by providing safe, functional, and well-designed facilities for first responders and municipal staff. (Motivate)
STAFF RECOMMENDATION/ACTION DESIRED:
Staff recommends City Council approval of a Resolution authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute a professional services agreement with Hoefer Welker, LLC for the design, plan preparation and construction administration assistance for the Fire Station 5 and South Service Center Replacement project in an amount not to exceed $2,835,000.00 ($2,700,000.00 proposal and $135,000.00 (5%) design contingency).