Page last updated on March 17, 2023 at 1:50 pm
Each week, Mayor Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Carmichael provide video updates on recent news and key initiatives. Access all of the weekly video updates at bloomington.in.gov/videoupdates.
In today's video update, Mayor Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Carmichael provide an update on the new public safety investments, including the new public safety headquarters. At its January 25 meeting, the City Council approved appropriating proceeds from the recently approved public safety bonds (https://bton.in/OBxjM) for public safety facility improvements, including the purchase of 320 W. 8th Street, a section of the Showers Building adjacent to City Hall.
This purchase allows the City to relocate the Bloomington Police Department (BPD) and Bloomington Fire Department (BFD) administration offices into a unified Public Safety component as part of City Hall. The new location will provide new and much-improved facilities to employees of BFD and BPD, important opportunities to collaborate among the various public safety components, enhanced collaboration with other City Hall departments, opportunities for future expansion, and greater ease for the public when engaging with public safety-related questions or issues.
In addition to the appropriation of funds to purchase the CFC Showers Building, the Council approved funds for rebuilding Fire Station #1 (E 4th St), remodeling Fire Station #3 (Woodlawn Ave), and constructing a new Fire Department training/logistics center and storage facility. The major remodel of Fire Station #1, estimated at $5.5 million, will bring the building up to current standards, remove the basement, avoid complications of mold remediation, fix known issues, and provide energy efficiency updates. The new layout also follows best practices for inclusive space by removing group sleeping areas, showers, and restrooms.
A major renovation, estimated at $2.5 million, of Fire Station #3 will similarly bring the building up to current standards and follow best practices for inclusion. The remaining $2.5 million investment will construct a much-needed permanent Fire Department training/logistics center and storage facility.
Transcript
Mayor John Hamilton:
Hello, it's Mayor John Hamilton.
Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael:
I'm Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael. And today, we're going to talk about some exciting new investments. We've talked about these a little bit before, but we're moving these projects on down the road, so it's time to revisit it.
Mayor John Hamilton:
Public safety investments, you're right, there's a lot going on right now. We have about a $32 million program to do several things for the fire department and for the police department. And maybe we should just, the biggest single piece of that is the purchase and rehabilitation of the showers building, which is where City Hall is now, and City Council chambers and where we are at the moment. And we're buying about 64,000 square feet. And we're looking at architects right now, aren't we currently?
Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael:
Absolutely. Yes, we have received responses to our request for qualifications, and so we'll be starting to speak with those folks next week. So it's really exciting, moving along.
Mayor John Hamilton:
So once an architect is in place for this big project to create a downtown police headquarters, integrated with fire and our whole public safety world and our whole city government, we'll be having a working group. You'll be maybe leading it, I don't know. That will really do the design, right? Digging into the details.
Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael:
Yeah. And this is, I think, probably the best part about this whole project is that it's going to be a group effort. We're going to have members from the police department, not just leadership, but the rank and file. As well as members of the fire department, folks from various departments here at City Hall, and then experts in the field that do this kind of work. In fact, Chief Diekhoff and our Controller, Jeff Underwood, and I are going to attend a special class that talks about how to build a police station. So we're trying to bone up on this so we can really make the most of this project and end up with the best final project we possibly can.
Mayor John Hamilton:
So I'm glad you're doing that. And our community is very proud of, we are proud of our police department. Our fire department is kind of the next era; for them to be together, it will be terrific. A lot of work. So that's going on. We're building three fire buildings or rehabbing the downtown station that got flooded out. Basically, gutting that and replacing it. We're building major changes to the North Side Station three on Woodlawn. And then a new operations and training facility that we rent right now. So all that's happening, major investments in public safety, and we're really excited to see it moving forward for our, again, great police and fire department that are doing so much for us.
Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael:
That's right. Thanks, that's a good overview.
Mayor John Hamilton:
All right. If you want more information, there's always plenty more available online. And thank you to the community for supporting all this, making it possible through the bond financing and the local income tax that helps us fund it all. And we look forward to your continued support.
Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael:
Thanks for watching.