Plantation council approves Fire Station 3 restroom design contract after debate over $50,000 fee

The Plantation City Council voted to approve a design contract for restroom renovations at Fire Station 3 on March 11 after a lengthy exchange about cost and procurement method.

Councilmember Anderson told staff that $50,000 to design an existing bathroom was "excessive," asking for clearer justification of hours and rates. "Any reasonable person would say $50,000 to design an existing bathroom is excessive," Anderson said.

Project manager Dip Machuca and city staff responded that the building dates to the 1980s, lacks reliable as‑built drawings and that unforeseen conditions — including potential asbestos or degraded utilities — can increase engineering hours. Machuca described work on mechanical, electrical and fire‑sprinkler engineering as part of the consultant’s breakdown.

Administration and the CAO said staff vets proposals, negotiates hours, and sometimes relies on archived contract rates for continuity. Councilmembers discussed alternative procurement models including construction‑manager‑at‑risk and design‑build, noting those models do not guarantee lower prices though they may speed delivery.

A motion to approve the design work passed on roll call, with one recorded no vote from Councilmember Anderson. Council directed staff to provide better documentation of proposals and noted the project is necessary and long overdue.