Nixa gets schematic designs for new police facility; city moves forward with bond authorization

Navigate Building Solutions on Tuesday presented schematic designs, site plans and a program budget for a new single‑story Nixa police department facility, and the council advanced authorization of special obligation bonds to pay for the project.

The presentation, led by Katie Aholt, director with Navigate Building Solutions, described a proposed 21,280 square‑foot building on roughly five acres on North Leanne Drive that would include a public lobby and community/training room, administration and detective areas, evidence processing and a sally port, locker and training spaces, secured rear parking with covered officer parking, and room for future expansion.

The project team told council the city purchased the site in September 2024, completed a sinkhole evaluation, geotechnical work and a site survey and moved into schematic design. “We are serving as your owner's representative on the design and construction of your new police department facility,” Aholt said. She said the design work included elevation studies to fit the neighborhood and programs to determine space needs.

Why it matters: the council later approved second reading of an ordinance authorizing the issuance of up to $15,300,000 in special obligation bonds to fund the project; the bonds would be repaid from annual appropriations rather than general taxation. Finance Director Jennifer Evans said the city received a Moody’s appropriated rating of AA3 for the proposed issuance and that competitive bids will be taken the week following the meeting, with results to be presented at the Jan. 28 council meeting.

Cost and schedule details: Navigate said the city has a $15,000,000 total program budget; the current estimate is about $15.2 million. The consultant described the total program budget as covering construction, furniture, fixtures and equipment, technology, professional fees, testing, and contingencies. The construction portion is targeted near $12,000,000 with roughly a 10% construction contingency. Aholt said the team is carrying an owner contingency to allow for optional items such as solar, which she estimated at about $200,000.

Timeline presented by Navigate shows schematic design completed in November, design development documents targeted for late January, a revised cost estimate in February, and a bid set in mid‑June with contractor bids expected in mid‑July; construction was estimated at 12–14 months with occupancy targeted in late 2026.

Council and staff questions focused on evidence and property storage capacity, hardened areas, glazing protection, and vehicle/secondary access. When a council member asked whether the property storage area “is gonna be big enough for property storage,” the police chief (role title used in the meeting) responded that the programmed space "will be sufficient," adding that ongoing technology and design efficiencies should extend the facility’s usefulness. Aholt and the team said the community/training room is designed as a hardened space and that the locker room area is “partially hardened.” Aholt also described measures such as ballistic film on glazing and landscaping features to reduce vulnerability.

Financing action: At second reading the council voted to authorize the bond issuance. Jennifer Evans told council the sale notice had been posted and that the competitive sale would occur the following week; Baker Tilly will present the sale results and interest rates on Jan. 28. The council’s roll call on the ordinance was recorded as unanimous.

Next steps: staff and the owner’s representative will complete design development, update the cost estimate, finalize bid packaging and proceed to bidding this summer. The council will review bids and bond sale results before awarding a construction contract. Aholt said the project team will perform a constructability review and maintain a budget tracker to inform council of any owner decisions affecting cost.

Ending: staff said owner‑direct procurement items (furniture, evidence storage systems, fitness equipment, technology) will be presented to council as separate vendor contracts when ready.