HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-07-07 PACKET 08.A.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM #
DATE 7/7/10
PREPARED BY: Administration — Ryan Schroeder
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD
COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST:
Review new Public Safety/City Hall building Communication Plan
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
approve communication plan
ACTUAL AMOUNT
APPROVED
DENIED
❑
❑
F
❑
F
F
F
❑
F
❑
BUDGETED AMOUNT
ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION:
❑ PLANNING
❑ PUBLIC SAFETY
F PUBLIC WORKS
❑ PARKS AND RECREATION
❑ HUMAN SERVICES/RIGHTS
F ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY
0
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
ley- A1 1111131
REVIEWED
El
El
El
El
11
El
El
❑ MEMO/LETTER:
❑ RESOLUTION:
F ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
F OTHER: communication plan
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS:
4 hr
City Administrator Date
COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: APPROVED F DENIED E]OTHER
http://l 56,142.9.3/intranat/Administration Forms/City Council Action Form - Read Only.doc
From: Gail Griffith and Kenneth Smith
Date: July 2, 2010
Subject: Communications Plan for Public Safety /City Hall building project
The Communications Committee for the Public Safety /City Hall building project has
been selected. Below is the communications plan we have developed.
Committee Members
Gail Griffith - Chair
Ken Smith — Co -Chair
Mike McCormick
Matt Foucault
Patti Dillon
Joanne Bixby
The City of Cottage Grove is a complex organization which serves over 34,000
residents, businesses and visitors. Sharing information with City employees and the
public regarding the size, scope and impact of any new city construction project is
necessary in order for departments and the public to adequately plan for potential
disruptions to their operations and their use of the public safety building infrastructure.
The level of public communication provided should be proportional to the size of a
project and the potential level of disruption. There shall be internal communication and
external communications based on the scope and size of a given construction related
activity.
All communications should be made by Gail Griffith, Ryan Schroeder, Mayor Bailey or
Ken Smith.
Communications
Communicating our message will be handled through press releases, social media,
cable, and newsletter, community meetings, media interview, tours and marketing
videos.
Goal
Our goal is to always communicate a clear message starting with what we are doing,
why we are doing it, how the community will benefit, what partners (if any) we are
working with, what estimated costs are, timelines and locations. Our message will be
clear and concise. Our goal is to have a consistent message, understanding that
changes may occur throughout the course of the project which will need to be
communicated.
Budget
Our anticipated budget for communication materials is ( +) or ( -) $1,000
Communication Topics
History of current building
Planning process
• History of remodel
• 2005 Space needs study
• Building fund
• Financing — impact on taxpayers
Site selection
• Location of new complex
• What complex consists of (i.e. YMCA, Library, Community Center, etc.)
Construction
• Identify Contractors and their qualifications
• Timeline
• Road closures
• Soil removal
• Technologies available in the new building
• Green messages /innovation in products and technology
• Update information on our web page (construction camera)
Community tours of existing facility
Scheduled visits for school age children to visit building under construction
Location of complex model for citizen viewing
Resident opinions
• Testimonials from public
• Open house upon project completion
What is Our Message /Mission
The City of Cottage Grove is in the planning stages for a new Public Safety /City Hall
building to replace the current Public Safety /City Hall Building. The current building was
built in 1968 and expanded in 1973. In 1985 the Public Safety garage was added and
remodeling occurred again in 1995. The current building houses the Divisions of Police,
Finance, Administration, Planning and Inspections. A 2006 Space Needs Study was
updated earlier this year as an aid in planning for a building that would provide for the
needs of this community into 2040 and beyond.
At the time of the last expansion of the current building, 1985, the population of Cottage
Grove was 20,800. The current population is just over 34,000 and is expected to top
53,000 by 2030. Despite these population projections it is the City's intention to
maintain the same quality of service in all areas of Public Safety, Parks and Recreation,
Public Works and General Government. It follows that with increasing populations
comes increases in City service demand which will be beyond the capacity of this
building to support.
The Cottage Grove City Council met on June 2, 2010 to provide direction toward
replacement of the current building with an approximate 58,000 square foot Public
Safety /City Hall project about 15,000 square foot of which is necessary for secure,
temperature controlled squad parking. The construction estimate for this project is
$11,405,000. The budget also includes $2,015,085 for site improvements, $515,000 for
furniture, fixtures and equipment, $1,026,450 for environmental, site evaluation,
architectural services and other professional services, $1,306,800 for land acquisition
and related costs and $731,665 for contingency items for a total project cost of
$17,000,000.
At its June 16, 2010 meeting the Cottage Grove City Council reconfirmed the East
Ravine site off 85 Street and Keats Avenue which had been selected by a prior City
Council in 2005 for the location of the new Public Safety /City Hall building. Future
decisions as they relate to the design, construction and expenditures of funds for this
new building will be made by the City Council whose meetings are open to the public
and are held on the first and third Wednesday of every month in City Hall.
Why Build a Public Safety /City Hall Facility Now?
1. T he Cottage Grove Police Department has outgrown its current space
2. The prisoner holding areas are not in compliance with BCA Standards
3. There is inadequate space between personnel and suspects
4. CJIS security standards not currently met
Inability to hard wire new technologies due to space limitations and electrical
setups
6. Opportunity to consolidate the Fire Division and EMS coordination with the
Police Division
7. Expectation of favorable bidding environment; cost for construction materials
are lower now than they have been in over a decade
8. Financing costs currently favorable (AA+ / AA1 bond rating)
9. Have set aside cash sufficient to provide minimal taxpayer impact
13. The option to build on the East Ravine site runs out in a few years
14. Partner projects provide opportunities to plan for larger campus
15. Space Planning began in 2005; occupancy in 2012; planning has been
deliberate allowing for a sound financial plan
How Do We Communicate Our Message
It is imperative that the public be well informed about this project. Communication tools
will include:
1. City's Newsletter which is published the 15 of every month
2. Press Releases which can immediately proceed or follow milestones for time
sensitive information
3. Social Media (City's Web Page, Facebook, Nixle). The City's web page will be the
main collection point of information. All communications should direct readers and
listeners to our web page for comprehensive and up to date information
4. Cable TV which is broadcast every day for an entire month with features about the
construction and or public service announcements
5. Encourage residents to attend Community Meetings /Council Meetings where details
about the project will be discussed
6. Media Interviews with designated City officials and designated construction personnel
7. Flyers for local businesses, schools and community events
8. Create video tour of current facilities highlighting inadequacies which can be shown
on cable, in the City Hall lobby kiosks, at community events and placed on the internet
and you tube
9. Conduct routine tours of our current space
10. Communications Committee will meet with local media to outline communication
plan
11. Update City staff by Monday news and Third Thursday events encouraging them to
follow construction progress and provide a uniform message to residents
12. Display architectural model, construction drawings, conceptual drawings, and other
visual -based media for public viewing in central locations
When Do We Communicate Our Message
• Daily, weekly and monthly depending upon when relevant project thresholds are
approached and or met. We have a tentative schedule for design and
construction. It is our intention to release brief statements concerning key
phases associated with this schedule.
• The Communications Committee will use the various methods of communication
depending upon the announcement. Facebook and Nixie give us the opportunity
to post construction related events any time of the day or night and receive
instant feedback.
• The Newsletter lets us blanket the community with schedules and key long term
project information. The Newsletter is ideal for information about site selection,
contractors, environmental efforts, new technologies, road closures and
timelines.
• Once we have this information the public and our partners should know who is
doing the design, how many firms bid on the project, what the bidding process
involved, who was chosen and how close they came to the engineering estimate.
Representatives from architecture and construction firms should be on hand at all
community events to answer questions and share pictures of their work from
other locations.
When it is safe for the public to enter the building we should hold "hard hat' tours.
• Our City leaders and construction partners will welcome the opportunity to talk to
community groups and will bring information to civic, business, senior and
community organizations as we reach significant milestones in design and
construction.
• Include officials from other governments/ agencies to participate in tours, along
with former members of Council and current City Commissioners and volunteers
On 7/7/10 Council will adopt the communication plan which highlights what our
message will be, who shall receive it, how they will receive it and when they will receive
it. Communication will be external and internal and receive budget documentation.
On 7/13/10 the City is expecting architectural RFP's from three firms. The deadline is
noon. The City directed the firms to address the design areas of sustainability,
construction that makes a statement of stability, success and strength, operating
efficiencies, accessible to technology changes and expandable.
The City has scheduled architectural interviews for 7/21/10. Each interview should last
about one hour with a 30 minute break in between. Interviews will be conducted by
Mayor Myron Bailey, Council Member Pat Rice and the members of the Project Team.
During the week of 8/9/10 the City will initiate a final review of the space needs update
prior to the arrival of the architects.
At the 8/11/10 City Council meeting the City Council will approve the contract with the
chosen architectural firm.
On 8/17/10 the Public Safety Commission will review the project plan and schedule
On 9/15/10 the staff will update the City Council on the schematic design and adopt the
programming plan
On 9/15/10 the City Council will authorize acquisition of the selected site and the phase
one environmental review of the selected site and approve the deed transfer process
On 9/21/10 the Public Safety Commission will review project information to date
On 9/27/10 the Planning Commission will review the site for CUPNariances
On 10/1/10 property closing
On 10/4/10 the site engineering process will begin
On 10/19/10 there will be a SWWD Board review of the Droiect
On 10/20/10 there will be Council update of the schematic design
On 10/25/10 if needed there will be an alternate Planning Commission Review of the
design
On 11 /10/10 is anticipated that the Schematic Design will be completed
On 11/17/10 the City Council will accept the schematic design /pricing /direct final design
On 8/10/11 the City will approve the plans and specs and set a bid date
On 9/15/11 the bids will be received
On 9/21/11 the bid will be awarded
On 10/3/11 notice will be given to the contractor to proceed and break ground