Sun Valley council approves architect contract for Elkhorn Fire Station with radon condition

The Sun Valley City Council voted unanimously Oct. 29 to authorize the mayor to enter into a contract with Cole Architects/TCA for architectural and engineering services for the Elkhorn Fire Station, contingent on the architect accepting council-requested contract changes, including a condition related to a radon issue.

Council President Keith Saks moved "to approve Resolution 2015-28 Authorizing the Mayor to enter into an Agreement with Cole Architects/TCA for architectural services for the Elkhorn Fire Station subject to all of the amendments requested and the architect accepting those changes, including the condition regarding the radon issue," and Council Member Michelle Griffith seconded. A roll-call vote was 4–0 in favor; the mayor declared the motion approved.

City Administrator Susan Robertson and City Attorney Adam King led staff comments and legal framing of the contract language during a lengthy question-and-answer period that included council members and fire-department officials. City Attorney King read suggested updated contract language for inclusion in the agreement; council members asked for specific amendments and clarifications about responsibilities and conditions the architect must accept before executing the contract.

Assistant Fire Chief Charlie Butterfield and Fire Chief Ray Franco contributed technical and operational comments during the discussion; the transcript records multiple staff responses but does not provide verbatim phrasing for those exchanges. Council members pressed for contractual language that would address site-specific risks and project requirements before the mayor signs the agreement.

The resolution authorizes the mayor to execute the contract with Cole Architects/TCA once the firm accepts the council’s requested edits. The motion and roll-call vote are recorded in the meeting minutes; no dollar amount for the contract is listed in the transcript.