[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6331960,"mediaKeyId","2309222-29ce672cf44f9d09d2a99558ac438619","parentId",2309222,"title","Mesa unveils $62.7 million plan to renovate police headquarters; holding facility and in-custody court added to scope","audioSeconds",1671,"startMs",1856000,"endMs",3527000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309222-29ce672cf44f9d09d2a99558ac438619&start=1856&end=3527","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309222-29ce672cf44f9d09d2a99558ac438619/thumbnail_1856000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6331960/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-unveils-627-million-plan-to-renovate-police-headquarters-holding-facility-and-in-custody-court-added-to-scope","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331960-af87ff359d385e303cedce12f7aac90d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775190751&Signature=KtdWsoOpJYswI7jgCVwL7Rhz8~0sCLKI91MbvzwztxNq5UvH-P~5IDIu8FDMmrCdx4zNffo7b7Vt~PlBXeYpUO54W0I9OvLgf5lHY94wghBs5PgomXqqNzbL9gSdyUYVoqj55Tml2EKrGY4mbHze0OK8QxVqzxtRsMWaAgxifDrqGqn75j8yLgYKwpaKsTvExPO0xwvyiTC1Ja-wjtbFDnkqSzj8WUUgDy137SVyPUiwU99sHpYlu7a3iOWxgCl5VpVkW9E~qMG8yo-eUXAsGsZoFAYFMBJ4wdpe7uuGN5PPL1H2Dw5RoWj2HNFAZlOX0KY5H66G4QcSXCpOduRSZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Mesa, AZ","date","2025-02-13T17:09:41Z","article","City of Mesa police leaders and city staff on Feb. 13 presented a multi-phase renovation of the downtown police headquarters, adding a modern holding facility and in-custody court to a previously planned headquarters renovation and estimating a total project budget of $62.7 million.

Chiefs and staff said the headquarters—original construction phases date to 1974, 1988 and 1997—requires replacement of mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and a redesign that improves public access, officer wellness and operational efficiency. The plan calls for removing interior walls and systems, relocating stairwells to exterior positions, refurbishing elevators, improving natural light, adding a community room adjacent to the lobby and moving the Fallen Officer Memorial to a visible, centralized site.

“Members of this team have helped guide this process for the last four years,” Executive Assistant Chief Dan Butler said, emphasizing community connectivity and employee wellness. Assistant Chief Jeff Cutler described the holding facility and in-custody court in the basement as a temporary processing center where Mesa processes “over 17,600 people per year on average.” Cutler said the current basement layout creates bottlenecks, blind spots and cramped control areas; the redesign adds separate ingress and egress, larger group-processing areas, modern cell doors, isolation cells and a centralized control room.

Funding and scope: Staff said voters approved $44 million for the headquarters project in a 2022 public-safety bond question, and the police department proposed adding approximately $10 million from a public-safety sales tax set aside to cover additional scope for the holding facility. The design estimate increased during preconstruction to a total project estimate of about $62.7 million (including a 5% contingency): roughly $52.9 million for the headquarters renovation and approximately $9.8 million for the holding facility and in-custody court. The police department also identified $5.7 million in 2024 public-safety bonds as a funding source to help cover the added scope; staff described this as a reprogramming of funds within the public-safety bond category to prioritize the holding facility.

Council discussion focused on operational benefits, public transparency and the bonds’ scope. Vice Mayor Summers and others said reprogramming bond proceeds within a broad public-safety category is legally permissible but urged clear public communication so voters understand shifts among projects that were presented as examples in the bond question. “I think we need to be consistent and very transparent,” Vice Mayor Summers said. Councilmember Adams supported the project and noted that, amortized over a projected 50-year life, the cost equates to roughly a million dollars a year.

Next steps: Staff told council the project will return to the Feb. 24 council agenda as a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) request (the GMP was described as roughly $52 million plus contingency). No formal council action on the GMP or on final fund reprogramming occurred at the study session; staff said they will present the GMP and the detailed funding plan to council for approval.

Why it matters: The headquarters serves more than 300 employees and includes day-to-day public-facing functions; staff said the redesign aims to improve safety, detainee processing, employee wellness, and community access while accommodating anticipated growth and technologies such as fiber and real-time crime center integration.

Details to watch: the Feb. 24 GMP request, the council’s final decision on reprogramming identified bond and sales-tax funds, and follow-up design or sequencing changes for the public-safety training facility that staff said could be affected by the reallocation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Council Study Session - 2/13/2024","oneSentenceSummary","Police and city staff presented a renovation plan that replaces building systems, reconfigures interior space, adds a modern holding facility and in-custody court, and relies on a mix of bond proceeds and public safety sales tax. The project will return to council Feb. 24 with a guaranteed maximum price.","taxTitle","Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona","taxId",2210,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6331963,"Mesa council opts to pursue internal recruitment for next city manager",561,1192000,1753000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309222-29ce672cf44f9d09d2a99558ac438619&start=1192&end=1753","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309222-29ce672cf44f9d09d2a99558ac438619/thumbnail_1192000.jpg","/articles/6331963/Mesa/Maricopa-County/Arizona/Mesa-council-opts-to-pursue-internal-recruitment-for-next-city-manager","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331963-5d0c027ba9605c4bda585bdf1396c7e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775190751&Signature=LrFrfI1KdYB5N0PMFvzB-g0zyYHDnDLFLxN9a5eele1PpGSR3UQ41BUsKZ7vGcY3U29gdSZGH4AAc6cGnggg3HzGhFhAH~BAC3j7vDPu9tOUWI9pYItvJMOP-wwzmeHxfo4pDd01D9ZfHwPS4-w3Ju1XbBs7Vedyhb2DzGOXsuaxxmG-zJPGDELNd4baYo3yoT6fET7l1BvYm9Yt~I1rlz82WPaYBGKTgYMynGb1qteUfHhhkRRlg8QXgFYLrc5YFh0dKpSNQsf2f9cv1OMYeaTBeAw~DXdsmAR35sDyUTFfBkwutheB1OKbY-IMFKjrw2wcc3w0ec4G32IX~Y9RlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mesa City Council discussed options for hiring the next city manager during a Feb. 13 study session and directed staff to begin an internal recruitment process.

City Manager Chris Brady and Human Resources staff presented three approaches used previously by Mesa: national executive searches run by outside consultants, HR-led executive recruitments, and internal-only recruitments. Brady and HR staff said each method has advantages; national searches tap a broader pool, HR-led searches rely on internal staffing resources, and internal searches can preserve continuity when strong internal candidates exist.

Council members responded largely in favor of an internal recruitment. “I would like to see an internal recruitment,” Councilmember Duff said, arguing that an internal candidate would provide “continuity, stability, and the leadership of our city.” Councilmember Heredia, Vice Mayor Summers, Councilmember Pillsbury, Councilmember Goforth and Councilmember Adams also voiced support for starting internally, citing cost, stability and existing strong candidates. Vice Mayor Summers urged steps to make the process public-facing so residents can understand and weigh in on the selection.

Under the direction given at the session, staff will post a formal internal application for roughly one week, with applications closing at 5 p.m. on the deadline set by staff; Human Resources will forward applicant materials to council and schedule interviews. Council discussed holding a moderated public meeting(s) or meet-and-greets so community members can ask questions before the council makes a final decision. Council did not formalize a motion with a recorded roll-call vote at the study session; members expressed consensus to proceed with the internal process and to consider a public input step prior to final action.

Why it matters: The city manager is the council-appointed chief executive responsible for day-to-day city operations and for implementing council policy. Councilmembers said stability in leadership is especially important amid political and budgetary challenges and because public safety comprises a significant portion of the city budget.

Next steps: Human Resources will post the internal recruitment, collect applications, deliver candidate materials to the council and coordinate interviews. Council indicated it expects to meet privately with candidate(s) first and then hold a moderated public forum before making a final appointment. No final appointment was made at the Feb. 13 study session.","After a staff presentation on recruitment approaches, Mesa council members expressed consensus to start an internal search, post an internal application for one week and schedule council interviews with a public input opportunity before a final selection.","actionData","errors"]

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Mesa unveils $62.7 million plan to renovate police headquarters; holding facility and in-custody court added to scope

Mesa council opts to pursue internal recruitment for next city manager