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More of the improvements to Albert Lea’s recreational facilities are moving forward after action by the Albert Lea City Council on Monday.

First, the council voted 5-1 to approve plans and move forward with competitive quotes for the restrooms that are slated to be built downtown near the city’s splash pad. Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker abstained from the vote because of his involvement with the bid through his employment at Arrow Building Center, and 1st Ward Councilor Rachel Christensen was absent.

Assistant Public Works Director Ryan Hajek said staff considered three designs for the project — one a prefabricated, modular design that would come fully assembled through a company called Green Flush; a second design through RCP Structures for prefabricated materials that the city could put together and a third option through Arrow Building Center that the city could build.

The option through Arrow Building Center was the lowest, for $196,295, with the fully assembled design through Green Flush estimated at $420,500. Some funds could be saved through city staff building the structure for the second and third options, Hajek said.

The council ultimately went with the cheapest option through Arrow Building Center.

The building would include a women’s restroom with a sink and two stalls with toilets and a men’s restroom with one toilet, one urinal and a sink. It would also include a storage and possible concessions area on one side with a mechanical room between the men’s and women’s restrooms.

Hajek said the doors would open toward the parking lot in the North Broadway parking lot with the storage room on the east side with a potential roll-up window. He noted the Albert Lea Farmers Market would be able to utilize the storage area, and the building would be constructed in the same area as the existing red shed, in which the farmer’s market stores items currently.

Hajek said the budget for the project was $250,000.

It would also include upgrading electricity at the site to a 400 amp service and the cost for cameras, lights and other security measures.

“This has been a long time in the making,” Baker said in the work session, noting people have wanted restrooms in the downtown area for many years.

City Manager Ian Rigg said while porta potties would still have to be brought in for large events such as the Fourth of July, the facility would cover a lot of everyday use otherwise.

The restrooms would be open year-round.

Other projects

The council also accepted a bid of $1.325 million from Brennan Construction of MN Inc. for remodeling at the city’s arena and aquatic center.

Seven companies submitted bids with the low bid from Brennan and the high bid from Dean Snyder Construction for $1.58 million.

Of the cost, $296,500 is for the aquatic center, while $1,028,500 is for the arena.

City staff recommended adding a contingency of $132,500 — or 10% of the project bid — and contracting with Apex to manage the projects for almost $286,000, bringing the total cost for the remodeling to about $1.743 million. This portion of the improvements is about $3,650 under budget.

Cathy Malakowsky, enrichment and engagement director for the city, said projects already in the works include installing a new water heating system and electrical system in the arena and installing new LED lighting.

In the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center, the furnace in the lower level has been replaced, the air conditioning has been installed in the main dressing room, water conservation measures have been installed and the building has been sealed for energy efficiency.

Work still needs to be done in the theater to install accessible front doors and front windows, to upgrade lighting to LEDs and to update HVAC controls.

At the arena, frost testing has already been done and shower heads replaced. Water conservation measures are underway, and the building is being sealed.

Work still needs to be done at the arena on the e-ceiling, to install the new Colstrup rink floor and on the structural reinforcements, dehumidification changes, refrigeration and drainage. A new sound system also needs to be added.

Malakowsky said all of the recreational projects total about $9.795 million, which is about $177,000 over budget, even after a $250,000 donation from the Albert Lea Hockey Association.

The hockey association presented its donation at the start of the meeting.