Rialto council approves GMP increase for police headquarters; council authorizes reserves appropriation for phase 2 parking

The Rialto City Council voted to increase the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) for the new police headquarters and to appropriate additional funds from the general fund reserves to cover unforeseen site conditions and Phase 2 work.

City staff told the council that while the overall project is roughly an $83 million undertaking, unanticipated conditions discovered during construction — including utility relocations, off-site infrastructure upgrades (Southern California Edison, Spectrum, AT&T) and drainage and culvert work — had driven down contingency balances. Staff requested a one-time appropriation to restore contingencies and to finance acquisition, demolition and parking expansion at the 126 South Willow Avenue parcel (referred to in staff materials as the “mortuary” acquisition and demolition).

Staff described the requested appropriation in the meeting as roughly $7.86 million. In the transcript the figure appears with inconsistent formatting; staff repeatedly referenced "7,861,852" and related numerals while describing the funding request and accounting entries. City staff said the increase avoids re-mobilization costs by keeping Phase 2 with the current construction team and will support site modifications needed for operations, fiber pulls (approximately 2,000 feet of AT&T fiber), and unanticipated remediation.

Mayor Pro Tem Tim Scott moved to approve the budget amendment and GMP increase; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call.

Council discussion covered timing and financing, undergrounding utilities, and ensuring the work did not require tearing up newly paved Riverside Avenue (staff said short borings would be used where needed). Staff indicated the additional funds would be appropriated from general fund reserves and transferred into the capital accounts listed in the staff report.