Title
Report regarding a project update and two resolutions approving amendments to the Consulting Services Agreements with Kitchell CEM for program and construction management services and Dorman Associates for architectural design services for the Westborough Preschool Project. (Jacob Gilchrist, Director of Capital Projects)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council receive a report regarding a project update and two resolutions approving amendments to the Consulting Services Agreements with Kitchell CEM for program and construction management services and Dorman Associates for architectural design services for the Westborough Preschool Project.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Project Update
In 2021, staff was directed to explore a location for a new preschool in the Westborough neighborhood. An initial study of locating a preschool at Carter Park helped determine the needs of staff to run a new facility, but ultimately seismic concerns at Carter Park required that staff abandon the idea of building at Carter Park. After exploring other locations, in late 2022, the City Manager directed staff to proceed with exploring Westborough Park as a potential location. In spring 2024, Capital Projects staff recommended to City Council an award of professional services contract to Dorman Associates for the planning and design of a new preschool at Westborough Park. Since that time, staff and the design team have explored Westborough Park and developed a preliminary plan for a new preschool.
The proposed plan imagines a new facility near Fire Station 64 and separate from the existing Alice Bulos Community Center where there are currently three preschool classrooms, one in the main building and two in the adjacent modular-construction classrooms. The all-new five-classroom preschool allows for a dedicated building and playground, freeing up the existing playground and building for other neighborhood needs. While there will be an impact...
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