Study: converting existing station to joint police-fire facility would add major cost, East Pierce to build separately

A consultant-led feasibility review presented March 10 found that converting the city'owned station into a combined police and fire public safety facility would require adding more than half again the building's square footage and large structural upgrades, and is therefore not the most economical path forward for either the City of Milton or East Pierce Fire & Rescue.

The finding came during the City of Milton study session when John Parkinson, fire chief of East Pierce Fire & Rescue, and Gunnar Gladix of Rice Fergus Miller summarized the team's yearlong evaluation of space needs and site constraints. "If you're adding more than 50% of the square footage to an existing building, that would make you wanna pause," Gladix told council. He said a two'story option for the building across the street would have grown a roughly 5,900'square'foot structure to about 15,800 square feet, or a 63% increase, requiring major structural, mechanical and seismic upgrades.

The study also tested a one'story expansion and stand'alone police and fire solutions. Gladix said a one'story joint option would have reached roughly 13,000 square feet (about a 52% increase) and that the site could not satisfactorily accommodate a shared 1,200'square'foot fitness room the agencies had wanted. By contrast, a police'only program would have required only a modest addition—about 1,000 square feet, or roughly a 15% increase, Gladix said.

The presentation included cost context. Gladix cited a recent one'story, 10,000'square'foot fire station bid at about $700 per square foot for new construction and estimated major remodels that require upgrading structural systems would run in the $500'to'$600 per square foot range. "There wouldn't be a huge advantage" to remodeling the older building, he said.

Parkinson said the districts' decision against a joint facility was driven by cost and by the conclusion that each party could meet its needs more affordably on separate projects. "The rationale behind that is cost for both parties," Parkinson said. He told council East Pierce owns property near "Dave's of Milton" (the firm referenced in the presentation) and intends to design and build a new station on that site; he said he signed a contract that morning with Rice Fergus Miller to begin that work. Parkinson added East Pierce will continue to operate from the current building in Milton "until that station is complete."

Several council members pressed for documentation and fiscal detail. Council member Strader said the city has invested taxpayer funds refurbishing the current station and asked whether the city would be able to recover that investment if the district moved to a new site. "What do we lose, and how do we reincorporate it in the city?" Strader asked. Staff and East Pierce officials said East Pierce had also invested money recently into the facility and that the cost exposure to Milton may be less than perceived; staff agreed to provide council with the feasibility diagrams and the numerical evaluations shared with staff.

Council and staff also discussed the study contract budget. Council member Royland said the interlocal authorization for the joint facility study (dated May 6, 2024) was for $58,301. Staff reported the study came in "well underneath" the expected amount and that about half of the authorized budget had been spent to date (approximately $28,000 remaining), but did not provide an exact final invoice at the study session.

City staff told council that the presentation was for information only and that there was no decision for council at the meeting. Directors noted they had paused more detailed engineering work to avoid incurring costs if the joint option proved infeasible. The council and East Pierce agreed the agencies will pursue separate projects: the city will study its own long'term police facility needs and East Pierce will design on its owned property.

Ending

Council members said they supported East Pierce's continued service in Milton and asked staff to return with the feasibility materials and with clearer cost figures showing (1) amounts Milton taxpayers have spent on upgrades to the current facility and (2) any projected lease or relocation costs the city might face while the parties pursue separate projects. Parkinson reiterated East Pierce's intent to remain a functioning station in Milton until the district's new station opens.