Report Prepared by: Stephanie Dietz, Assistant City Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Report to the City Council on Recommended Police and Fire Facility Sizing and Configuration, Financing Structure and Funding Requirements for the Proposed Public Facilities Bond Measure
REPORT IN BRIEF
City Staff will provide a report to the City Council on recommendations for facility sizing and configuration of the proposed Police Headquarters and future Fire Stations, potential framework for a financing structure and other funding requirements necessary to support a potential Public Facilities Bond Measure for the March 2020 ballot.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide staff direction on next steps for a proposed Ballot Measure question related to the proposed Public Facilities Bond Measure.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
None.
AUTHORITY
City of Merced Charter, Section 200
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
FY 2019/20 City Council Priorities
DISCUSSION
On August 21, 2017, staff provided the Council with an update on the current condition of all City-owned facilities and presented options for construction financing. During this meeting, direction was provided to staff to take the initial step of conducting an opinion survey to determine if the community would support a ballot initiative that would directly fund the construction of a new Police Headquarters Station, two new Fire Stations, an expansion of the Corporation Yard, and the remodeling of ten existing bathrooms within City of Merced parks.
At the Council’s direction, staff worked quickly to secure professional services to develop and conduct a public opinion survey. The survey was conducted between October 24th and October 29th and the results were posted on the City’s website on December 7, 2017. Based on the findings of the survey, it was recommended to continue education and outreach efforts with a goal of performing a second survey in the Spring 2018.
On January 2, 2018, the Council approved an amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with the Lew Edwards Group to develop ballot language and put together an aggressive outreach strategy to educate the community about the need for enhanced public facilities within the City of Merced. As part of the education strategy, priority surveys were conducted, staff attended meetings and shared information with service clubs and neighborhood watch groups, and educational material was mailed to residents. At the conclusion of the education efforts, a second survey was conducted between the dates of June 14th through June 18th.
Staff presented the findings of the public opinion survey on July 2, 2018. During that meeting, Council provided direction to forgo efforts to place a measure on the ballot related to Public Facilities and to pursue conducting a professional Needs Assessment of the Police Department to better determine the space configuration and cost estimates of building a new facility.
During the fall of 2018, staff conducted a Request for Proposal to evaluate consultants to perform a needs assessment. On January 22, 2019, the Council awarded the Needs Assessment contract LPA, Inc. in partnership with MWL, Inc. A draft report of the space needs for a Police Headquarters was provided to the City this June. Staff are currently working through the initial draft to develop a final document. Staff will provide preliminary findings to the City Council for direction on how to finalize the needs assessment. Once this determined, LPA, Inc. will completed the needs assessment and present the final document for beginning design.
During the June 17, 2019 meeting, the Council requested that staff return with options and choices on level of future staffing, facility configuration, location and property sale proceeds, future Impact Fee collection, Assessed Value growth rates, and General Obligation Bond types and structure. Staff are seeking direction on all six points in order to return to the Council on August 19, 2019 with a final per $100,000 figure to be potentially tested in September for viability on a March 2020 Ballot.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Presentation