The City of Normandy Park continues to pursue the potential for a new City Hall & Police Station in an existing building at Normandy Park Towne Center on First Avenue, and they’re moving the bond vote to April, 2024.
A vital part of this project will be the voter-approved bond needed to support the project, which would convert the old grocery store space at Towne Center into a City Hall/Police Station.
The City wants to issue a general obligation $7.5 million bond to voters to fund most of this project.
“If the voters approve, a special levy will be issued on all properties in Normandy Park to pay the principal and interest for the debt,” the city said. “And remember, this type of debt can only be issued if the voters approve it. So, the City plans to present a ballot issue so you can vote yes or no in early 2024. We had discussed presenting this item as part of the Special Election scheduled for February 2024, but the City Council wants to give residents more time to learn about the ballot measure and provide some additional time to help finalize some of the project plans.”
The City Council decided at its last meeting that the ballot measure asking residents to support this bond measure will be presented at the April, 2024 Special Election.
The Building
If the Towne Center building is purchased, the City said it will immediately renovate 16,000 square feet to serve as a City Hall, Police Station, Town Hall, and community gathering place. The remaining 12,000 square feet are currently leased, and the City will honor that agreement.
Here is the proposed site plan (click on the image to zoom in):
VIEW ENTIRE FLOOR PLAN
This plan creates a secure area for transporting suspects, public restrooms, a large conference room that can be reserved for public use, a Town Hall that will be designed as a multipurpose room, and 2,000 square feet that can be used as a community gathering space. In addition, this building would move the City Hall and Police Station operations to First Avenue (just west of the Friendly Market gas station and north of Auntie’s Playhouse).
To learn more about the project, visit the City’s website here.
Voter Approved Bond
Funding for this project will be dependent on a voter-approved bond. In looking at the project costs and the available cash that the City has in reserves, the city said it needs a $7.5 million bond.
“With this funding, we can purchase the building, make the necessary improvements, and have funding to help us repurpose our current City Hall building.”
In 2022, residents voted on – and rejected – a $15 million bond to help build a new Civic Center. Voters claimed that the project was too expensive.
“We are happy to present an option that has reduced the bond request by 50%. To help you understand how the bond would impact your household, below is a chart showing the costs of the proposed bond. And remember, use your assessed value and not the market value.”
If you want help determining your value, visit the King County Assessor’s website.
“We are still finalizing some project details, so many more discussions and public meetings will come soon. I encourage you to stay tuned for more information, and please come to the public meetings to let your voice be heard,” the city added.
Stay tuned for more information about the project.
It is absurd. It is very wasteful of the public money. It is equivalent to an entitlement for a select group. The funds could be spent elsewhere that would serve the city well.
It will go over budget and more funding and a further bond will be necessitated.
The current city hall will be subsequently used for something else which will require an investment for that new utilization.
If approved it will require more personnel – clerks, police, maintenance workers, etc. to fill up this new space
Since a 2x larger budgeted project was rejected by voters in 2022 this is an attempt to make the true cost hidden. The alleged cost of 15MM hasn’t changed!
This is an insult to the voters and city residents.
If the city needs more police then hire more police. This proposed funding could be used for services that would be for the greater good rather than new facilities for city employees.
Simply, the current facilities should be renovated. During renovation temporary trailers could be used for the officials and police.
Let’s look at a 10 year cost of this project! Because, that is a more effective cost consideration. The future costs are very high.
Heck, let’s give the mayor a 50% raise rather than fund this absurd project. That will make the mayor happy.
Soon, properties will be reassessed so that more funds will be taken from taxpayers
Why have a special scam limited voting election in April? Because, it increases the probability that a lower vote count occurs and favors the approval by a limited set of voters. Have the vote occur in November where greater voter turnout is assured!