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2015 Public Safety
General Obligation Bond
Albany Police Department
The Albany City Council has authorized up to $18 million in general obligation bonds to go before the voters in May 2015 to build a new Police station and replace the main Fire Station downtown.
The existing Albany Police Department building was built in 1988 with 10,500 sq. ft. for a staff of 47. Since 1988, Albany’s population has grown from 28,020 to 51,270. The Police Department has 90 employees today; in the past 27 years, the only addition to the station was an 1,100 sq. ft. modular building next to the main building in 2004. The current site does not allow for adequate expansion of buildings or parking, and the facility does not meet current building codes. Existing deficiencies include:
- Unsafe Lobby
- Inadequate Generator Back-up
- No Secure Parking
- Inadequate HVAC system
- High Utility Costs
- No Secure Interview/Holding Rooms
- Limited Meeting/Training Space
- Not Seismically Sound
The City Council has identified the need for new public safety facilities since 2007. In November 2013, the City presented a bond to voters for $20.3 million to fund new Police and Fire facilities. The bond was defeated by less than 700 votes. The public expressed the bond was defeated because Police and Fire needs were not well communicated before the vote; the public was not involved in identifying the needs, and plans for new buildings were not provided prior to the vote. After hearing those concerns, the City Council appointed 14 local residents to the Public Safety Facilities Review Committee, which spent six months in 2014 studying both facilities and the needs of both departments . The committee concluded that both buildings need to be replaced and set square footage parameters for each. The City called for a design competition and hired Mackenzie Architecture to design new facilities for both the Fire and Police departments, receiving a cost savings for using the same firm. The Police Department is working with Mackenzie to finalize plans for a facility that meets community needs for 20 years and is designed with the capability to expand to meet 50-year needs.
The City Council accepted the Public Safety Facilities Review Committee’s recommendation for a $24.4 million three-part funding package to pay for new buildings: general obligation bonds of up to $18 million, $1.4 million from the Central Albany Revitalization Area and the balance from funds received from a 2010 settlement with PepsiCo.
The replacement police station will be located on 3.69 acres of City-owned property in the 2500 block of Pacific Boulevard Southwest. It will house all Police Department operations. The plan calls for a 41,000 sq. ft., seismically-sound two-story building at an estimated cost of $15.4 million.
The City Council is asking voters to consider funding the Police and Fire facilities now while interest rates are historically low. The new bonds would coincide with the pending payoff of general obligation bonds issued in 1996 and 1999 (refinanced in 2007). With the payoff of the prior bonds and a recent upgrade in the City’s bond rating, the City estimates that the rate for new bonds will be 29 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value; the bonds to be paid off were levied at 43 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value.
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2015 Public Safety
Facility Bond
Albany Fire Station
The Albany City Council has authorized up to $18 million in general obligation bonds to go before the voters in May 2015 to replace the main Fire station downtown and build a new Police station.
The existing main Fire station was built in 1949 and is approximately 14,500 square feet. This station is occupied by a minimum of four emergency responders 24 hours a day and four staff that work during the business day. It houses two fire engines, one ambulance, two rescue watercraft, a command vehicle, water tender, and rescue vehicle. It is the stock and resupply location for all firefighting, rescue, and medical equipment and supplies. The existing station’s deficiencies include:
- Not Compliant with Seismic (earthquake) Standards for an Emergency Service Facility
- Structural Weight Limitations for Emergency Vehicles
- Substandard Emergency Power and Electrical Wiring
- Inadequate Restrooms/Locker Rooms
- Lack of Accessibility to persons with mobility limitations
The City Council has identified the need for new public safety facilities since 2007. In November 2013, the City presented a bond measure to voters for $20.3 million to fund new Police and Fire facilities. The bond was defeated by less than 700 votes. The public expressed the bond was defeated because Police and Fire needs were not well communicated before the vote; the public was not involved in identifying the needs; and plans for new buildings were not provided prior to the vote. After hearing those concerns, the City Council appointed 14 local residents to the Public Safety Facilities Review Committee, which spent six months in 2014 studying both facilities and the needs of both departments. The committee concluded that both buildings need to be replaced and set square footage parameters for each. The City called for a design competition and hired Mackenzie Architecture to design new facilities for both the Fire and Police departments, receiving a cost savings for using the same firm. The Fire Department is working with Mackenzie to finalize plans for a facility that meets community needs for 20 years and is designed with the capability to expand to meet 50-year needs.
The City Council accepted the Public Safety Facilities Review Committee’s recommendation for a $24.4 million three-part funding package to pay for new buildings: general obligation bonds of up to $18 million, $1.4 million from the Central Albany Revitalization Area, and the balance from funds received from a 2010 settlement with PepsiCo.
The replacement main Fire station will be located at the current downtown location, on an expanded 1.6-acre site. It will house a minimum of four emergency responders 24 hours a day and all current Fire Department administrative and staff positions, totaling 14, that work during the business day. The plan calls for a 25,000 sq. ft., seismically-sound, and partially two-story building at an estimated cost of $8.74 million.
The City Council is asking voters to consider funding the Fire and Police facilities now while interest rates are historically low. The new bonds would coincide with the pending payoff of general obligation bonds issued in 1996 and 1999 (refinanced in 2007). With the payoff of the prior bonds and a recent upgrade in the City’s bond rating, the City estimates that the rate for new bonds will be 29 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value; the bonds to be paid off were levied at 43 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value.
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General Information:
541-917-7500
City Manager:
Wes Hare, 541-917-7505
City Hall:
333 Broadalbin St SW
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm
City Bridges is published monthly by the City of Albany and distributed through email. Archives of past issues are available on the City website. Prior to 2012, City Bridges was a printed publication mailed to addresses within the city.
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City Council
Mayor:
Sharon Konopa, 541-791-0300
Ward I Councilors:
Dick Olsen, 541-926-7348
Floyd Collins, 541-928-2961
Ward II Councilors:
Bill Coburn, 541-928-0649
Ray Kopczynski, 541-917-0490
Ward III Councilors:
Bessie Johnson, 541-791-2494
Rich Kellum, 541-791-0158
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