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McMinnville aldermen discuss police station options, agree to update AEI contract and hold workshop
Summary
The board reviewed options for a permanent police facility — selling city-owned properties, remodeling 202 Bell Street, or constructing new — and asked staff to bring an updated contract for AEI architects and to convene a workshop to compare retrofit and new-construction costs.
The McMinnville Board of Mayor and Aldermen held a wide-ranging discussion about options for a permanent McMinnville Police Department facility and agreed to pursue an updated contract with AEI architects to produce current cost information and to schedule a workshop to evaluate options.
City staff framed the issue as a long-term project that could be funded, in part, by city property sales. Nolan (city staff) told the board the Pacesetter property purchased previously could be worth an estimated $1 million to $1.5 million based on unofficial assessments, and that selling city hall could potentially net several million dollars (the $7 million figure discussed was described as an unofficial estimate and not an appraisal). Nolan said those receipts, combined, could help fund a new municipal or police facility but emphasized that the process would require joint committee meetings and additional planning.
Board members discussed three primary options: (1) build a new facility on a selected parcel (resolutions 2072 and 2077 reference prior approvals to pursue sites and contract with AEI Architects), (2) renovate part of the existing Bell Street building at 202 Bell Street for a police facility, and (3) use the Pacesetter property for a new building or sell the Pacesetter parcel to help fund a new facility. Several aldermen noted the Bell Street building has a sound structure and a new roof and that a professionally designed retrofit might cost in the range of $100–$150 per square foot, while new construction estimates discussed in the meeting were roughly $300 per square foot. One contractor estimate quoted remodeling costs “about a million and a half” compared with $5–7 million for new construction, but those figures were presented as rough, unofficial estimates and would need updated bids.
Aldermen expressed broad agreement that updated cost estimates and comparative analysis were necessary. The board asked staff to return with an updated contract for Peter Metz of AEI Architects to provide current plans, specifications, and cost estimates; board members said they would then hold a less formal workshop with Peter to explore options and funding scenarios.
No binding appropriation or design commitment was made at the meeting. The board’s action was procedural: staff were authorized to seek an updated agreement with AEI and to organize a planning workshop so elected officials could compare retrofit versus new-construction costs with current pricing.
Provenance: Discussion on the police facility began during unfinished business (Item 7) when staff summarized prior resolutions and options; the item ran through the subsequent discussion of AEI’s prior work, cost estimates, and the board’s direction to obtain updated design information and hold a workshop.
