Commerce City council approves $2.88 million civic center remodel; security, police space prioritized

Commerce City Council on first reading approved an ordinance to appropriate $2,880,280.20 for a Civic Center remodel intended mainly to create additional space for the police department, provide a new emergency operations/training room, relocate the city attorney and human resources, and shift the public security screening point to improve building access and safety.

City Manager Jason Rogers told the council the plan is intended to address growth in city staff and allow full implementation of the city’s Drones as First Responder program. “For full implementation, full activity of the DFR program relies on some stepped improvements to be made to shifting the EOC and creating the office space for that staff to be accommodated,” Rogers said during the presentation.

The remodel is broken into phases. The most immediate work — described by staff as the “bare necessities” to accommodate human resources and police space — was presented as Option A. An expanded package that also replaces carpets and light fixtures was presented as Option B; a third option packages Option B with a relocation and hardening of security screening at a main public entrance. Rogers said the full package with the interior refresh and the security relocation would bring the total to $2,880,280.20; the more limited Option A (without full refresh) was described as being lower in cost.

Council members debated the timing and scope. Supporters said the remodel addresses real, documented space and public-safety needs as the city has grown. Council member Ford, who moved to introduce the ordinance, noted the city’s employee counts had risen and the police department needed space to carry out investigations and to station returning officers. Opponents said the package was large and should have been presented earlier in the budget process and split so higher-priority items could proceed first.

The motion to introduce Ordinance 2686 passed on first reading. The roll-call vote recorded in the meeting shows the ordinance passed 6-3.

Votes at a glance (items decided the same evening) - Ordinance 2686 — Civic Center remodel (introduce/appropriate $2,880,280.20): mover Council member Ford; second Council member Teeter; outcome: passed on first reading (vote recorded as 6 yes, 3 no). - URA Resolution URA 2025-003 — third amendment to the purchase-and-sale agreement with DPC Development Companies (track day at Mile High Greyhound Park): mover Commissioner/Board member Teeter; outcome: passed 11-1 (Urban Renewal Authority roll call). - Kids First Healthcare — city sponsorship request, $2,000: moved by Council member Paul (introduced by council), seconded; outcome: approved (vote recorded but individual tallies not specified in the transcript). - Additional appointments and consent items (consent agenda including several budget ordinances and resolutions): approved as read; where the transcript recorded a roll-call tally the consent agenda passed as noted in the meeting record.

Why this matters: Council and staff framed the remodel as a public-safety and operations priority that supports an expanding workforce and new programs (including drone response). Opponents cautioned about timing relative to other capital needs and urged dividing the project into narrower phases.

What happens next: This was the ordinance’s first reading; second reading and final appropriation will return to council for a final vote. Staff said separate bids and design work remain before construction work would begin.

Ending: City Manager Rogers and department staff said they will provide more detailed scope, contractor selection process and timing to council as the project moves to the procurement and design stage. No construction start date was set in the meeting record.