CC_Minutes_2011_1205 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday,December 05,2011 Page 14 Councilmember McGehee noted that this proposed 35,000 square feet included additional space to house East Metro SWAT and other things that could fit into the City's existing Police Department facility and therefore reduce the building's size by at least one bay area at considerable savings to Roseville citizens. While the Council majority voted for an $8 million bond expenditure, Councilmember McGehee questioned if that full amount was needed, and while supportive of fu- ture growth projections, in hearing public comment during the budget and levy hearing, she wanted to be aware of the impacts to residents. Councilmember McGehee advised that she had once again reviewed the 2008 fire facility study that stated that the City could operate with recommended apparatus and no additional apparatus was needed at this time, and questioned if it would be needed in the future. Councilmember McGehee stated that she supported a third party assessment to ensure that the proposed one-station concept adequately covered residents city- wide once the 1720 standards were put in place after 2008; opining that this could be done with much sophistication and better than the City's local GIS, but a com- pany that has access to that system, at an estimated cost of$3,000. Councilmem- ber McGehee opined that the City Council owed it to residents to make sure one station could cover the entire city. At the request of Mayor Roe, Chief O'Neill advised of upcoming action items for the City Council at the December 12, 2011 meeting to keep the time schedule on track and within optimal timing to avoid additional cost increases. Mayor Roe clarified that those items proposed for action were for the concept plan approval and for approval of the Phase II architectural and construction management portions of the contract, but not for issuing bids for the construction project itself Chief O'Neill responded affirmatively; noting that approval was to authorize moving into the design document stage and prepare bid packages. Mayor Roe noted that next week's meeting would allow time for additional City Council discussion. Councilmember Pust asked that those questions raised to-date by the public and/or individual Councilmembers be addressed at that point as well, in addition to those questions raised by Councilmember McGehee on square footage needs when compared with the fire station in St. Louis Park; and the flexibility of the space design in using the building for other uses as well as addressing the security of the fire apparatus and equipment.