Carmel council orders short-term security fixes, commissions 60‑day needs review for police and public works facility

CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, Calif. — The Carmel-by-the-Sea City Council on March 27 directed staff to proceed with a set of near-term safety and security improvements at the police and public works building and asked for a fast, 60‑day program needs review to guide any larger remodel or rebuild.

City staff and the project architect presented a downsized concept for a combined police and public works facility on the existing Unipero/Torres Street site and described a range of program options, site constraints and cost drivers. Architect Mr. Hammond said the building as programmed would be substantially larger than the current footprint but that the team had reduced the proposed plan and “we get a 22% reduction in our building areas.”

The council’s direction followed a presentation by Police Chief Tomasi and the architect outlining operational needs and short-term fixes. Chief Tomasi recommended about $215,000 to $240,000 in targeted safety and security work that staff can implement quickly, including new secure doors, a lobby interview room, upgraded evidence storage and processing ventilation, and a rolling gate for the rear lot. “We’re looking at about $215,000 to $240,000,” Tomasi said.

Why it matters: the existing combined building is decades old, has water intrusion, accessibility shortfalls and seismic and mechanical systems nearing the end of their useful life; staff and the architect said the facility does not meet current program or code expectations for police and public works operations. Council members and multiple public commenters emphasized the tension between building for long-term future needs and managing near-term budget constraints.

What the consultants presented: Hammond said the program exercise found the police require roughly 16,000 square feet versus current occupancy of a little over 7,000 square feet, and public works occupies roughly 20,000 square feet today and would need about 32,000 square feet on site under the presented program. The team proposed shifting much equipment storage to the Rio Park (often called the Rio site) and considered using Vista Lobos as a temporary or supplemental emergency operations center (EOC), though the architect and chief warned that moving an EOC off-site reduces operational continuity.

Public comment reflected the split in priorities. Resident Ian Martin urged long-term planning: “Build a police station that’s going to last for several generations,” he said, citing Carmel’s sphere-of-influence planning and future infrastructure needs. Other residents urged a smaller, more modest solution. “We are a small community,” Andy Carr said, arguing for fiscal restraint. Donna Jett, a frequent meeting attendee, supported the downsized plan and said the consultant had been responsive to council requests.

Council action and next steps: council members gave staff direction—by consensus rather than a formal roll-call vote—to proceed immediately with the short-term safety and security improvements identified by the chief, and to keep the current consultant team engaged on a strictly limited basis while the council completes a program needs analysis. Mayor Buber and Mayor Pro Tem Delves were asked to form a short-term ad hoc with the architect and staff to refine the program list and report back in roughly 60 days.

Staff noted there is approximately $2.827 million remaining in the project’s CIP allocation; the short-term safety work will come from that funding, but council members said larger repairs (roofing, seismic retrofit, HVAC, electrical, ADA work) will require further budget approvals and more detailed cost estimates. The council also instructed staff to prepare a clearer, itemized “requirements” table showing which program elements are legally required, which are operational needs, and which are discretionary.

What was not decided: there was no formal roll-call vote and no commitment to a design path (full remodel, phased remodel, or demolition and rebuild). Several council members asked for a separate discussion on long-term policing strategy, including whether to continue an independent Carmel Police Department or pursue shared services; the council did not resolve that question at this meeting and left it as a topic for future discussion.

Next steps announced: staff will implement the identified security measures and return with a refined program‑requirements matrix and budget estimates. The mayor and mayor pro tem will convene an ad hoc with staff and the architect to complete a program needs analysis and cost guidance, with a report-back target of 60 days.