Dubuque Law Enforcement Center Space and Feasibility Study Recommendation Copyrighted
May 18, 2026
City of Dubuque CONSENT ITEMS # 12.
City Council
ITEM TITLE: Dubuque Law Enforcement Center Space and Feasibility
Study Recommendation
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approval to
proceed with Legat Architects (in partnership with McClaren,
Wilson, and Lawrie) with a cost of$92,500 to conduct the
Dubuque Law Enforcement Center Space and Feasibility
Study.
SUGGUESTED Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo DLEC Space and Feasibility Study Recommendation
2. Staff Memo Building Space and Feasibility Study Recommendation 05112026
Page 426 of 890
Dubuque
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Dubuque Law Enforcement Center Space and Feasibility Study
Recommendation
DATE: May 13, 2026
Assistant Chief of Police Joe Messerich is recommending City Council approval to
proceed with Legat Architects (in partnership with McClaren, Wilson, and Lawrie) with a
cost of$92,500 to conduct the Dubuque Law Enforcement Center Space and Feasibility
Study.
The budget has $100,000 approved for this study.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jeremy Jensen, Chief of Police
Joe Messerich, Assistant Chief of Police
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Laura BendorF, Budget Manager
Page 427 of 890
Dubuque
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TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Joe Messerich, Assistant Chief of Police
SUBJECT: DLEC Space and Feasibility Study Recommendation
DATE: May 11, 2026
INTRODUCTION
I respectfully request approval to proceed with the selected consultant team to conduct
the DLEC Space and Feasibility Study.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Dubuque Police Department currently occupies a building owned by Dubuque
County and shared with the Dubuque County Sheriff's Department. The original
building was built in 1971 , with an addition being added in 2004/2005. The police
department has outgrown the current square footage of the building, and areas in the
building are in need of renovation.
The Police Department and the Sheriff's Department hope to continue to share building
space, which helps to maintain a strong partnership.
The Dubuque Fire Department has also outgrown its administrative space at Fire
Headquarters, and due to being in close proximity to the DLEC, there may be an
opportunity to share administrative offices.
Chief Jensen submitted a memo to the City Manager requesting funding for a DLEC
space and feasibility study. A $100,000 budget was approved for this study.
A Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued for a Police Headquarters Space Needs
Analysis and Concept Design Study on January 27t", 2026. An addendum was
released on February 18t", extending the RFP due date to March 20t". Responses to
questions were provided on March 13tn
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The scope of work covered by this RFP was divided into several task areas as listed
below.
• Data Collection and Project Initiation
• Existing Facility Assessment
• Space Needs Analysis and Program Development Phase
• Concept Design Phase
• Final Report to City Council
A selection team was formed and consisted of the following City staff members:
• Jim Bousley (Chair) — Engineering Project Manager
• Steve Radloff— Police Captain
• Brendan Welsh — Police Captain
• Joe Messerich — Assistant Police Chief
• Amy Scheller— Fire Chief
• Derek Paulson —Assistant Fire Marshall
• Jessica George — Emergency Communications Director
• Dawn March — Purchasing and Safety Coordinator
• Nikki Rosemeyer— GIS Coordinator
• Braden Daniels — Data Analyst
• Jay Gonzalez Jr. — Technical Operations Superintendent (Sheriff's Department)
Ten (10) proposals were received from the following firms (in order of cost):
• HDR - $99,580
• RDG - $99,000
• OPN Architects - $97,500
• Origin Design - $97,000
• Legat Architects (in partnership with McClaren, Wilson, and Lawrie) - $92,500
• SVPA Architects - $91,500
• BVK Group - $83,480
• Bray Architects - $74,500
• Wendel (in partnership with Stewart-Cooper-Newell Architects) - $69,500
• Straka Johnson Architects — Did not submit costs
Each member of the selection team reviewed and scored the proposals based on
established criteria. Following initial scoring, the committee identified the following top
four (4) candidates: BVK Group, HDR, Legat, and Wendel.
Formal presentations and interviews were conducted with the top four candidates on
April 27th, 2026. The selection team identified Wendel and Legat as the top two firms
following the presentations and interviews.
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While Wendel scored slightly higher (Wendel scored 36 and Legat 33), all Police and
Sheriff Department personnel on the committee identified Legat as the top choice. This
was due in part to Legat and McClaren, Wilson, and Lawrie's (MWL) significant
experience in designing law enforcement facilities. Legat/MWL's proposal indicated
they have specialized in law enforcement and forensic science facilities since 1995, with
nearly 450 projects completed. Their team resumes also demonstrated experience with
regional police-specific facility assessments, space needs studies, including shared
police/public safety facilities, and operational planning projects similar to what will meet
the needs identified for the DLEC.
During presentations and interviews, Legat/MWL Architect Erik Hanna stood out with an
apparently high level of understanding of law enforcement operations and facility
functionality. Based on limited schematics and background information provided during
the process, Hanna was already correctly identifying likely operational inefficiencies and
workflow concerns within the current DLEC spaces and usage. Additionally, Hanna
emphasized the amount of time their team expected to spend onsite conducting
employee interviews, inspecting the facility and building systems alongside DLEC and
City staff, evaluating workflows, and identifying operational strengths, weaknesses, and
opportunities. The level of law-enforcement-specific focus and anticipated onsite
involvement discussed by the Legat/MWL team stood out during the selection process.
Wendel also had significant public safety experience, but the Wendel proposal and
presentation frequently emphasized fire/EMS and general emergency services
experience, with much of their listed project experience and resumes focused on fire
stations, EMS facilities, and shared fire/public safety buildings. We believe there are
unique differences in the demands and operational needs found between law
enforcement and fire/EMS specific facilities, and we feel that Legat/MWL is in a better
position to identify our facility needs and deficiencies.
Legat also has offices closer to our area (lowa City, IA, and Moline, IL), with the Project
Manager and primary studio being located in Moline. We believed this proximity would
likely allow for more face-to-face meetings, site visits, operational assessments, and
overall familiarity with the facility and surrounding area throughout the study process.
The selection team decided to contact references from both firms to help determine a
top choice. Feedback was then collected by Capt. Welsh and Capt. Radloff. The
feedback was positive for both firms.
The selection team met for the final time on May 11 th, 2026. It was decided that the
Police Department's choice would be supported, and the team would recommend Legat
for this study.
RECOMMENDATION
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It is recommended that the City approve moving forward with Legat to complete the
DLEC Space and Feasibility Study for $92,500
This firm provides the law enforcement-specific experience, technical expertise, and
capability necessary to deliver a comprehensive study for the City of Dubuque.
Cc
Chief Jensen
CFO Jenny Larson
RFP Selection Team
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