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West Palm Beach commission approves $13.4 million to continue police building remediation
Summary
The City Commission approved a $13.4 million supplemental appropriation to finish remediation, reconstruction and waterproofing at the West Palm Beach Police Department building, with the measure passing 3‑1 after debate over whether to repair the existing headquarters or pursue a new facility.
The West Palm Beach City Commission on Tuesday approved a $13.4 million appropriation to continue remediation and reconstruction at the police department headquarters, a 31‑year‑old facility that officials say suffered roof leaks, water intrusion and mold.
City Administrator Faye W. Johnson told commissioners the request covers $500,000 to pay work already completed, about $8.9 million for interior remediation and reconstruction, $1 million for HVAC refurbishment and roughly $3 million for exterior waterproofing and window sealing. "I'm requesting your approval of resolution 26‑26F to provide the $13,400,000 in additional appropriations for continuation of remediation reconstruction of our police building," Johnson said during her presentation.
Johnson traced the work to an initial FY24 emergency allocation of $700,000 and a later $6 million authorization in August 2025. She said remediation began in areas including the 911 dispatch center, and that expanding testing revealed hidden damage that required a broader cleanup and rebuilding effort. Contractors on the project include Glaze Roofing and BELFOR, which Johnson described as the city's remediation specialist; she said independent air‑quality testing has been conducted biweekly and that December and early‑January tests were "100% normal."
Police Chief (Chief Araujo) urged the commission to proceed, saying the city had a plan to preserve operations during the work and that stopping the project would jeopardize continuity. "We have continuity of service. In my opinion, this plan that we have in place moving forward is the best plan," he said.
Opposition centered on process and long‑term planning. Commissioner Fox said she worried the nearly $20 million total spent on the building (including prior appropriations) might be better invested in a new facility, adding that "this 20,000,000 is only the beginning" and that she could not support the funding as presented. Other commissioners pressed staff about whether federal, state or other grant sources had been explored; staff and the assistant city administrator, Jose Luis Rodriguez, said there were no grants available for routine upkeep and that FEMA would not cover damages attributable to historical lack of maintenance.
Mayor Keith A. James framed the vote as a public‑safety imperative. "I campaigned on public safety is job number 1," he said. "We cannot hamstring our police department and tie one hand behind their back and expect them to do their job efficiently and effectively."
After discussion and a brief public comment from Michael Cleveland asking what a new, state‑of‑the‑art facility would cost, the commission moved the resolution and, following a roll call, the motion passed 3‑to‑1.
The administration projects that, if fully funded and on schedule, remediation and reconstruction could be completed by the end of the 2026 calendar year, with staff reoccupying renovated spaces in early 2027. Johnson said the city will continue biweekly air‑quality testing and report results to commissioners.
