Council greenlights near‑term design and land purchases for police substation and fire station projects, leaves $3.729M funding gap to resolve

The council considered a multi‑part funding plan for three public safety facilities on April 7 after a Finance Committee recommendation. Staff presented project estimates: a police substation (~$19M total, $9.5M general‑fund share projected), relocation of Fire Station 97 (~$12M total, $1.6M GF share plus impact fees), and renovations at Fire Station 91 (project budget previously $365,000 with a $2.2M shortfall to reach the current scope).

The council established CIPs and appropriated immediate funds: $500,000 from police impact fees to CIP 711392 for environmental and design of the police substation; $2.5 million from the general fund to CIP 711403 for land acquisition and preconstruction for Station 97; and approximately $2.35M (variously recorded in the staff motion) from the general fund to fully fund Station 91 renovations. Council allocated existing fiscal sustainability strategies and other unspent capital allocations to cover most of the remaining needed funding but identified a $3.729M gap that staff had earlier reserved to support a proposed transition of retiree sick‑leave conversion to a Retiree Health Savings program. Council directed staff to find alternatives rather than use the retiree medical leave balance for that gap (staff to audit other CIP funds and, if necessary, propose use of unassigned fund balance).

The motion passed with unanimous roll call. During public comment, the union representative urged the council not to divert funds reserved for employee Retiree Health Savings negotiations; Human Resources clarified the transition had been discussed but that existing MOUs preserve current sick‑leave conversion benefits until bargaining units agree to change. Council asked staff to return with options for funding the $3.729M shortfall while moving near‑term work forward for the three projects.