PORT ANGELES — The Joint Public Safety Facility project between Clallam County and the city of Port Angeles is picking up steam.
The Clallam County commissioners approved a request for qualifications for a project manager/construction administrator on Tuesday. Last week, they put the project out to bid for a general contractor.
“These companies serve as the owner’s representative for these projects,” County Administrator Todd Mielke said during the commissioners’ work session on Monday. “If you kind of think of the management of this project as kind of a triumvirate where you have the city and county as the owners, the owner’s representative is the project manager who then oversees the general contractor and then the third element is construction administration design, so that is the design firm that stays on to give you any requests for information or clarification as we’re going through the project to make sure it gets built to spec.”
The deadline for both requests is Oct. 29. The commissioners will open bids that day.
Mielke said having a project manager helps protect against cost escalation on projects.
“Larger jurisdictions oftentimes have an in-house architect or engineer that oversees constructions projects,” Mielke said. “That becomes much more rare as you get into a smaller jurisdiction. In this case, the reason we go out for project management is we’re looking for a firm that has specific experience and background in construction projects. They talk the talk; they speak the lingo.”
Project management firms often keep projects on time and under budget, he said.
Commissioners approved putting out a request for qualifications as part of their consent agenda during Tuesday’s meeting.
Also included on the consent agenda was a resolution authorizing the expenditure of affordable housing sales and use tax funds as well as final approval for a subdivision.
The expenditure resolution is for a 1406/1590 grant to Serenity House of Clallam County for $1 million for the redevelopment of the Sunbelt Apartments in Sequim. The apartment complex currently houses 16 units that were built in 1947. A new 36-unit complex will be built on the property and then the current residents of the existing 16 units will move into the new units.
The 1590 funds are specifically for capital construction and remodeling projects for low-income housing, commissioners were told. It’s dedicated funding established by the state Legislature.
The grant is contingent on Serenity House securing the rest of the funds needed for the project with a deadline of Jan. 15, 2027, according to the agenda memo.
The subdivision will create 14 cluster development lots on about 37.37 acres of undeveloped land south of U.S. Highway 101 and east of Bagley Creek, according to the agenda packet.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
