Two designs for a new public safety building were unveiled during a Saratoga Springs City Council meeting Tuesday, June 3.
Commissioner of Public Safety Ron Kim and architect Mark Kukuvka from LaBella Associates presented two proposals to the city council requesting the council to bond funds for one of the two proposals.
The council voted in February to authorize all bonding for approved Capital Projects in 2008 except for the police station, Kim said. However, the council did approved $8 million in the 2008 Capital Budget for the new facility.
The first proposal unveiled Tuesday, which Kim said is the minimum requirement for the new police station, is 27,700 square feet and would cost $9.7 million to build.
This will at least meet our needs, Kim said of the first proposal.
Another proposal, which provides a fourth floor for future expansion, would cost $11.7 million, according to Kim.
Both facilities would contain holding cells, a lock up area, police and administration office space and an evidence room as well as a vehicle intake. The station does not have a vehicle intake and officers must park their cars on the street, Kukuvka said.
The police training center and other services would remain in the old facility.
The new building would be located on the corner of Lake Avenue and Maple Avenue across the street from City Hall.
`I call it the common sense solution,` Police Chief Edward Moore said during a press conference held before the presentation to the council.
`We are a growing city,` Moore said. `It is the place to be. It’s time we have a public safety building to be proud of.`
In addition to the issuing of bond funds, the commissioner will also ask the council to amend the 2008 Capital Budget to reflect the projected cost. Kim said the council has done this twice before.
`We are not raising taxes to build this building,` Kim said. `We can do this.`
Despite the official’s desire to have the bond funds issued, Kim said they would put the project to bid in September, with or without the city council’s bond fund approval.
The sooner they can get the project to bid the less expensive materials will be, Kim said.
Kim said he would ask Commissioner Ken Ivins to place a funding item on the commissioner of finance’s agenda at a future council meeting.
Kim said city residents are encouraged to view the city’s police headquarters to see the facility first-hand and gauge for themselves if the facility needs to be updated. To schedule a tour of the headquarters, visit saratogapolice.org or call 587-3550, ext. 513.“
