After six years of discussion about the City’s facilities needs, two years of work by the City’s facilities committee, and a recommendation from an independent consultant, the City Council voted on September 3 for the City to pursue combining its offices at Mahoney. This option would address the City's significant facilities needs more affordably than some other options, allow for the construction of a new Police Station and renovation of Central Fire Station, and preserve the Mahoney theater and gymnasium as community spaces. Consolidating City offices at Mahoney also provides the greatest potential for affordable housing to be developed on the current City Hall, Library and Hamlin Building sites (should Council support this). The City will now look to hire a design team to work up a final plan with a solid cost estimate, and begin seeking other sources of funding to reduce the burden on taxpayers. Voters will ultimately decide if the plan moves forward, with a vote likely in 2026.
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