Capital Plan Development Task Force Update #28

The Capital Plan Development Task Force would like to thank all those who attended the March community information sessions and/or took the time to respond to a feedback survey about the building design options. A total of 140 responses were received. Common themes for each of the building options were summarized into a report that was presented to the Task Force at its April 8 meeting. Common themes focused on cost and affordability of the options, while also weighing in on the disadvantages of access to care during renovation. Although options seemed to rank differently for respondents, the Task Force determined from the feedback that generally all options seem reasonable and would meet the needs for future hospital care. The full report is available on the MAHC website.

The Task Force discussed the initial construction cost report. Revised figures were shared as a result of standardizing the potential space needs associated with onsite community partners to ensure that the option costs are equally comparable. The Task Force reinforced that cost estimates at this point are directional to inform its evaluation of the building design options, and will continue to be refined after preferred options for each of the Two Acute Sites are selected, and on a go-forward basis at each stage of the capital planning process.

Work continues around the ‘local share’ component as meetings involving elected officials and stakeholders  from each Foundation are taking place to help determine local share requirements and identify opportunities and strategies to raise the local share. Beyond the construction costs of the options, it is recognized that fixtures, furnishings and equipment are substantial additional costs to be funded by the local community. A detailed analysis of these needs is underway to further inform the potential total magnitude of cost  for the building design options before the Task Force completes its evaluation of the options.

With the continued dialogue occurring with respect to costs, affordability, local share and the potential to scale or phase construction, the Task Force acknowledged its recommendation is not likely to come forward to the MAHC Board of Directors before the summer of 2019.

The Task Force is awaiting a call of the chair for its next meeting once details and information resulting from the local share working group work become available.