Council agrees to seek construction bids and outside funding for Milo training system at gun‑range site

City police and staff presented a proposal March 17 to convert part of the former gun range into a Milo simulator training space, and council directed staff to obtain construction quotes and explore outside funding for the simulator.

Jasper introduced the idea as a reuse of the gun‑range footprint and said the city has public‑safety funds set aside for capital and operations; he told the council the current balance for the public safety allocation is about $116,000. Staff estimated construction to modify the space would be about $140,000, and that the Milo simulator and outfitting would be additional and could be financed separately or through grants.

Craig, a police staff member who described the system, said Milo is a high‑definition, scenario‑based training system that projects actors across three screens and “projects…actors that act out over a thousand different scenarios.” He told council the simulator can train de‑escalation, mental‑health encounters and scenario awareness without live ammunition, and that Milo’s vendor provides new scenarios and software updates over time. Craig said the system also offers an economy over time because it uses electricity instead of live ammunition.

Staff proposed using current public‑safety capital funds to pay for the construction work and returning to council with firm bids for the simulator hardware, or to bundle the simulator purchase into an equipment certificate if council preferred. Jasper and Craig also said staff would pursue grants — including Department of Justice and other public safety funding — and potential donations.

Council direction: members asked staff to obtain formal construction quotes and to pursue grant opportunities for the Milo system. Staff said they already have two contractors providing ballpark estimates and will ask for formal, itemized quotes. No formal procurement award for the simulator was made at the meeting.

If the council approves later purchases, staff said construction could be scheduled for 2025 and that earlier construction would likely reduce cost inflation risk for building work. Council members noted the city could open the simulator to regional training and potential revenue after initial deployment.