Prince George staff: Upper Scott Park concession stand structurally reusable; insurance payment pending

General Services presented a timeline and damage assessment for the December 16 fire at the Upper Scott Park concession stand and reported preliminary findings from a structural engineer indicating CMU walls and the existing slab are suitable for reuse.

Staff described immediate site safety steps, debris removal, and restoration cleanup, and said a claims adjuster visited the site. VACORP engineering estimated a replacement-cost value at about $172,166 with depreciation and a deductible yielding an initial cash value reimbursement of roughly $163,200; follow-up settlements for building contents and final cleanup remain pending.

Staff recommended soliciting proposals to produce plans and specifications for reconstruction and taking a design-build approach that reuses the existing shell where practical to control costs and reduce change-order risk. They also noted options to improve fire safety in any rebuilt facility, including relocating ceiling-mounted heaters and adding a wet-sprinkler suppression system if feasible.

Board discussion focused on whether to expand the building footprint, who installed the suspected faulty heater (the original contractor was identified as Centennial under an on-demand contract), the timeline for solicitation and reconstruction, and insurance coverage for engineering services and plan development. Staff said VACORP confirmed reimbursement for engineering and plans development and that final cleaning was scheduled, with restoration contractors returning to prepare for reconstruction.

Next steps: Staff will solicit proposals for plans and specifications, return to the Board for consensus to move forward with reconstruction and an IFB, and oversee procurement and construction administration through General Services.