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City approves new concept-development studies

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Designs for three new facilities in the works

The Gallup City Council discussed design conception and fiscal programming for three new regional facilities as part of the 2018-19 Community Improvement Plan at the Oct. 23 regular meeting.

City staff solicited a proposal from Huitt-Zollars, Inc., of Albuquerque, for their Architectural Professional Services contract for programming and concept development, as well as for site-location reviews. HZI worked with the City of Gallup in the past on a study for a regional library.

The first facility discussed at the meeting was an animal shelter design concept, budgeted for $40,000 by the council. HZI’s proposal for this project came to $49,793.07, which could increase depending on the number of the firm’s visits to Gallup.

City Public Works Director Stanley Henderson spoke for the item, and requested an additional $9,794 be added to the initial amount from the General Fund cash balance to make up the difference.

The General Fund is among the city’s budgeted funds, and is set aside for operational expenses for nearly all city departments except the utility divisions. According to the city’s website, Gallup had over $100 million in funds under management as of 2013, with approximately $30 million of that total in the General Fund.

Like the animal shelter, the city earmarked $40,000 for the design planning of a new recreation center. HZI’s proposal for programming and concept development on this item came out under budget to more than $35,400.

Funding for this item was identified by city staff in the General Fund cash balance after the initial $40,000 budget was missed in the final city budget, despite its approval by the council.

Henderson said the incident was an oversight on the city’s part.

The third facility, a new senior center, planning concept budget was also set at $40,000 by the council, but HZI’s quote came to $43,657.60.

Henderson requested an additional $3,658 to make up the difference for the item, which city staff identified in the “Fund 219” cash balance.

“[We’re] proud to see these items move forward,” Mayor Jackie McKinney said after all three items were approved with a 5-0-0 vote.

By Cody Begaye
Sun Correspondent

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