Replacing the aging police station is back on City Council’s agenda tonight.
City police have been asking Council to replace their Balmoral Street building, saying it’s obsolete and in poor condition.
A new report outlines options for multiple offices throughout the city. They include a new central headquarters with a south-side satellite office, keeping the Balmoral Street office and adding offices on the north and south sides, and a new south-side HQ with an outpost on the north side.
However, it notes that each of the six proposals would be less efficient than one centralized headquarters. The report concludes it would be especially difficult for evidence deposit and retrieval, prisoner interview and transport and dispatch, supervision, and add extra travel time for patrol forces.
City Council asked for the report back in May, after hearing a brand-new station would cost around $50-million. Consultants say it would cost $63.7-million to renovate and expand the current building instead of replacing it.
The report says satellite offices would be more expensive to build, with the options ranging from $51-million to $64-million. Running multiple buildings would also increase yearly operating costs by between $234,000 and $913,000.
At-Large Councillor Rebecca Johnson says cost is top of mind for her, and the report has convinced her they should stick with one main headquarters.
When it comes to staffing, efficiency, and other requirements, she says “One facility would be the best option.”
