8.0. SR 03-18-2002Item 8.
MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
Mayor and City Council
eMa~r ~ia~;i :~~strat°r
Staff Updates
The public safety-city hall building (and design) committee met on Tuesday, March 12, 2002.
I would like to provide the Council with an update on some of the issues that were discussed
at that meeting. Additionally, the Utilities Commission met on March 12, 2002, and I assume
that the commission update by John will include the fact that the Utility Commission
approved the budget, construction management firm, and architect for the project. Update
topics on March 18, 2002, will include the following.
· Geothermal
· Roof
· Ceilings
· Orono Parkway Median Work and Timing
· Ramp
Recendy the committee has received mixed information regarding the "payback" for using a
geothermal heating/cooling system. The increased capital costs are supposed to be
recaptured based on lower operating expenses. More analysis is being done and a report is
expected on Friday, but the recent information shows the payback for our project as being
much longer than previously reported. The committee has generally accepted a ten year
payback timeframe as being acceptable and it is very questionable if this can be achieved.
This revelation is troubling as we had high hopes of using this system for this project.
Complicating the situation slightly is the timing issue, whereas a geothermal decision needs
to be made very soon if we are to stay on schedule and award bids in early June.