By Sara Beth Williams–
The Citrus Heights City Council on Wednesday approved the latest contract for work on a $1.24 million Police Department Communications Center remodel project.
What initially began in 2022 as a $600,000 allocation to upgrade the Citrus Heights Police Department’s Emergency Communications Center has since grown into a $1.2 million project, according to a staff report released May 9.
On Wednesday May 14, the City Council voted 4-0 to approve a construction contract to Molokai Electric, LLC for completion of the remodel project, and to commit $295,178 in additional General Capital Replacement Funds to help fund the project. According to the city’s report, “there are sufficient funds” within the General Capital Replacement Fund to support the remaining anticipated project expenditures.
The item was part of the consent calendar, which consists of a group of items that are voted on all at once, unless one item is pulled for discussion. Councilmember Kelsey Nelson was absent from the meeting.
In June 2022, City Council approved an allocation of $600,000 for critical upgrades to the police department’s dispatch center, with funding coming from the American Rescue Plan Act, a bill passed by congress in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project aimed to improve technology, workstations, flooring, and acoustic treatments to better serve emergency communications needs.
As the project developed, city staff found that the original scope significantly underestimated the full extent of the work required. A change in project leadership, coupled with unforeseen electrical, structural, and HVAC needs, led to increased costs and an expanded project scope, which resulted in a request for more funding by the city. Increases in material and labor costs have also contributed to the price tag going up.
In October 2024, the City Council approved hiring COAR Design Group to provide architectural and engineering design services and approved an additional $327,000 of General Capital Replacement Funds to be allocated.
Further construction cost estimates around that time were listed at $150,000. But more detailed reviews of the scope of the project revealed that more extensive electrical upgrades were needed to support five dispatch workstations and specialized equipment.
As well, two new HVAC units need to be replaced, which serve the dispatch and IT server rooms. These units were not part of the original scope but were deemed necessary to replace to ensure the long-term reliability of emergency communications, the city said in its staff report.
In total, the remodel now includes replacement of workstations, consoles, flooring, acoustics, painting, wall treatments, structural reinforcements, two new HVAC units, and other necessary technological upgrades such as updated monitors, computers, voice loggers and the radio system. The cost of the project also includes project management and design consulting services.
Molokai Electric, LLC submitted the lowest responsible bid for construction, which includes a $25,000 allowance for potential change orders. A five percent contingency is also built into the cost plan to cover unknown conditions during construction.
City staff said the upgraded communications center is expected to serve the police department for the next 10 years with minimal maintenance.
Officials say the project aligns with the City Council’s strategic goal to “Preserve and Enhance Public Safety” and represents a long-term investment in vital emergency response infrastructure.
