Committee authorizes bid advertising for $1.86M North Precinct remodel to consolidate police units

The Public Works Committee voted July 28 to allow staff to advertise bids for the Rapid City Police Department North Precinct (CIP 3002), with an estimated construction cost of $1,855,500.

Chief Hedrick said the department evaluated several buildings and chose a former sewing center because it requires less remodeling than other options. "So we'll have we'll be able to cut out the rent that we're currently paying in those locations, bring them under the roof of the building that we own," he said, describing plans to consolidate the community outreach unit, a substation and training space and to reduce ongoing rental costs.

Amanda Lee, administration operations manager, told the committee architects are developing a scheme to convert large open areas into offices, a training center, conference space and limited updates to bathrooms and kitchen areas while preserving fiscally responsible reuse of existing infrastructure. Project manager RJ warned of higher-cost infrastructure items: "The original building did not have fire sprinklers in it. ... In order to do that, in order to get the fire flows we needed, we've gotta bring in new fire you know, new, water service lines..." RJ said the work will also require upgrades to electrical and mechanical systems, and that finishes and moving walls will add to cost.

On a motion by Bieberdorf and a second by Meyer, the committee voted to authorize advertising bids for the project. Staff said the authorization will let the department move forward with procurement and more detailed cost estimates.