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Project Overview
Police Facility Space Needs Analysis
The University City Police Department is one of the largest municipal Police departments in St. Louis County. It is comprised of three Bureaus -- Investigation, Field Operations and Services -- and includes 79 commissioned officers, 19 civilians, and 6 part-time employees. With a high volume of calls for service, the Department receives about 2,300 911 calls per month.
The Department is currently located in City Hall Annex "Annex", 6801 Delmar Boulevard. The Annex was constructed in 1903 to serve as a printing press for the publishing operation of the City's founder, E.G. Lewis. City Hall was originally constructed as headquarters for the Women's Magazine publication. The City acquired the magazine headquarters and attached printing bays, and later converted the Annex for use by the Police and Fire Departments in 1938. The Fire Department was relocated to a newly constructed building in 2013 due to physical issues with the Annex. Most of that vacated portion of the Annex is unusable.
The Department is currently spread throughout three separate floors of the Annex, which makes proper operations (as per best practices) impossible. In addition to operational difficulties, the facility does not meet current building codes, is in disrepair according to several environmental and structural reports, and is a safety and security risk. The City has been aware of the physical concerns with the building since a Powers Bowersox analysis was completed in 1980. A bond issue was presented to the voters for Annex repairs but failed. Few repairs were made between 1980 - 2010. The physical and operational conditions remained and/or worsened. In 2010 and subsequent years, funds have been set aside to make small building repairs -- and budget for either a significant renovation or new construction.
In December 2014, the City engaged Chiodini and Associates to evaluate the existing physical and operational conditions of the Annex, identify existing and future space needs for the Department, and determine cost and feasibility of Annex renovation and new construction. The study is now complete and a recommendation to construct a new facility has been made. The preliminary cost estimate to renovate the Annex to required essential services standards, environmental remediation, and meet safety and operational needs is over $24 million. New construction is estimated to be about $12million. In the near future, City Council will be making a decision on the recommendation and next steps.
Something must be done within 3 years to address the Police Department facility needs. This time constraint is prompted by two items: 1) Senate Bill No. 5 requires a Police Department in St. Louis County to be accredited or certified by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies or the Missouri Police Chiefs Association within 6 Years. The Annex will not enable the City to become certified. Factoring construction schedule for either option – renovation or new construction – at 3 years and the accreditation timeframe at 3 years, the timeframe is tight to meet SB 5. The other factor is that facility continues to deteriorate -- and is poor working environment for our Police officers.
Do you have questions regarding the study?
The City recognizes that you may have many questions regarding the Police Facility Space Needs Analysis and the options being considered. Since your questions and the responses may be of interest to many residents, we will post both on the City's website in the Q&A page found on the left side of the page. Please submit your questions to staff via e-mail. You will be provided with an approximate timeframe within which a response will be posted.
The Department is currently located in City Hall Annex "Annex", 6801 Delmar Boulevard. The Annex was constructed in 1903 to serve as a printing press for the publishing operation of the City's founder, E.G. Lewis. City Hall was originally constructed as headquarters for the Women's Magazine publication. The City acquired the magazine headquarters and attached printing bays, and later converted the Annex for use by the Police and Fire Departments in 1938. The Fire Department was relocated to a newly constructed building in 2013 due to physical issues with the Annex. Most of that vacated portion of the Annex is unusable.
The Department is currently spread throughout three separate floors of the Annex, which makes proper operations (as per best practices) impossible. In addition to operational difficulties, the facility does not meet current building codes, is in disrepair according to several environmental and structural reports, and is a safety and security risk. The City has been aware of the physical concerns with the building since a Powers Bowersox analysis was completed in 1980. A bond issue was presented to the voters for Annex repairs but failed. Few repairs were made between 1980 - 2010. The physical and operational conditions remained and/or worsened. In 2010 and subsequent years, funds have been set aside to make small building repairs -- and budget for either a significant renovation or new construction.
In December 2014, the City engaged Chiodini and Associates to evaluate the existing physical and operational conditions of the Annex, identify existing and future space needs for the Department, and determine cost and feasibility of Annex renovation and new construction. The study is now complete and a recommendation to construct a new facility has been made. The preliminary cost estimate to renovate the Annex to required essential services standards, environmental remediation, and meet safety and operational needs is over $24 million. New construction is estimated to be about $12million. In the near future, City Council will be making a decision on the recommendation and next steps.
Something must be done within 3 years to address the Police Department facility needs. This time constraint is prompted by two items: 1) Senate Bill No. 5 requires a Police Department in St. Louis County to be accredited or certified by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies or the Missouri Police Chiefs Association within 6 Years. The Annex will not enable the City to become certified. Factoring construction schedule for either option – renovation or new construction – at 3 years and the accreditation timeframe at 3 years, the timeframe is tight to meet SB 5. The other factor is that facility continues to deteriorate -- and is poor working environment for our Police officers.
Do you have questions regarding the study?
The City recognizes that you may have many questions regarding the Police Facility Space Needs Analysis and the options being considered. Since your questions and the responses may be of interest to many residents, we will post both on the City's website in the Q&A page found on the left side of the page. Please submit your questions to staff via e-mail. You will be provided with an approximate timeframe within which a response will be posted.
Project Updates and Presentation Materials
On April 28, 2015, the project architect attended the Police Focus Group and provided an overview of the project.
On September 8, 2015, the project architect presented the project status to City Council at a Study Session.
Two Public Meetings were held to provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the study from the consultants and ask questions about the options being considered. These meetings were held on:
Tuesday, November 10: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Monday, November 23: 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
The presentation can be viewed here.
On March 22, 2016, the project architect presented the recommendation at the Police Focus Group. An overview of the financing mechanisms available to the City was also provided. The presentation is available here. Questions and responses from that meeting are available here.
On September 8, 2015, the project architect presented the project status to City Council at a Study Session.
Two Public Meetings were held to provide an opportunity for the public to learn more about the study from the consultants and ask questions about the options being considered. These meetings were held on:
Tuesday, November 10: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Monday, November 23: 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
The presentation can be viewed here.
On March 22, 2016, the project architect presented the recommendation at the Police Focus Group. An overview of the financing mechanisms available to the City was also provided. The presentation is available here. Questions and responses from that meeting are available here.