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Commission hears plan to convert PNC building into new police headquarters; RFP to publish tomorrow
Summary
City staff outlined a design-build plan to convert the PNC building into Truth or Consequences’s new police department, described existing budget set‑asides and grant opportunities, and said a design-build RFP will be published the following day; commissioners asked about schedule, funding and selling the old building.
City staff told the Truth or Consequences city commission on March 11 that a design‑build request for proposals to convert the former PNC building into a new police department will be published the next day. City Manager Whitehead said the approach is intended to pair design and construction to reduce change‑order conflicts and speed delivery.
"We’ll publish the RFP tomorrow," Manager Whitehead said, adding that the city has already paid engineering costs that will be included in the RFP package. He described the preferred timeline as bid opening in April, potential construction start in June or July, and a contract period that could allow occupancy in about a year if all goes well.
The manager summarized earlier budget decisions that support the project: a legislative grant of roughly $375,000, a $200,000 allocation from the commission’s general fund and $250,000 from police gross‑receipts tax set‑asides. He also said the city intends the building’s center to function as a public art gallery and welcomed community‑facing design features such as a children’s art wall.
Commissioners pressed staff on contingency funding. Whitehead said selling the city’s old police building—appraised at about $300,000—remains a possible source of additional funds, and staff is pursuing other grants. Assistant Manager Alvarez explained the city recently applied for a $1,000,000 solar grant that could fund covered parking for patrol vehicles and customer parking if awarded; the solar money would be treated as an additional, separate source rather than part of the funds already set aside for the police move.
No final binding contract award or adoption vote occurred at the meeting; commissioners were asked to provide input, and staff will return with contractor and contract values for final commission approval after the RFP process. The commission opened the public hearing for comment and heard no additional public testimony on the PNC proposal that day.
The next procedural steps are RFP publication (staff said the notice will go out the following day), a bid opening planned for April, and a return to the commission for contract approval after bids are evaluated.
