The city of Pearland approved a multimillion-dollar renovation of its city hall complex at its Nov. 14 city council meeting.

In a 4-2 decision, the council approved a $6.1 million contract with Construction Masters of Houston Inc. to pursue renovations of the 51,000-square-foot city hall complex, which comprises the 30-year-old city hall and the 34-year-old city annex building.

While the council agreed that the city hall renovations would be a positive for the city, all voiced disappointment with the price tag.

“Citizens have put a ton of money  into infrastructure. This building is one of those things,” council member Keith Ordeneaux said. “None of us like the price tag ... It’s just something you have to do.”

Total expenditures on the project is $6.98 million. The city has $5.9 million set aside for the project, about $4.7 million of which are previously issued certificates of obligation.

The council approved nearly $1.1 million during the Nov. 14 meeting in additional certificates of obligations to cover the funding shortfall.

The renovation plan includes new electrical, plumbing and mechanical engineering work as well as upgrades to the elevators, HVAC and security systems.

The project does not include the building envelope, which includes walls, doors, windows and roofing.

Dissenting council members Tony Carbone and Derrick Reed were most concerned with issuing more nonvoter-approved debt.

“I have trouble with that,” Carbone said. “This makes perfect sense to put it on the ballot. Let the voters say, ‘Yay or nay.’”

Meetings

Pearland City Council Pearland City Hall City Council Chambers Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. 3519 Liberty Drive, Pearland