Placerville discusses funding options for proposed public safety building; preferred site on Ray Lawyer Drive

Placerville city staff and councilors discussed financing options for a proposed public safety building during the Jan. 23 special meeting, focusing on a preferred site on Ray Lawyer Drive and several potential revenue approaches.

City Manager Morris said the needs assessment had identified the preferred site on Ray Lawyer Drive (the meeting packet refers to the parcel as the Odeon property) and estimated the parcel contains about 40 acres; the city—s planned footprint would be roughly six acres with the remainder available for sale or future development. Morris also told council that the fire district had received $1 million toward the project, primarily for site acquisition, and that the city had solicited a site analysis RFP (Mr. Morris, City Manager).

Staff presented budget ranges from the needs assessment: a joint, combined police-and-fire facility was estimated at $43 million to $66 million; a police-only facility was estimated at $27 million to $38 million; and a fire-only facility was estimated at $22 million to $29 million. Staff warned that even the low-end estimates would create debt-service obligations not covered by current general-fund allocations and that grants might reduce the city—s borrowing need but were not guaranteed.

Public commenters and councilors debated near-term steps. A public speaker who identified as a member of the local fire board urged the city to "buy the land" as a first step while the district examines whether annexation and shared facilities reduce space needs. Chief Cordero of El Dorado County Fire clarified the district—s status during public comment, saying the fire agency is "an independent, special district" and noting mutual aid patterns between stations.

Staff outlined possible revenue options discussed for covering debt service if the council chooses to pursue the project: a sales-tax increase, a utility-user tax, a transient-occupancy tax (described as unlikely to generate sufficient revenue), partial parcel taxes, or annexation of adjoining areas (noting that annexation can shift both revenues and service responsibilities and that some commercial revenue is already directed to other infrastructure projects). Council members also discussed whether a phased approach or scaled project would reduce near-term costs.

Next steps: staff said they can return with a refined work plan that could include negotiating site acquisition, further site analysis (environmental and utilities), and more detailed financing scenarios for council and the fire district to review; no purchase or binding commitment was made on Jan. 23.