9.
City Council Work Session
- Meeting Date:
- 06/14/2016
- From:
- Josh Copley, City Manager
- Department:
Co-Submitter:
Donald Jacobson, Court Administrator
TITLE:
Discussion of New Municipal Courts Facility and draft ballot language
DESIRED OUTCOME:
Council direction
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
During the Council work session held on April 12, 2016 we discussed the need for a new municipal courthouse. During that session staff provided a proposed funding scenario that included a ballot question for a $10 million dollar bond in the secondary property tax. There is sufficient bonding capacity available and it would not result in an increase in the secondary property tax rate. Upon conclusion of the presentation Council indicated its willingness to consider a ballot question for the November 8, 2016 general election.
The proposed new municipal courthouse would be a co-located facility with the Coconino County Justice Court and built on County owned property at the site of the old downtown jail. This collaborative effort with Coconino County would allow for the most efficient use of land and the sharing of costs for design, construction, and joint use space at the new facility. Additionally, the project would include the construction of a nearby parking garage which would serve the needs of the new facility and potentially provide additional parking spaces for the downtown area. Staff proposes that the existing municipal courthouse property on Beaver St. as well as the Cherry Building property be sold to defray the costs associated with the construction of the new courthouse. The costs of maintaining these two aging buildings is not considered to be an effective use of our resources and their potential for redevelopment would certainly be a benefit in terms of additional tax revenue for the City. Of course, any redevelopment of these City owned properties would be accomplished in the strictest conformance with our zoning standards and include public engagement in the process.
If Council should desire to retain the Cherry Building property for some other future use then we would need to increase the requested bond amount to $12 million in order to assure the full funding of the courthouse project. Again, there is sufficient bonding capacity available and a $12 million dollar bond would not result in an increase in the secondary property tax rate.
The cost breakdown for the new courthouse is as follows:
Demolition of old jail site $250,000
Land $400,000
Parking structure $4,100,000
Building $13,000,000
Prisoner Holding $2,200,000
Contingency (7.77%) $1,550,000
Total City share of project: $21,500,000
Available Funding:
Various sources including court facility funds, court improvement funds, property sales, redevelopment funds, and capital funding transfer.
Total amount available: $11,500,000
Bond Funding Needed:
Total Estimated Project Cost: $21,500,000
Less total funding available: $11,500,000
Total Remaining: $10,000,000
Public Outreach:
On May 19th we held a public open house at the municipal courthouse in order to provide information on the need for a new facility and receive feedback on a possible ballot question for the November election. Staff provided some static displays with information about the new courthouse project and conducted tours of the existing facility. We received a total of 32 comment cards and the general consensus is as follows:
Proposed Ballot Question for the November 2016 general election:
Staff has worked closely with bond counsel and the City Attorney's Office to draft a proposed ballot question for the upcoming general election. That ballot language is attached to this staff summary. Pending any changes from Council, this ballot language will be brought back for consideration and possible adoption at its regular meeting scheduled for July 5, 2016.
The proposed new municipal courthouse would be a co-located facility with the Coconino County Justice Court and built on County owned property at the site of the old downtown jail. This collaborative effort with Coconino County would allow for the most efficient use of land and the sharing of costs for design, construction, and joint use space at the new facility. Additionally, the project would include the construction of a nearby parking garage which would serve the needs of the new facility and potentially provide additional parking spaces for the downtown area. Staff proposes that the existing municipal courthouse property on Beaver St. as well as the Cherry Building property be sold to defray the costs associated with the construction of the new courthouse. The costs of maintaining these two aging buildings is not considered to be an effective use of our resources and their potential for redevelopment would certainly be a benefit in terms of additional tax revenue for the City. Of course, any redevelopment of these City owned properties would be accomplished in the strictest conformance with our zoning standards and include public engagement in the process.
If Council should desire to retain the Cherry Building property for some other future use then we would need to increase the requested bond amount to $12 million in order to assure the full funding of the courthouse project. Again, there is sufficient bonding capacity available and a $12 million dollar bond would not result in an increase in the secondary property tax rate.
The cost breakdown for the new courthouse is as follows:
Demolition of old jail site $250,000
Land $400,000
Parking structure $4,100,000
Building $13,000,000
Prisoner Holding $2,200,000
Contingency (7.77%) $1,550,000
Total City share of project: $21,500,000
Available Funding:
Various sources including court facility funds, court improvement funds, property sales, redevelopment funds, and capital funding transfer.
Total amount available: $11,500,000
Bond Funding Needed:
Total Estimated Project Cost: $21,500,000
Less total funding available: $11,500,000
Total Remaining: $10,000,000
Public Outreach:
On May 19th we held a public open house at the municipal courthouse in order to provide information on the need for a new facility and receive feedback on a possible ballot question for the November election. Staff provided some static displays with information about the new courthouse project and conducted tours of the existing facility. We received a total of 32 comment cards and the general consensus is as follows:
- 84% support the need for construction of a new municipal court courthouse with parking.
- 90% support raising $10 to $12 million in bond funds for a new municipal court courthouse with parking.
- No attendees indicated that they would not support bond funding for a new municipal courthouse with parking.
Proposed Ballot Question for the November 2016 general election:
Staff has worked closely with bond counsel and the City Attorney's Office to draft a proposed ballot question for the upcoming general election. That ballot language is attached to this staff summary. Pending any changes from Council, this ballot language will be brought back for consideration and possible adoption at its regular meeting scheduled for July 5, 2016.
INFORMATION:
COUNCIL GOALS:
3) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics.
3) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics.
- Design, finance and construct a Courthouse.
Attachments
- Proposed draft Ballot Language
- Courthouse conceptual design 1
- Courthouse conceptual design 2
- Summary of comment cards