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Monona council approves reduced-scope public safety complex, sets $25–30 million cap

Monona Common Council · March 17, 2026

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Summary

The Monona Common Council approved a resolution to limit the next phase of a proposed public safety and administration facility to a reduced scope targeting immediate and emerging needs, with a budget target of $25–30 million rather than the earlier $50 million estimate.

The Monona Common Council voted to approve a reduced scope for a proposed public safety and administration complex, setting the project target at $25–30 million rather than the roughly $50 million estimate previously provided.

Mayor Moore and staff told the council the reduction reflects a decision to prioritize "immediate and emerging needs" for police first, then fire/EMS, and administration only if budget allows. The mayor said the figure is drawn from internal staff analysis and CD Smith cost estimates and does not lock in an architectural concept: "This is just to say we're gonna spend a maximum of 30,000,000, 25 to 30,000,000 as opposed to 50,000,000," the mayor said while walking through the prioritization.

Council members discussed the rationale for focusing on near-term needs rather than a 60-year buildout. Staff described a three-tier prioritization (immediate needs, emerging needs, future needs) and said estimates were produced from renovation and addition unit costs rather than finalized designs. No specific building plan or schematic was approved at this stage; the resolution authorizes proceeding with a narrower scope and budgeting assumption so staff and contractors can refine the project within the lower target.

A motion to approve the resolution passed after a second and voice vote; the council recorded the outcome as "Motion carries." The council emphasized that, if future design work shows additional sustainability features or larger program needs would require higher spending, the body would decide whether to increase the budget at that time.