The committee debated whether to authorize design work to add roof screens that would cap and screen rooftop mechanical equipment on the new Cochran Middle School and voted April 14 to table the AI3 proposal for further documentation.

Why it matters: roof screens would alter the building's exterior appearance, add structural attachments and could require structural framing or equipment relocation; estimates presented in early materials ranged widely in hard costs and the committee sought more detail before committing to design fees.

Discussion and concerns: AI3 presented a proposal to design roof screens (the document in materials listed a design fee of $138,368). Committee members asked whether the screens had been included in previous design submissions; staff responded they were not included in earlier schematic, DD or CD submissions at the upper level and so would represent new scope. The design team explained the screens would likely require new structural tie‑ins because the roof structure does not uniformly provide beams directly under the screen locations.

Several committee members pressed for a line‑item breakdown of architectural, structural and consultant hours that underpin the fee. One member said a $138,000 design fee "just doesn't pass the smell test" for roughly 470 linear feet of screens and recommended tabling the motion until consultants provide detailed hours and assumptions. Following that request, the committee voted to table the AI3 roof‑screen design proposal and asked the design team and consultants to supply the hour breakdown and cost assumptions for review at the next meeting.

Outcome: motion to table carried by unanimous roll call. Staff committed to provide consultant hours and a more detailed estimate before the next committee meeting.

Direct quote: a committee member told the meeting, "a hundred and $38,000 to design 400 linear feet of roof screening just doesn't sit right with me."