Finance committee approves engineering assessment for NOW Arena entry stairs, not to exceed $66,770

The Hoffman Estates Finance Committee on April 27 approved a professional services agreement with DB Sterling Consultants, Inc., not to exceed $66,770, to evaluate the NOW Arena’s main‑entrance monumental stairs and prepare construction documents.

Public‑works staff said the arena turns 20 this year and that stair infrastructure has aged; the evaluation will combine nondestructive radar scanning with core samples to determine whether repairs or full reconstruction are required. "So they will do radar to see what they can find, but then they'll also do some core. So they'll take some samples and get a better understanding of what exactly is going on structurally with the stairs," a public‑works representative said.

The committee approved the agreement by voice vote. Staff said the review will inform whether repairs are feasible or whether the stairway will require full replacement and that the city hopes to schedule work in an appropriate off‑peak window if construction is necessary.

The committee also received routine finance and departmental reports and discussed permit revenue timing (staff said a previously‑planned large permit posted in January rather than December, shifting revenue between fiscal years). The finance committee adjourned with no additional votes.