[Austin Press Conference on Building Acquisition Proposal]
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UM, I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE WITH YOU TODAY AND TO TALK ABOUT, UH, AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT MEANS A LOT TO OUR CITY.
UH, BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO OUR CITY MANAGER AND HIS TEAM FOR, UH, WHAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO TALK ABOUT, BECAUSE THIS IS THE KIND OF WORK WHERE WE'RE GETTING SOMETHING DONE AT CITY HALL THAT WILL BE DONE IN SUCH A WAY SO THAT WE BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR CITY PERSONNEL AND THE PEOPLE WHO ACCESS THE SERVICES OF THE CITY.
BUT IT'S ALSO GOING TO PUT OUR PERSONNEL IN A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BETTER SERVE OUR RESIDENTS.
WHAT WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT TODAY IS, UH, UH, BUILDING THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO, UH, BUILDINGS THAT WE'RE GETTING READY TO PURCHASE, THAT'LL BE PART OF A PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS.
AND THE CONDITIONS OF THE BUILDINGS THAT WE CURRENTLY HOUSE, OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL IN BOTH, YOU KNOW, FIRE, EMS AND POLICE, THE CONDITIONS OF THESE BUILDINGS CREATE A SITUATION THAT'S REALLY TERRIBLE FOR OUR CITY EMPLOYEES AND ANYONE WHO HAS TO FREQUENT THOSE BUILDINGS.
UH, SORT OF THE OFFICIAL TERM THAT GETS USED IS THAT THESE BUILDINGS ARE SUBOPTIMAL.
UH, WELL, I'M GOING TO, KIRK WATSON WOULD REFER TO THEM AS CRUMMY, PATHETIC, UH, DIRT, SORRY.
THEY'RE, THEY'RE BUILDINGS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED.
UH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FIRE HEADQUARTERS WAS BUILT IN 1960.
THAT FACILITY HAS A FAULTY FOUNDATION.
IT HAS CRACKED WALLS AND CEILINGS.
UH, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT A DA CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THAT BUILDING.
IT HAS A FAILING PARKING LOT AND FAILING MECHANICAL.
UH, THE POLICE BUILDING, WHICH IS DOWNTOWN.
UH, THAT DOWNTOWN HEADQUARTERS WAS BUILT IN 1970.
IT'S OVERCROWDED AND IT'S FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE.
IT'S LARGELY, IT INACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC, UH, WHICH IS PERHAPS A, A GOOD THING IF YOU STOP AND THINK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IT, IT'S FILLED.
IT HAS RODENTS, UH, WASTEWATER, BREAKS AND LEAKS, NON-FUNCTIONING BATHROOMS AND FAILING MECHANICAL.
AND THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES BUILDING IS LOCATED IN A CONVERTED NURSING HOME.
UH, THE MS HEADQUARTERS HAS MULTIPLE SYSTEMS THAT ARE BEYOND THEIR USEFUL LIFE, INCLUDING THE FIRE ALARMS AND DETECTION SYSTEMS, THE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM, PIPING AND DUCT WORK SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL BRANCH WIRING, UH, ROOF COVERING, WATER DISTRIBUTION, AND SANITARY WASTE SYSTEM.
SO, AGAIN, SUBOPTIMAL DOESN'T REALLY DESCRIBE IT, BUT TODAY, I DIDN'T GET THAT.
SUBOPTIMAL MY APOLOGIES THERE.
TODAY, UM, WE'RE HAPPY TO BE ANNOUNCING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 24TH WILL CONSIDER APPROVING THE ACQUISITION AND RENOVATION OF A 386,000 SQUARE FOOT PROPERTY ALONG BARTON SKYWAY TO SERVE AS A CONSOLIDATED HEADQUARTERS FOR ALL THREE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS.
THIS IS A COST EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, AND MORE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION COMPARED TO LEASING OR CONSTRUCTING NEW BUILDINGS OR TRYING TO REMODEL AND FIX THE CURRENT HEADQUARTERS.
UH, I'M GONNA LET OTHERS TALK ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THAT, BUT I WANNA SAY THAT THIS IS THE KIND OF THING WHERE WE'RE GETTING IT DONE.
AND AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE MANAGER AND HIS PROFESSIONAL STAFF FOR, FOR GETTING US HERE.
AND, UH, WE'RE JOINED ALSO BY COUNCIL MEMBER PAIGE ELLIS.
AND I WANT TO, AND I KNOW SHE JOINS ME IN, IN THAT THANKS, UH, TO THE MANAGER AND HIS STAFF.
BUT THIS IS ALSO A DEMONSTRATION OF OUR CON COMMITMENT TO STRONG PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND IT ALL, IT REVEALS THAT WE HAVE THE BACKS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PROFESSIONALS BECAUSE THEY HAVE OUR BACKS.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL NOW TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER, TC BROAD ACTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS AND GIVE YOU SOME MORE DETAIL.
THIS IS A VISION THAT IS MORE THAN 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING TO HAVE ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENTS HEADQUARTERED IN ONE FACILITY.
THE MAYOR MENTIONED SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE'RE FACING WITH THE OLD, OUTDATED, AND FRANKLY, UNACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS OF OUR CURRENT PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES.
WE HAVE SOME PICTURES HERE THAT SHOW A GLIMPSE OF WHAT OUR POLICE, FIRE, AND EMS EMPLOYEES ARE DEALING WITH.
YOU'LL SEE THOSE ON THE SCREEN NOW, GIVEN, NOW GIVEN THE CURRENT REAL ESTATE MARKET, PARTICULARLY THE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKET, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUY
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A BEAUTIFUL MODERN FACILITY FOR LESS THAN HALF.AND I'LL REPEAT THAT FOR LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO BUILD A NEW ONE.
THE BUILDING IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WILL REQUIRE VERY MODEST RETROFITTING TO SUIT OUR NEEDS.
IT'S IN A GREAT LOCATION JUST ACROSS THE RIVER FROM DOWNTOWN AND WITH EASY NORTH AND SOUTH ACCESS.
AND WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR THE VARIOUS PROPERTIES THAT WE ARE VACATING WITH AN EYE TOWARDS WHAT IS THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE AND BENEFICIAL FOR OUR CITY.
I KNOW OUR PUBLIC SAFETY CHIEFS ARE ESPECIALLY EXCITED TO BE CO-LOCATED SO THAT THEY CAN COLLABORATE AND COMMUNICATE AS THEY NEED TO.
ULTIMATELY, THIS WILL MEAN A, A SAFER AUSTIN FOR EVERYONE.
AND NOW I'M GOING TO INVITE ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF ROB BYERS TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS, THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS HAS BEEN HOUSED IN A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS, UH, A CONVERTED RESIDENCE, UH, DOWNTOWN AUSTIN, UH, A BUILDING ON FESTIVAL BEACH, A HANGAR AT THE FORMER MUELLER AIRPORT.
AND AT OUR CURRENT LOCATION ON ED BLUESTEIN, THE CURRENT AFT HEADQUARTERS IS STRUCTURALLY QUESTIONABLE.
THE BUILDING IS SHIFTING LEADING TO CRACKED WALLS AND CEILINGS AND BUCKLING FLOORS, WHICH HAVE, WE'VE ACQUIRED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS.
A FT PERSONNEL AT THE, AT THE SITE ENDURE FREQUENT LEAKS FROM THE ROOF, UH, STEEP EXTERIOR STAIRWELL THAT POSES A HAZARD DURING WET, UH, WEATHER AND LIMITED ACCESS TO THE ONLY ELEVATOR IN THE BUILDING, AMONG OTHER CHALLENGES.
THE CONDITION OF OUR BUILDING DOES NOT DICTATE THE DEDICATION OF OUR WORKFORCE IN FULFILLING OUR MISSION, AUSTINITES EXPECT A ROBUST PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSE WHEN IT IS NEEDED, AND A-F-D-A-P-D AND EMS WORK IN A PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
THE AGENCIES SERVE OUR COMMUNITY DURING CALLS FOR SERVICE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS DURING NATURAL DISASTERS, UH, IMPACTING OUR ENTIRE CITY.
AND DURING SPECIAL EVENTS, A SHARED PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS WILL FACILITATE INCREASED COLLABORATION AS THE MANAGER JUST MENTIONED, INNOVATION AND EFFICIENCY AMONG THE THREE AGENCIES TO FURTHER SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS.
THE FACILITY WILL ALSO SERVE AS A PHYSICAL REPRESENTATION OF CITY LEADERSHIP'S, ONGOING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY TO ENSURE IT MEETS THE NEEDS OF ALL WHO LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY HERE, AND A WELCOMING PLACE FOR OUR COMMUNITY CONNECT WITH PUBLIC SAFETY RESOURCES.
THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT IS GRATEFUL TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL, UH, CITY MANAGEMENT, AND THE MANY STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING, UH, IN GETTING US TO THIS POINT AND STAND FULLY BEHIND THE ENDEAVOR BECAUSE IT BENEFITS BOTH OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR WORKFORCE.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO PASS THE PODIUM OFF TO AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, EMS CHIEF.
AGAIN, I'D LIKE TO THANK MAYOR WATSON, THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY MANAGER FOR, UM, ALL OF THE GREAT WORK THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN TO HELP US MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS AMAZING PROJECT.
UH, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN, UM, EAGER TO ACCOMPLISH OVER THE PAST, UH, SEVERAL YEARS AS WE'VE LOOKED AT MANY OPTIONS TO BE ABLE TO CONSOLIDATE ALL OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS INTO ONE FACILITY.
THIS IS A HUGE STEP FORWARD FOR, FOR US FROM OUR PUBLIC SAFETY INFRASTRUCTURE STANDPOINT.
OUR HEADQUARTERS AT THE RBJ CENTER IN EAST AUSTIN IS, AS THE MAYOR MENTIONED, SIGNIFICANTLY OLD, BUILT IN THE 1970S, DETERIORATING AND NOT UP TO THE SAME STANDARDS THAT WE HOLD FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITIES ACROSS AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
DESPITE SEVERAL REMODELS THAT WE HAVE MADE ON OUR FACILITY, IT STILL LACKS THE CAPACITY AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR US TO HOLD OURSELVES TO THE SAME STANDARD THAT WE DO ELSEWHERE.
OUR LEADERSHIP AND STAFF ARE SPREAD ACROSS MULTIPLE FACILITIES ACROSS AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND THIS CONSOLIDATION WILL NOT ONLY ALLOW US TO BRING OUR OWN LEADERSHIP TEAM TOGETHER UNDER ONE FACILITY, BUT WILL GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO COLLABORATE AND WORK ALONGSIDE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERS AT THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT.
WE ALREADY KNOW THAT HERE IN THE CITY OF AUSTIN, THAT WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST COLLABORATIVE PUBLIC SAFETY PARTNERSHIPS IN ANY CITY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
THE WORK THAT WE DO BETWEEN THE AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE AUSTIN FIRE DEPARTMENT AND AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY EMS, AND THE WAY THAT WE INTEGRATE WITH ONE ANOTHER IS UNPARALLELED AND IS A MODEL FOR THE NATION.
OUR ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER IN ONE FACILITY IS GOING TO
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ALLOW US TO CONTINUE THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, TO FIND SYNERGIES AMONGST OUR MISSIONS AND IMPROVE THE OVERALL QUALITY OF PUBLIC SAFETY ACROSS AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.WE ARE EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO GROW, AND THIS NEW FACILITY WILL GIVE US THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING CITY OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
AGAIN, WE'D LIKE TO SUPPORT EVERYONE THAT HAS, UH, THANK EVERYONE THAT HAS SUPPORTED US IN THIS MISSION TO BE ABLE TO BRING THIS PROJECT TO TOGETHER, AND WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR WHAT THE FUTURE MAY HOLD FOR US.
UM, AT THIS TIME, I'LL PASS IT OFF TO, UH, AUSTIN POLICE CHIEF LISA DAVIS.
I ALSO WANNA THANK EVERYONE, THE MAYOR COUNCIL, UH, FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND, UM, KIM FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN FROM THE CITY MANAGERS TEAM.
UM, OUR CURRENT BUILDING ON EIGHTH STREET HAS DEFINITELY HAD ITS CHALLENGES.
AND I HAVE TO SAY, UM, CM FORTUNE, AFTER I WAS HIRED AND PAPERWORK WAS SIGNED, SAID TO ME, I WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR THE FACILITIES THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE GOING TO ON EIGHTH STREET.
I DUNNO IF YOU RECALL THAT, BUT, SO YEAH, IT IS.
EIGHTH STREET IS, UH, THE BUILDING IS A CHALLENGE.
UM, NO FACILITIES FOR NEW MOTHERS TO BREASTFEED.
UM, NO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT VALUING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND THERE'S NO SPACE IN THIS BUILDING TO GATHER NO, NO SPACE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND FOR US TO MEET WITH THEM.
SO THAT'S WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT THIS NEW FACILITY, UM, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UM, AND AGAIN, TO TO ECHO, WE, WE COLLABORATE WITH FIRE AND EMS AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THIS, UM, NEW BUILDING AND THESE NEW OPPORTUNITIES BRING US AND WHAT COMES OF THAT.
ROB AND I HAVE ALREADY STARTED DISCUSSING HOW, UM, EMS AND POLICE CAN WORK TOGETHER MOVING FORWARD.
SO, AGAIN, VERY EXCITED AND I WANNA THANK EVERYONE, UM, FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING THAT WE'RE GONNA BE MOVING INTO.
WELL, UM, YOU'VE HEARD, YOU'VE HEARD IT AND WE'LL, WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS HERE IN JUST A SECOND, BUT THIS IS A DEMONSTRATION OF CITY HALLS AND, AND CITY GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO STRONG PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND AS I SAID BEFORE, IT REVEALS THAT WE HAVE THEIR BACKS.
UM, TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF THE PROCESS, THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THIS BUILDING IS, IS $107.6 MILLION.
THAT IS LESS THAN HALF THE COST TO BUILD A NEW FACILITY, AS WAS INDICATED BY THE CITY MANAGER.
WE'LL ALSO SPEND A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY, ABOUT $13 MILLION TO RENOVATE THE SPACE SO THAT IT WILL ACCOMMODATE THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTAL FUNCTIONS.
AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY COST EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT AND FAR MORE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION COMPARED TO LEASING OR CONSTRUCTING A NEW, NEW BUILDING OR BUILDINGS OR TRYING TO REMODEL AND FIX THE CURRENT HEADQUARTERS THAT WE HAVE.
UH, ON MONDAY, THE, THERE WILL BE A PRESENTATION MADE TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, AND THEN THIS WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD, AS I INDICATED IN MY INITIAL COMMENTS ON OCTOBER 24TH FOR THE COUNCIL TO, UM, TO VOTE ON THIS.
SO WITH THAT, WHY DON'T I OPEN UP? WE ALSO, AS, AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, WE HAVE, UH, UH, THE DEPUTY OF OUR, OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT, UH, KIMBERLY OLIVAR WITH US, WHO'S PART OF THE MANAGER'S, UH, PROFESSIONAL TEAM.
UH, A LOT, A LOT, A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE INTO GETTING US TO THIS POINT, AND SHE DESERVES, UH, A LOT OF CREDIT AND A LOT OF THANKS FOR THE WORK SHE'S DONE.
AND WE'LL PROBABLY, DEPENDING UPON YOUR QUESTIONS, SHE WILL PROBABLY BE THE PERSON THAT WE BRING UP HERE TO SMILE AT YOU AND, AND, UH, ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
WHAT HAPPENS TO OLD A PD NAME? UH, IT WILL WAIT TO BE SEEN YET, BUT, UM, THEY, WHAT IT DOES, ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS IT GIVES US OPTIONS THAT YOU WOULDN'T OTHERWISE HAVE.
UH, THESE ARE PRO, THAT'S A PROPERTY THAT'S OWNED BY THE CITY.
UH, IT'S A PROPERTY THAT'S OWNED BY THE CITY IN A PRETTY GOOD LOCATION.
UM, AND SO IT, NOT ONLY ARE WE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE, WE'LL HAVE A NEW HEADQUARTERS, BUT WE WILL ALSO HAVE THIS PROPERTY NOW THAT CAN BE UTILIZED FOR SOMETHING ELSE, UH, CAN GENERATE REVENUE FOR US.
SOMETHING OF THAT, THAT NATURE.
HAS THERE BEEN ANY RESISTANCE TO THIS PROJECT YET? UH, NO, BUT IT, IT'S, IT'S FAIRLY NEW TO BE ANNOUNCING IT.
AND, AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE WANTED TO ANNOUNCE IT IS BECAUSE WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW WHAT, WHAT IT IS THAT WE'RE DOING.
BUT NO, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE SITUATIONS THAT YOU'VE, YOU'VE HEARD, UH, A COUPLE OF PEOPLE USE THE PHRASE, THIS IS A LONG TIME COMING.
UH, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF BEEN, UH, AN OPEN SECRET, UH, AT CITY HALL FOR NOT JUST A COUPLE YEARS OR, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALMOST DECADE, UH, DECADES.
UH, THAT'S BEEN KIND OF A, AN OPEN SECRET THAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH THESE HEADQUARTERS.
AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IS THAT YOU GO YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH THE INABILITY TO, TO, TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEM.
IT JUST, IT KIND OF SNOWBALLS AND GETS WORSE AND WORSE.
UH, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS THAT, THAT, UH, THERE, THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH EFFORT GO INTO DOING THIS AND DOING IT RIGHT AND TAKING ADVANTAGE AS
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THE MANAGER INDICATED OF THE, THE CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE CURRENT MARKET SO THAT YOU CAN GET THIS DONE.SO, UM, THIS IS, I BELIEVE THIS IS GONNA BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WILL EMBRACE, SAY, THANK GOODNESS YOU'RE GETTING IT DONE, UM, AND LET'S GET THIS DONE.
LET'S GET GOING SO THAT WE CAN ENHANCE SERVICES.
YEAH, THE, THAT AREA PART, AND SKYWAY IS BASICALLY A BIG CUL-DE-SAC.
IT'S KIND OF, ONCE YOU GET IN THERE, I MEAN, IT'S NOT, NOT, I GUESS IT'S ACCESSIBLE.
YOU GOTTA BE, DO A BIG U-TURN AROUND THERE TO GET IN THERE.
ARE THEY GONNA DO ANYTHING TO ACCOMMODATE MOVING IN AND OUT OF A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, LIKE WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING? WELL, IT, IT, IT MOVES A LOT OF PEOPLE NOW, AND THEY'VE LOOKED AT, I'LL LET, I'LL LET KIM ANSWER IF I SAY SOMETHING THAT SHE, I'LL LET HER ANSWER THIS, BUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS, IT, IT'S A VERY FUNCTIONAL BUILDING FOR WHAT WE WANT, INCLUDING THE LOCATION.
UH, THE LOCATION IS WHAT, THREE MILES FROM, FROM WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
SO WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO, TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT, THAT CLOSE.
AND THAT'S NOT BEEN ONE OF THE CONCERNS.
LET LEMME JUST SAY GETTING FROM DOWNTOWN HEADQUARTERS AT A PD TO HERE.
IT MAY NOT BE A CUL-DE-SAC, BUT THERE'S DIFFICULTY, THERE'S NONE, NONE OF THIS WILL EVER BE A PERFECT SOLUTION, BUT THIS IS A FAR, FAR, FAR SUPERIOR, UH, OUTCOME.
DO YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT? OKAY.
I BELIEVE BOTH OF THESE, UH, NO, I'LL GO, I'LL GO TO YOU AND THEN I'LL COME, I'LL COME TO HER.
BOTH OF THE, THE OLD BUILDING AND THE DUAL BUILDING, THEY'RE BOTH IN BOTH.
THEY'RE BOTH IN, I BELIEVE THEY'RE IN BOTH IN DIFFERENT POLICE SECTORS, AREN'T THEY? I DUNNO THE ANSWER TO THAT ARE, ARE, ARE WE GONNA NOT MAKE IT? IS THAT GONNA BE A CENTRAL DISPATCH FOR, FOR OFFICERS AND, OKAY, WE, ARE WE GONNA HAVE A PRECINCT DOWNTOWN? YES.
WE, WE WILL HAVE A CONTINUED PRESENCE DOWNTOWN.
THIS, THIS IS A HEADQUARTERS TYPE SITUATION.
AND KEEP IN MIND THAT IT'S, AND I I WANNA SAY THIS JUST 'CAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THE QUESTIONS, THIS CONSOLIDATES ALL THREE FIRE EMS AND POLICE IT, WHILE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT POLICE, BUT IT'S THAT, THAT BUILDING, IN FACT, FRANKLY, I WAS GETTING READY TO SAY THAT BUILDING MAY BE THE WORST, BUT I, I THINK YOU'D HAVE TO ARGUE, WE COULD ARGUE THAT ALL WE, I BET WE COULD GET THREE GOOD ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHAT, WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE WORST.
BUT, UM, UH, SO NO THO THOSE, AND THOSE HAVE ALL BEEN FACTORED INTO HOW WE WANT TO ADDRESS THAT LOOSE.
UM, YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UH, MONEY AND PURCHASING AND RENOVATIONS.
CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT WHERE IN THE BUDGET THAT LIES AND HOW YEAH.
AND HOW THAT'S GONNA PLAY OUT FOR, I, I'LL LET, I'LL LET KIM DO THAT.
SO, UH, WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE, UH, CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION.
IT'S A, A, A TYPE OF DEBT THAT, UH, WE'RE ALLOWED TO ISSUE FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES.
UH, AND IN THIS CASE, PUBLIC SAFETY IS, UM, FITS VERY CLEANLY WITHIN THE ALLOWABLE PURPOSES.
UM, SO, AND LIKE THE MAYOR AND THE MANAGER HAVE SAID, THE 107.6 MILLION PRICE POINT IS JUST, IS INCREDIBLE RELATIVE TO WHAT IT WOULD COST FOR US TO BUILD, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE ROUGHLY 234, 200 $40 MILLION FOR US TO BUILD THE SAME KIND OF FACILITY.
SO, UM, THE 107.6 WILL, UH, JUST BE COVERED BY THAT DEBT ISSUANCE OF WHICH IS PART OF THE COUNCIL ACTIONS, UM, RECOMMENDED ON THE 24TH.
SO WHAT'S THE TOTAL COST? BECAUSE YOU, THE MAYOR MENTIONED THE ACQUISITION AND THEN ALSO THE REMODELING.
SO WHAT IS THE TOTAL COST? SO THE, THERE'S THE PURCHASE PRICE OF 1 0 7 0.6.
UM, ALSO IN THE ACTION THERE WILL BE, UH, UM, APPROXIMATELY $12.3 MILLION TO DO, UM, SOME INITIAL RENOVATION WORK, SOME EXTERIOR TYPE OF THINGS, UM, AND, UM, DO THE DESIGN TO, TO MAKE THE BUILDING PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS READY.
UH, SO THE, BY, UM, PROVIDING THE FUNDS NOW FOR THAT DESIGN WORK, WE'LL BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO COUNCIL LATER WITH A REALLY SOLID AND WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN AND AN AMOUNT FOR THE COMPLETE RENOVATIONS.
NOW THE, THE BONUS OF THIS BUILDING IS THAT IT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY WELL MAINTAINED FOR YEARS, UM, BECAUSE IT'S HAD TENANTS IN THERE, IT'S CONTINUED TO HAVE RENOVATIONS AND RENOVATIONS, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE ENTIRE SYSTEMS. WE'LL, WE WILL NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN IN SUITES WITH SEPARATE, UM, COMPANIES.
SO WE'LL APPROVE CONNECTIVITY, ADDRESS SECURITY NEEDS, AND, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALSO INCORPORATING, UM, REALLY GREAT SPACES FOR THE PUBLIC TO ENGAGE WITH THE DEPARTMENTS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER COMPETITION FOR THAT PROPERTY? WE ALREADY HAVE A PURCHASE AND SALES AGREEMENT WITH THE CURRENT OWNER.
SO IT IS, UM, WE, WE ARE UNDER CONTRACT FOR IT.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BUILDING.
FIRST OFF, THE ADDRESS 1501 AND 1601 SOUTH MOPAC EXPRESSWAY.
SO RIGHT AT THE, UM, THE CORNER OF BARTON SKYWAY AND MOPAC.
UM, THE, THE ACCESS NORTH SOUTH, LIKE HIS SIDE IS FANTASTIC.
IT ALSO HAS A TRANSIT STOP DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE PROPERTY, SO IT JUST, IT IMPROVES ACCESS OVERALL.
AND IS IT BUILT ONE, WAS IT BUILT? UH, SO THERE ARE TWO BUILDINGS.
UH, ONE WAS BUILT IN 1999, THE OTHER WAS BUILT IN 2000.
UM, BUT BECAUSE OF THE MAINTENANCE THAT HAS BEEN DONE, WHILE IT IS THERE, 24 AND 25-YEAR-OLD BUILDINGS TECHNICALLY ARE, OUR
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PROPERTY CONDITION ASSESSMENTS ACTUALLY INDICATE IT'S MORE LIKE A 10 TO 15-YEAR-OLD PROPERTY.UM, SO THE, THE CURRENT OWNER HAS DONE A, A, A WONDERFUL JOB OF TAKING CARE OF THAT, OF THOSE FACILITIES.
IS THOSE TWO BUILDINGS RIGHT THERE WITH THE GREEN ROOF? YES.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT, UH, FACILITATING COMMUNITY ACCESS FOR MEETINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT? UH, WELL, SO AS PART OF THE DESIGN PROCESS, UM, WE, WELL, THE FIRST FLOORS AUTOMATICALLY, UM, THE WAY THEY'RE CURRENTLY SET UP, AUTOMATICALLY CREATE BETTER PUBLIC ACCESS.
UM, EVEN THE EXTERIOR ENTRANCES TO THE BUILDING ARE JUST LIKE LIGHT, LIGHT YEARS BEYOND WHAT THE KIND OF ACCESS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AT OUR CURRENT FACILITIES.
SO, BUT AS PART OF THAT DESIGN PROCESS, WE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH, UM, THE DEPARTMENTS TO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE SETTING UP THE SPACE IN THE MOST OPTIMAL WAY FOR THAT PUBLIC ACCESS.
SO, UM, IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE A FORTRESS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
WE WANT THIS TO BE A WELCOMING SPACE FOR ALL THE FOLKS THAT WORK THERE AS WELL AS THE FOLKS THAT ARE VISITING.
ARE YOU GONNA, UH, ALLOW FOR SPACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME IN AT A LARGE MEETING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO DISCUSS SOME INCIDENT THAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? YEAH.
WHERE LIKE ALL OPTIONS ARE ON THE TABLE FOR US TO, TO ADDRESS JUST THE, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE PUBLIC IN, IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.
HOW DID THE SQUARE FOOTAGE OF THIS NEW SPACE COMPARE TO ALL THREE HEADQUARTERS COMBINED RIGHT NOW? SO, UM, WHAT WE DID, WE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN LOOKING AT, UM, CONVERTING AN EXISTING PROPERTY THAT WE HAD TO, AND IT WAS GOING TO BE A, A CHALLENGING, UM, TO ACCOMPLISH.
BUT THROUGH LOOKING AT THAT EXISTING PROPERTY WE WERE DOING, WE DID A LOT OF WORK OF PROGRAMMING AND, AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENTS TO DETERMINE APPROXIMATELY HOW MUCH SQUARE FOOTAGE WOULD WE REQUIRE TO MEET CURRENT NEEDS AND GROWTH.
AND FROM THAT EXERCISE, IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 400,000 SQUARE FOOT AMONGST THE THREE DEPARTMENTS.
AND WHEN THIS, THIS PROPERTY BECAME, UH, AN OPTION FOR US, IT WAS JUST KIND OF LIKE THE, THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY.
DO WE KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE AT ALL HOUSE TOTAL? ONCE ALL THREE AGENCIES ARE IN? UH, I DON'T KNOW THAT NUMBER RIGHT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEBODY, IF YOU'VE ALREADY ADDRESSED THIS, I'M SORRY.
UH, IS THE RBJ BUILDING OWNED BY THE CITY? YES.
WHAT WAS KIND OF THE, THE SEARCH AND EVALUATION PROCESS LIKE TO FIND THIS SPACE? SO THE CITY HAS, UM, LONG OVER THE LAST DECADE HAS BEEN REALLY MAKING STRONG IMPROVEMENTS IN TERMS OF HOW WE LOOK AT OUR EXISTING REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO AND WHERE THINGS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND SEEKING OUT NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
WE ALSO HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, OUR, OUR REAL ESTATE ADVISOR TO HELP BRING OPPORTUNITIES TO THE TABLE TO US THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT OTHERWISE.
AND THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE INSTANCES.
SO, UM, WE'VE BEEN, WE'RE ALWAYS ON THE SEARCH FOR, UM, PROPERTIES, BOTH THAT, THAT WE'VE ALREADY OWN OR COULD POTENTIALLY OWN TO ADDRESS NEEDS ACROSS THE ORGANIZATION.
UM, BUT, AND THIS ONE IS JUST, IS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
WHY DON'T WE DO ONE MORE QUESTION.
DO WE KNOW WHAT THE TIMELINE IS ONCE THIS IS APPROVED? HOW QUICKLY WILL THERE BE TRANSITION
UM, AND THEN THERE WILL BE THE WORK THAT TAKES PLACE AFTER THAT.
UH, SO WE, WE ARE GOING TO BE ON A, JUST LET'S GO KIND OF OF A TIMELINE.
WE DON'T WANNA SIT ON THIS BY ANY MEANS.
UM, THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN IN FACILITIES, SUBOPTIMAL FACILITIES FOR FAR TOO LONG.
UM, WE DON'T WANT TO TO BE SLOW ABOUT THIS IN ANY WAY.
SHE'S, CAN YOU SAY YOUR NAME AGAIN FOR ME? IT'S, IT'S KIMBERLY OLIVAREZ, O-L-I-V-A-R-E-S, AND I'M THE DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
AND WE WILL HAVE A PRESS RELEASE GOING OUT AT 11, SO YOU GUYS WILL HAVE DETAILS AND WE CAN PROVIDE THOSE PHOTOS AS WELL.
SHE, SHE SAYS SUBOPTIMAL AND THE CHIEF DOESN'T INTERVENE.
THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THIS IS AN EXCITING EXAMPLE OF CITY HALL MOVING IN A WAY THAT, UH, IT MAY HAVE BEEN MOVING SLOWLY AND INEFFICIENT IN THE PAST, BUT IT'S NOW MOVING, UM, AT A SPEED THAT GETS THINGS DONE.
AND, UH, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE, AGAIN, TO THE MANAGER AND TO KIM AND, AND AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
AND I KNOW THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO, BY THE WAY, THIS IS IN, IN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS'S, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICT, BUT I WANNA SAY THANK YOU.
I KNOW SHE JOINS ME IN SAYING THANK YOU.
AND I ALSO WANNA SAY THANK YOU WHILE WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, OUR CHIEFS WHO, UH, AGAIN, THEY HAVE OUR BACK AND IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHOW AND DEMONSTRATE AND REVEAL THAT WE HAVE THEIR BACK.
AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
SO THANK YOU ALL VERY, VERY MUCH.