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City staff outline facilities master plan needs; short-term leased space and modular units floated as stopgap
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Summary
Staff reported Phase 1 of Kyle's facilities master plan showing major five‑year staffing and space needs and presented a near‑term lease option for Transportation & Public Works; council asked staff to return with modular and funding alternatives and full cost breakdowns.
City staff updated council on the facilities master plan and near-term office needs for Transportation & Public Works (TPW).
Deputy Director Chris Arnold summarized Phase 1 (City Hall and the Public Safety Center), saying staff projections show about 91 additional City Hall staff and roughly 113 new positions across all departments over five years, requiring roughly 21,000–25,000 net square feet of additional space. Staff identified short-term remedies already implemented (new cubicles, repurposed storage) and longer-term options including the proposed TPW and water utilities headquarters and an animal control facility. A new city hall option to house projected growth was estimated at about 64,000 sq ft and $64–$68 million, with a 2028–2030 horizon if pursued.
For more immediate TPW needs, staff (Lou) described acute overcrowding in City Hall (shared offices, insufficient meeting space) and presented a moving-ready leased option of approximately 2,445 sq ft on I‑35 frontage. The proposed three-year triple-net lease included a first-year base of $90,470 and an estimated three-year outlay of $278,010; staff estimated about $42,000 for IT setup and roughly $10,000 for basic furniture. Council members expressed concern about the per-square-foot lease rate and triple-net variability and asked staff to (1) pursue further negotiation, (2) explore modular office units as a lower-cost alternative (staff previously estimated leasing a modular unit at about $270,000 per year or purchase at figures quoted in the presentation), and (3) provide full funding scenarios (bonding, CIP, lease vs. buy) and total cost comparisons.
Several council members also urged staff to include growth scenarios (high/medium/low) and details about which positions are driving the projected headcount increases so that budget planning can reflect realistic needs. Staff said phase 2 of the facilities master plan will include additional building assessments, funding options and more refined timelines and that they will return with modular building cost estimates and suggested funding approaches for any near-term lease or purchase.
