City staff told the Public Safety Committee they have budgeted funds, including interest from the 2021 bond issue, to cover three police substations and related work while noting that final bids and furnishing will change some totals.

City staff said the Monkhouse Drive substation cost “just a little under a million 7” (approximately $1.687 million), the North Market substation is currently around $1.91 million and could rise toward $2.0 million once furnishing and finish work are included, and Cedar Grove’s bid price is about $1.78 million. Combined, staff said the substation program has enough funding in the 2021 bond package plus bond interest and supplemental appropriations to proceed. Staff described total project funding in the range of more than $7 million when traffic and temporary station costs are included.

Regarding the main headquarters at 1234 Texas, staff said the project is currently budgeted using bond proceeds and interest; the budget figure discussed at the meeting was reported as about $28 million overall (including alternates, design and furniture). Staff explained the procurement timeline: after the mayor’s solicitation, purchasing will go out to bid (a roughly 30-day window), bidders will secure bonding and insurance, and staff expect it will be “after the first of the year” before site mobilization and construction activity begin. Staff estimated the construction period at about 22 months once work begins.

Finance staff explained that bond interest earned while funds were held since 2021 created additional dollars available to address higher-than-anticipated construction costs. The committee asked for written detail on expenditures and the current project status; staff agreed to provide itemized accounting of the bond-funded projects and available interest figures.

Ending: Staff said they expect to proceed to bid and recommended the council consider the proposed amendment (to add additional bond interest proceeds) that would allow the city to move forward on the headquarters project when construction bids are received.