08-28-1991 Council Minutes City Facilites Public Hearing

Home Browse Search

PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED CITY FACILITIES — AUGUST 28, 1991 1" — The police department also need a much larger facility as it has been mandated by the State and they need storage for their vehicles. The public works department's proposed space is two — thirds for storage (replacement cost of equipment owned is $1,400,000). The machinery needs to be kept out of the elements mainly for efficiency. There is some room figured in to the proposed building for expansion room. The size of the building is sometimes met by discussions of how big Plymouth is and how our building should be the same size in relation to population. That city does not closely compare with Orono and they are currently in the process of expanding as they do not have enough room. The purpose of cities is to provide services to the people. In measuring cities, it is important to note their ability to provide services and to what degree; i.e. are they stretched to the limit or could they do more. Cities of 10,000 - 15,000 seem to be working efficiently and economically. The cities of 2,000 or lower have the question of whether they can economically survive and provide all the services that citizens want. The City of Orono is between those numbers. The City has contracted with other cities because we have the ability to provide those services. We are not at the critical mass that we use up all the people that we need, and we are at the critical mass that we need all the people that we have. It is the judgement of the Council that we.cannot solve the space problem by cutting staff. The City is currently servicing about 91,000 feet of roads in the City, and about 120,000 lineal feet of sewer /water mains, in addition to parks and a few other things. The size of the buildings could be reduced by changing the shape to a square or rectangular building which would reduce the cost. No matter how small the building is proposed at, it could always be made smaller, however these are choices that the Council...is.not prepared to make.. r The size of the building determines about 75 -80% of the cost of the project, with the next factor the shape and external materials, and type of construction materials being a much smaller part of the cost. The cost is therefore determined by multiplying square footage by the cost per square foot. The architect has given a percentage of cost per square footage figured on his experience. In February of 1991 square footage needed was calculated to be approximately 29,000 s.f. for public works, and 19,500 for administration and police. The furniture and landscape are then added to this cost. By June of 1991 the square footage had been reduced for the administrative /police portion to about 17,500 s.f. and the public works department remained the same. The total cost was figured to be about $4,414,500 and about $4.5 million without the sale of land currently owned by the City. C!