Turlock’s under-construction Public Safety Facility is nearly $1.5 million over budget, according to a presentation the Turlock City Council will hear Tuesday.

The 57,570 square-foot future home of Turlock’s police and fire departments was approved at an expected total cost of $28.2 million in 2008. But since then, costs have ballooned an addirtional $1,493,258.

The largest portion of the cost increase – $526,471 – is attributed to contract change orders. A further $353,503 shortfall comes from anticipated “value engineering” cost savings which failed to materialize.

Builders WLC Architects, Inc., requested a further $331,392 for possible construction management costs due to a construction timeline extension. And the remaining $281,892 comes from unexpected inspection, survey, and permit fees.

Turlock staff has identified funding for the now-$29.7 million building, with an estimated $4 million now expected to be available through the Turlock Redevelopment Agency Successor Agency. RDAs were shuttered statewide by the California legislature in a budget-savings maneuver in 2011, but “successor agencies,” created to wind down existing debts, may pay off existing obligations – like the Public Safety Facility.

A further $170,000 in Prop 1B transportation grants is expected to fund some off-site road improvements for the Public Safety Facility, reducing the $1.5 million gap before RDA Successor Agency money is used.

Despite the increasing costs, construction remains on schedule to complete July 18. Only framing, masonry, electrical, and plumbing work remains.

On Tuesday, the Turlock City Council is also expected to:
• Hear an annual report on the Carnegie Arts Center, which may lead to the City of Turlock returning a portion of a security deposit to the Center.
The report is late, having been expected in September.
In May 2012, the Carnegie Arts Center requested that Council return a $100,000 security deposit just months after the Center’s September 2011 opening. At the time, Councilmembers Amy Bublak and Bill DeHart said they would be comfortable returning a portion of the deposit only after hearing the annual report.
In a compromise, $20,000 was returned in May 2012, with the remainder of the deposit hinging on the information delivered in the annual report.
• Begin the process to amend the Turlock Municipal Code to set a new fee structure for building permits, inspections, or other fees, which may result in higher fees for some construction projects.
The fee structure currently calls for all such fees to be 150 percent of the amount listed in the 1994 Uniform Building Code. The new structure would tie all fees to a council-approved Cost Recovery Fee Table.
The new fees are based on a study, which determined the fee needed to recover the Building Department’s true costs to perform services. Currently, the department generates $1 million in annual costs, while producing only $662,111 in revenues.
With the new fee structure in place, the Olive Garden would have paid $816 less in permit fees, while the Old Navy would have paid $1,581 more in total fees.
• Hear a presentation on the Property Assessed Clean Energy Program, which would ease the rehabilitation of buildings to be more energy and water efficient.
Through the program, commercial, industrial, and multi-family property owners would be able to receive loans for such efficiency programs, which would be paid off through property taxes.
The presentation will detail ways in which Turlock could implement the PACE program.
• Issue a proclamation in honor of Major Debi Shrum, with the Turlock Salvation Army. Shrum has spent more than 10 years as the director of the local Salvation Army branch.
• Hear a presentation from Steve Webb, president and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy of Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties.
• Begin the process to amend Turlock Municipal Code to allow for animal rescues in Turlock. Currently, rescues must meet the criteria of kennels, per municipal code, and essentially may not operate in the City of Turlock.
• Authorize staff to issue a request for proposal to update the Northwest Triangle Specific Plan.
The NTSP guides the development of Monte Vista Crossings, covering 800 acres in the triangle created by Golden State Boulevard, Tegner Road, Taylor Road, and Fulkerth Road. Approximately 110 acres remain to be developed.
Three parcels within those 110 acres have yet to be rezoned to reflect their intended commercial usage. Those property owners requested the plan update, and have volunteered to contribute 50 percent of the up-to $260,000 cost to update the NTSP.
• Authorize creating a new Deputy Director of Municipal Services position, and hiring for that position. The current Municipal Services Director, Dan Madden, is expected to retire in the next 8 to 10 months; the new position is intended to aide in succession planning.
• Conduct an annual performance review of Turlock City Manager Roy Wasden in closed session.

The Turlock City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Yosemite Room of Turlock City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.

To review complete Turlock City Council agendas, visit http://turlock.ca.us/government/turlockcitycouncil/citycouncilmeetings.