Concord’s City Council on Nov. 24 approved a resolution to move forward with a new police headquarters with a revised not-to-exceed appropriation of $41,000,000 following a contested amendment and a council vote.

Councilor Kurtz proposed the amendment reducing the appropriation from the previously discussed figure to $41,000,000, telling colleagues the number “is not arbitrary” and that staff and councilors had pushed for every possible efficiency. “This number comes from pushing as hard as I believe I could to a space where staff say they feel comfortable,” Kurtz said during debate. The amendment was moved and seconded and passed on a voice vote.

Supporters said the reduction reflected detailed value engineering rather than changes to the building footprint. Councilor Secker and Councilor McNamara described new cost-saving work with staff and consultants and said the building would still meet operational needs for investigations, evidence storage and training space. City staff repeatedly said the reduction would come from cost-control measures and contingency adjustments rather than a footprint redesign.

Opponents warned that the cut appeared abrupt and that the public had limited time to weigh in. Councilor Schultz said she felt “pretty blindsided by this number” and criticized the timing, arguing the public should have been more involved before a new not-to-exceed figure was adopted. Councilor Hart likewise said he supported a new station but could not support the $41,000,000 version given residents’ financial pressures.

The council approved the final resolution — as amended — and the mayor announced it “passes by the necessary two-thirds majority.” Council discussion referenced staff confidence in meeting the revised budget through value engineering, continued attention to tax impacts and an intent to proceed without delaying the project’s timeline.

What the council decided and next steps
- Action taken: Council adopted the resolution for the new police headquarters as amended, authorizing a not-to-exceed appropriation of $41,000,000. The council’s vote met the two-thirds threshold specified in the motion.
- Implementation: City staff will proceed with design/permitting and value-engineering work within the amended budget and return to council or public hearings as required by procurement law and appropriation processes.

Why it matters
Councilors and staff framed the vote as a balance between urgent public-safety needs and taxpayer cost concerns. Supporters emphasized operational and safety shortfalls at the existing station — including evidence-storage constraints and poor conditions for staff — while opponents focused on affordability for residents and a desire for broader public engagement. The amendment and final vote represent the council’s effort to reduce the project price while keeping the proposed program intact.

Quotes
“This number is not arbitrary. This number comes from pushing as hard as I believe I could,” Councilor Kurtz said in support of the amendment.

“I feel pretty blindsided by this number in particular. It would have been more helpful for the public to also have been involved,” Councilor Schultz said in opposition.

Outcome and provenance
The council passed the amended resolution authorizing the police station appropriation; the discussion introducing the amendment begins at SEG 721 and the final two-thirds vote is recorded at SEG 1988–SEG 1990.