Vail to consider moving forward with Vail Golf and Nordic Clubhouse remodel

Price of project skyrockets nearly $4 million since 2012 approval

The Vail Town Council will review a recommendation to proceed with the Vail Golf and Nordic Clubhouse remodel project at its regular evening meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 7. The item is listed fifth on the meeting agenda which begins at 6 p.m. in the Vail Town Council Chambers with opportunities for public comment.

Tuesday’s discussion follows an update on Sept. 16 in which members of the Town Council and the Vail Recreation District Board were presented with an analysis of revised cost estimates which showed a $3.9 million shortfall due to construction escalation and changes to the project’s scope. The original budget, at nearly $7 million, was approved by the Town Council in June 2012. The project was suspended in 2013 after the Town Council upheld an appeal of the project’s approval by the Planning and Environmental Commission to await resolution of legal challenges. The District Court has since ruled in favor of the Town of Vail and the Vail Recreation District which has been appealed by the plaintiffs.

On Tuesday, the Town Council will be asked to add $3.9 million to the remodel budget with proposed funding from the Capital Projects Fund and to authorize the following next steps:

• Engage a project management firm to assist the town.
• Negotiate an additional services authorization with Zehren Associates to restart the project through completion.
• Regroup all consultants to determine what additional due diligence studies are needed.
• Allow Zehren to work through value engineering options with the owner and prepare the Design Review Board submittal package.
• Concurrent with the DRB process, solicit construction management/general contractor services.
• Validate budget prior to proceeding past 50 percent design development.
• Execute guaranteed maximum price agreements to lock in costs and avoid additional escalation risk.
• Begin construction in September 2015.
• Complete construction within 10-12 months.

The clubhouse remodel was among three projects identified in 2011 when voters supported a ballot question to redirect funds previously collected for a conference center to be used to “promote recreation, promote tourism and support the economy.” The other projects were field expansion and restroom expansion on the upper bench of Ford Park, as well as recently completed improvements at the Ford Amphitheater in partnership with the Vail Valley Foundation.

To review documents relevant to the agenda item, click here. To comment in advance of Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, email towncouncil@vailgov.com.