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Council approves $65,800 feasibility contract to study relocating public safety offices to Midtown Garage
Summary
Council awarded a professional services contract to study converting first-floor Midtown Garage space for police and fire administrative functions, including potential locker rooms and training space; some council members questioned the need for an outside study.
The council approved a contract of $65,800 to Greenman-Pedersen Inc. (GPI) to prepare a feasibility and space-planning study for relocating administrative and support functions for police and fire to the first floor of the Midtown Garage. The study will examine space needs, code compliance, mechanical and HVAC requirements, accessibility and the potential to eliminate the city’s rented trailer used by police for locker-room and office space.
Director Weber and representatives from public safety staff said the garage’s first-floor office shell has numerous small offices and aging building systems that require professional space planning and systems review. Fire and police leaders participated in site visits and asked for a structured assessment of costs and modifications needed to adapt the existing space to public-safety use.
Several council members, notably Councilman Russo, questioned whether the city could proceed more directly — moving staff on a trial basis or relying on in-house staff and city engineers rather than funding an outside feasibility consultant. Supporters argued that the outside consultant brings space-planning, code, and systems expertise that the city does not possess internally and that the study could reveal whether the move would save ongoing rental costs (the trailer cost was characterized as roughly $36,000 per year).
Council approved the contract after discussion; staff said the study’s findings would return to council with cost estimates and recommendations for phasing, and that eliminating the trailer rental was a potential benefit if the retrofit proved feasible.
No final relocation or construction contract was authorized at the meeting; the study will recommend options and a cost range to inform future council decisions.
