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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 04/27/2009CITY COUNCIL 27 APRIL 2009 The South Burlington City Council held a special meeting on Monday, 27 April 2009, at 7:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Members Present: M. Boucher, Chair; S. Dooley, M. Emery, J. Knapp, F. Murray Also Present: C. Hafter, City Manager; D. Gravelin, Assistant City Manager; P. Conner, Director of Planning & Zoning; Chief T. Whipple, and other members of the Police Department; R. Kay, A. Quark, J. Zaetz, L. Bresee, D. Leban, R. Arnold 1. Comparison of floor plans at 27,000 sq. ft. and 20,000 sq. ft: Mr. Hafter noted that at the last meeting on the Police Station, the Council asked him to work with Chief Whipple to look at plans for a 27,000 sq. ft., a 24,000 sq. ft. and a 20,000 sq. ft. police building. He then asked Chief Whipple to outline the differences in the three sizes and what would be eliminated in order to reduce the square footage. Chief Whipple said they had moved beyond the 27,000 sq. ft. building and had re-looked at the need for a 24,000 sq. ft. building. He said he believes the 27,000 sq. ft. building will be needed some years down the road, but there are elements of that square footage that will not be needed for some time. The Chief then reviewed specific elements of the 24,000 sq. ft. building that could be eliminated to get down to 20,000 sq. ft. These include: 1. Reduction in size of the lobby/reception area 2. Reduction of public meeting room to 750 sq. ft. 3. Dispatch Area: A. elimination of space for communications supervisor 4. Reduction of youth services storage room. Chief Whipple noted that in the 20,000 sq. ft. building, Youth Services would not have space in the building but would remain in their current Dorset St. location. 5. Records Division: A. eliminations of supervisor's office 6. Reduced computer diagnostics room and computer hardware room: Chief Whipple said this space really is needed, and he was very reluctant to give it up. 7. Reduced size of administrative conference room. 8. Eliminated on traffic safety unit work station. 9. Eliminated one criminal investigative services work station. 10. Eliminated one coat closet. 11. Reduced size of interview room and internet crime office. 12. Youth Services: A. Only one holding room for juveniles 13. Evidence & Property: A. Reduced evidence storage space. Chief Whipple said he cannot strongly support this. 14. Prisoner Processing: A. eliminate one group holding room B. reduced intoximeter room size 15. Reduced one adult holding room. 16. Eliminated one sally port. 17. Patrol Functions: A. reduced shared workstation space B. reduced locker room area C. reduced size of physical training room D. reduced size of lunch room/day room E. reduced size of honor guard room 18. Weapons: A. reduced storage space 19. Reduced size of photocopy area. 20. Reduced custodial office size 21. Reduced storage area. This results in a 19,198 sq. ft. space. Chief Whipple said he favors the 24,000 sq. ft. plan which allows for some growth. He said it is not easy to expand a police station. Chief Whipple also noted that Bob Miller has said that reducing the size from 24,000 to 20,000 sq. ft. only saves about $200,000. Mr. Hafter noted that even with the Police in the Gregory Dr. building, the city would still be collecting property taxes from the building's leased unit. The city would lose about $56,000 in taxes annually on the part of the building the city would own for the police station. Mr. Zaetz said his concern is that the city maintains the building so it does not go into disrepair. Mr. Boucher noted that the City Council has created a maintenance committee which will come to the Council at budget time with an assessment of needs. Mr. Hafter stressed that you also have to have a building you can maintain. He noted that it would not be too great a cost to get the Gregory Dr. building an Silver LEED energy rating, which would save on utilities, etc. Ms. Emery said that in going door-to-door, the only concerns she had heard were with the location of the Gregory Dr. building, particularly at rush hour. Chief Whipple said the new cruisers are very efficient in getting people out of the way. Officers can also trip signals from a quarter of a mile away in order to get where they are going. Ms. Emery noted the Williston facility cost less than $10,000,000. Why should it cost more to build at Dorset St? Mr. Hafter said it doesn't cost more to build, but it would cost $2,500,000 for demolition of the existing building and temporary relocation of Police and City Hall functions. Chief Whipple said the Williston building is also much smaller and has no communications center. They have only 2 holding cells, because they ran out of money. They also have far fewer officers. Mr. Murray said he felt the cost to build on the Dorset St. site has never been evaluated. He said he spoke to someone who said they could build a new building in a different location on the site while maintaining functions in the existing building. Members felt that the site plan did not appear to be able to accommodate both buildings, and they noted that if both the Police Station and City Hall were to remain on Dorset St., the building would have to be 40,000 sq. ft., and there would have to be a parking structure as well. Mr. Hafter said a parking structure would add $2,000,000 to the cost. Mr. Zaetz asked Chief Whipple if he had any hesitation about the Gregory Drive site. The Chief said he did not. Mr. Zaetz said it was up to the Council to sell the Gregory Drive site to the public and put it to a vote. He felt the people would support it but that the Council had to show direction. A poll of Council members indicated they would support a 24,000 sq. ft. police facility. Mr. Murray did not support the Gregory Drive site but felt there could be a new building built on the existing site while maintaining the existing building. Mr. Zaetz said a decision is needed, and the Council should get it done and sell it to the people and let them vote. Mr. Boucher said it is important for the Council to speak as one voice. He asked if it is possible to warn a public meeting to discuss the Gregory Drive site. Mr. Knapp felt there should be some planning before that on what kinds of material to put together and how to distribute it before that meeting. Ms. Quark felt the Council should not keep discussing what the voters have already said "no" to. Mr. Zaetz felt the Council should make a decision tonight. He said he was willing to write a letter to the editor of The Other Paper in support of Gregory Drive. Mr. Kay said he is hearing that Gregory Drive is a great location as it's "not in my backyard." Mr. Murray said his effort has been to evaluate everything thoroughly. He personally feels that Dorset St. is a better site from a location point of view. It was noted that the Police Facility Committee included at least 4 members with vast architectural experience, all of whom reviewed the existing site and felt it was not viable. Mr. Hafter asked members whether they wanted to schedule a public meeting to discuss the Gregory Drive site. Mr. Knapp moved to begin the process of public education with the intent to schedule a public meeting on 18 May to discuss whether to put the 19 Gregory Drive site for a police station on the ballot. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed 4-1 with Mr. Murray voting against. As there was no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.