Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Strategic Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council hears midyear strategic-plan update; Badger Building overrun prompts pause and space-needs study
Summary
City staff reported progress on staffing, internships and capital projects, and also warned of a large overrun on the Badger Building project and forthcoming work on a space-needs study, pool repairs and property disposition options including the Armory deed restriction review with the state.
City staff delivered a detailed midyear update on the city's strategic plan, touching on workforce development, capital projects, property disposition and sustainability initiatives.
Freeman, presenting the midyear report, highlighted staff hires, a new cross-department internship program, and work on progressive pay structures for police and fire. He said staff will circulate a compensation analysis and draft tuition-reimbursement policy that would cover tuition, books and certain fees under a capped benefit structure.
On capital projects, Freeman described updates to the conference-center and library-plaza design, continuing work on the water-treatment plant and the start of acquisition work for the rails-to-trails project after a DOT notice to proceed. He said the gateway sign bid results were higher than expected and staff will explore a partnership with Wildcat Manufacturing to control costs.
Freeman flagged a significant budget concern: the Badger Building project has returned numbers "close to a half $1,000,000 over budget," and he recommended pausing further work while a space-needs study guides decisions on whether to move forward, expand existing facilities or consolidate administrative offices.
The city attorney reported the state has identified a potential administrative path to lift deed restrictions on the Armory property; the city submitted a letter under the city manager's signature requesting removal and will report back before the start of the legislative session if additional steps are needed. The council discussed potential uses — including interest from a nonprofit medical clinic — and cautioned about maintenance costs for an aging building.
Other items in the midyear report included additional testing and a likely expensive repair plan for the municipal pool, continued work to harden electric infrastructure, a new street-condition survey and the adoption of electric-vehicle charging-station contracts linked to the climate-action plan.
Freeman and council members also agreed to a facilitated meeting in mid-December with DOE and regional partners to clarify responsibilities for properties the city maintains on and off the reservation and to discuss long-term fiscal effects of those obligations. The council asked staff to return with more detailed cost and funding scenarios and timelines where available.
The council expressed appreciation for staff's work on the comprehensive midyear package; staff will follow up on the Badger Building budget review, the Armory deed-restriction process and the Dec. 16 facilitated meeting planning.
