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$content = "<p>Plans for Penticton’s new $38-million fire hall headquarters continue to move forward, with the city selecting its project team and awaiting word on a potential $7-million provincial grant.</p>
<p>The Fire Hall Renewals Project includes construction of a new $37-million headquarters at the site of Fire Hall Station No. 2 on Dawson Avenue, as well as $1 million in renovations and upgrades to the downtown Fire Hall No. 1.</p>
<p><img alt="<who>Photo Credit: City of Penticton</who>An artist’s rendering of Penticton’s Fire Hall Renewals Project." src="/files/files/images/pentictonfirehall.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" /></p>
<p>Kelsey Johnson, the city's general manager of community services, updated council on the project Tuesday. She said the city applied for funding through the 2025 Strategic Priorities Fund but has not yet received a decision on its grant application.</p>
<p>Following a detailed request-for-proposals process, the city received nine submissions. Johnston Davidson Architecture (JDa) and Chandos Construction were selected as the project's lead design and construction partners. Other firms selected for the project team include AltaPro Electric Ltd., Falcon Engineering and</p>
<p>Penticton-based Betts Electric as electrical consultants and contractors. WSP Canada Inc., Falcon Engineering Ltd. and Chapman Mechanical Limited were selected as mechanical consultants and contractors, while RJC Engineers was chosen as the structural consultant.</p>
<p>“Collectively, these companies, along with the City of Penticton, form the IPD Project Team,” said Johnson. “In addition to procuring the IPD team, staff completed owner’s project readiness training, worked with legal counsel to develop the contract agreement and drafted the initial conditions of satisfaction and added-value incentive items.”</p>
<p>The project stems from the city's Asset and Amenity Management Plan, completed in 2021, which assessed long-term infrastructure needs to ensure financial sustainability and maintain service levels.</p>
<p>Johnson said the city's 2022 asset management investment plan identified approximately $1.4 billion in infrastructure assets and recommended annual lifecycle investments averaging $29.5 million. Those figures do not account for inflation.</p>
<p>Following adoption of the management plan, the city launched its Civic Places and Spaces Project to help prioritize major facility investments, including the fire hall renewal project.</p>
<p>The city retained Colliers Project Leaders as its Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) advisor to assist with procurement, project organization, facilitation and training. “With the support from Colliers, the IPD team was procured,” said Johnson.</p>
<p>The first phase of the project focuses on constructing a new headquarters on the existing Fire Hall No. 2 site. Current plans call for a two-storey, 27,000-square-foot facility featuring four tandem fire apparatus bays and a four-storey hose tower.</p>
<p>“The headquarters will house fire administration offices, including the Emergency Management Program and Fire Prevention teams, and provide adequate operational space for training, equipment maintenance, decontamination, communications and gear storage,” said Johnson.</p>
<p>The building will also include eight dorm rooms and living quarters to support firefighters during 24-hour shifts.</p>
<p>Johnson said the city selected the Integrated Project Delivery model because it brings the owner, architect, contractor and trade partners together early in the process under a single agreement.</p>
<p>“The IPD model was chosen to enhance collaboration and communication through the design and build process, cost certainty, shared accountability, and efficiency and innovation in the design and delivery,” she said.</p>
<p>Johnson described the report as a significant milestone for the first major facilities project to emerge from the Civic Places and Spaces initiative.</p>
<p>Over the coming months, the project team will complete a validation phase that includes refining the design, conducting cost estimates, establishing construction timelines and determining a target project budget. The results will be presented to council for approval.</p>
<p>The discussion also prompted questions from council about local participation in the project.</p>
<p>Coun. Shannon Stewart asked whether preference had been given to local companies during the procurement process. Johnson said provincial procurement rules prevent municipalities from awarding additional points based solely on a company's location. Instead, proposals are evaluated on their ability to deliver the required work. However, she noted there will be opportunities for local contractors and tradespeople as construction progresses.</p>
<p>“There will be plenty of opportunity in the construction phase to bring on local trades throughout the course of delivering this project,” said Johnson.</p>
<p>Coun. Campbell Watt questioned why local companies could not receive preference when proposals are otherwise equal. “If it's two equal applications, that we go the local side,” he said.</p>
<p>Angela Campbell, the city's general manager of corporate services, said provincial trade agreements restrict municipalities from favouring local firms during procurement evaluations.</p>
<p>“The procurement does specifically say if all things are equal, we will favour local,” she said. “But it has to be the best value for the city, and that's based on the criteria that's established.</p>
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