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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 1, 2002FRANK BOYLES TO: SUBJECT: March 28, 2002 MAYOR HAUGEN AND CITY COUNCILMEMBERS April '1st Workshop on Needs Analysis for City Hall, Police Facility and Fire Station A work session has been scheduled for 5pm, Monday, April 1, 2002 in the Fire Station City Council Chambers to review and discuss the Needs Analysis which has been prepared for City Hall, the Police Facility and the Fire Station. A meal will be served. The City's Capital Improvement Program contemplates the construction of a satellite Fire Station in 2005. The City Council has previously expressed its concern that the City Hall and Police facilities no longer provide adequate facilities to meet current or future staffing and operating needs. In short, the buildings are becoming more of an impediment to effective service delivery. In our internal employee surveys, we are hearing a common chorus, especially in the Police Department, that building replacement should be a high priority. I have retained David Kroos from the architectural firm of Boarman, Kroos and Vogel to assist in various planning functions for a new City Hall and Police Station, and a satellite Fire Station. As a first step in the planning process, I have asked Police Chief Bill O'Rourke to oversee this effort. Bill has worked with Mr. Kroos and City supervisors to update a space needs analysis which the Boarman firm originally completed in 1994. Mr. Kroos will review the results of this analysis with the City Council on Monday night. The results will show a need over the next 20 years to provide approximately 40-44,000 square feet of City Hall / Police Station space which is considerably above the 20,000 square feet presently available at City Hall, the Police Annex and old library building. (The staff and architect have assumed one building for City Hall and the Police Station). A number of policy decisions are required of the City Council including: 1. Should the new building include a City Council Chambers? 2. A cable studio with public access has been incorporated in the plan. Does the Council believe such action is appropriate? 3. Engineering is assumed to be included in the new City Hall. An argument can be made that there are some benefits in moving this operation or some portion of it to the Maintenance Center. 4. The holding cells to be incorporated into the new building are short-term and therefore less expensive than long-term facilities. This assumption has been made both because of cost and size considerations and the fact that Scott County is building a public safety facility designed to meet the needs of Scott County cities. 16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (952) 447-4230 / Fax (952) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER 5. The new building does not contain a public safety dispatch center given the cost and space considerations and our anticipation of continued County-wide dispatching. Is this appropriate? 6. The building as presently contemplated assumes conventional file storage space. Modest space reductions may be possible with the use of digital document storage. Should the consultant further refine these figures? 7. The building does include a three-stall firing range for hand guns only. Given cost considerations and the fact that firing ranges are available at Dakotah, Burnsville or University of Minnesota should a facility be reflected in the final plans? 8. The building includes 1400 square feet for recovered property (recovered bikes, recreational equipment or vehicles). As long as the old maintenance center is available, this need is served. If these facilities are abandoned in the future, then the space would be needed in the City Hall or a new maintenance building. Once these policy matters are addressed, the consultant can refine the final building size and associated cost estimate. A second set of policy issues require City Council discussion. These issues relate to the number of buildings and their location. The approximate size and location of the satellite Fire Station has been addressed (see attached sketch). A three-bay building is anticipated to be located in the vicinity of CSAH 21 and Carriage Hills Parkway. Both the location, size and construction schedule could be affected by our discussions with the SMSC regarding a possible joint venture. We have concluded that it is unlikely that either the Police facility or City Hall would be co-located with the Fire Station. Assuming that the Council concurs with this conclusion, consideration should be given to where the City Hall / Police Station building should be located. A one-story building requires 5 ¼ acres of land..A two-story building, about 4 acres (see attached sketches). The Council should review the following site alternatives and determine whether they are comprehensive. Once each possible site alternative has been identified, the architect will evaluate each and provide a written report including cost implications. At a subsequent meeting, the Council will be asked to identify the final site and the associated costs will be incorporated into the 5-year CIP. Several site alternatives have been identified by staff: A. Existing Location: The existing site of City Hall, the Police Annex and open green space is considerably less than 4 acres. While this site is small, it does preserve the civic center theme and locates the City Hall/Police Station close to Downtown in a highly visible location on CSAH 21, Prior Lake's main street. The City owns the property (although some additional property may need to be acquired.) Demolition will be required which is expensive. Some may be concerned that the City Hall addition completed in the 1980's is being pre-maturely removed. B. Waterfront Passage Business Park: The City could negotiate with the owner of the 60 acres south of the business park to acquire 4 - 5.5 acres. Such action would preserve the existing facilities for lease to others or could provide funds to the City if the property were sold. The cost of the land and extension of utilities including the street should be considered. Such action could "jump start" the 60 acre Business Office Park south of Waterfront Passage. This location would place all three municipal facilities in close proximity albeit in the southeast corner of the community outside of the Downtown area. C. CSAH 21 and CSAH 82: A four to 5.5 acre site could be acquired at this location at the northwest quadrant of the intersection. This property is undeveloped, centrally located and zoned residential. At this site, the City Hall / Police Station facility might be integrated with the satellite Fire Station. This location would result in a public building in the midst of residential property all around it. D. Old Post Office Site: The Council is aware that the post office will be moving from the site on TH13 to a new site. The old site is about 2 acres. The City would have to acquire a second site to achieve 4 acres. The properties in this area are commercially zoned so there would be a I :\FRAN K~M EMOS\COU NCI L\02\needs analysis. DOC e. reduction in this land inventory and cost considerations for commercial property. Demolition will also be required. Another option in this area is the C.H.Carpenter property. South of CSAH 2'1 west of Main and east of Arcadia: Property in this area could be acquire for a new City Hall / Police Station. This action will require purchases from multiple property owners. This site would keep City facilities in the Downtown area and could expand the Downtown area. The existing City Hall could be sold or leased. The Council should confirm whether the architect should analyze all or a portion of these sites. The staff would also appreciate Council input about other sites which should be considered. The architect will complete the analysis and report his findings at a subsequent work session or meeting before the second meeting in May so that the financing for a new building or buildings can be incorporated into the CIP for 2003-2007. I:\FRANK~MEMOS\COU NClL\02\needs analysis. DOC 6.1.2ZZ'gg2:.2 Bk:PU S~ A:~:~OCIATE:~ ,95'3 P;34 r,'lAR 27 'Q2 ~.~.:22 6125396212 Bk:P~) :& ASSOCIATES 859 PO2 r"lAP 27 'la2 11:2! ITl I m I z I .i il;