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Council asks staff to study alternate city hall and police facility options, including reuse of downtown building
Summary
Council asked staff to form a committee to evaluate multiple options — build new city hall, move police into existing downtown building and renovate in phases, purchase/renovate other buildings, or pursue a combined city-county facility — and to return with cost estimates and funding strategies.
Council members and staff discussed multiple financing and siting options for a long-stalled police facility and possible municipal city hall during the June 17 work session. Matt, the city's chief financial officer, presented a planning-first approach: rather than pursue another bonding effort immediately, staff recommended a formal study to evaluate up to three or four alternative solutions and report back.
Matt described that the city already owns significant properties downtown and near Pioneer Road that could be repurposed. He outlined funding options that differ between a standalone police building (funded primarily by the general fund and police impact fees) and a municipal city hall (which could legally draw on a broader set of overhead charges and department contributions). Using rough estimates, Matt suggested a new municipal facility might be feasible for less than $11 million with a down payment covered by a mix of overhead-derived contributions and impact fees, reducing borrowing needs to the $5–6 million range and making lease-purchase alternatives more affordable.
Council members raised concerns about optics — for example, drawing on department reserves or overhead charges to fund a municipal building while departmental services face tight budgets — and the practicalities of security if arts or recreation programming remained in the same footprint as a police facility. Police Chief Josh, referenced in discussion, emphasized secure space and raised reservations about co-locating certain functions in a police station.
Council agreed on process rather than a decision: form an oversight committee with at least one council member, include staff and technical experts (real estate, building professionals, police and arts staff), solicit estimates from consultants (staff said consultant Michael at Zans had offered to help), and return with two to three alternative options and cost diagrams. The council approved allocating $190,000 in the next fiscal year budget for planning work to fund analysis and phased implementation studies.
Staff said any transfer, sale, or redevelopment would follow public-process requirements and come back through planning and the council for approval; no final choice was made. The council favored taking time for a disciplined planning process rather than rushing another bond vote.
