Council OK’s $650K in City Hall, Police Station Upgrades

The San Rafael City Council unanimously OK’d Monday night city officials spending up to $650,000 to upgrade the interiors of San Rafael City Hall and the San Rafael Police Department. 

While the third floor of city hall has been renovated extensively, the bottom two levels of the building haven't been upgraded since they were built in 1965 and are showing “significant signs of wear,” according to a San Rafael staff report.

“It’s about time we look and see if we can make improvements,” Kevin McGowan, San Rafael assistant public works director, told the council at its March 18 meeting.

Last summer the San Rafael Police Department moved out of the first floor of city hall and into trailers in an adjacent parking lot while heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades were made in the building. 

City staff said the temporary police relocation creates the “rare opportunity” to perform additional construction maintenance work without impacting staff, especially since the police station is operated 24 hours a day.

Councilman Andrew McCullough said he was at first “skeptical” about the upgrades but after taking a tour of the facilities he was “convinced” the renovations are needed. “It would be penny wise and pound foolish to not make the upgrades now,” he said.

The other council members agreed.

“Now is the right time to do it,” Mayor Gary Phillips said.

The interior renovations will begin after the new HVAC system installation is completed in April. 

The upgrades will be made to the police department (including dispatch) on the first floor, a total of 6,450-square-feet, and the second floor’s 2,200-square-foot entry area (outside the council chambers) and hallway.

The funding for the project will come from the city’s building fund from the 2012-2013 general fund. 

The renovations include:

• Examining (and possibly changing) the first floor police station layout
• Restroom upgrades
• Adding a wall system to the police jail area
• Moving surface-mounted electric wires inside the walls
• Adding a layer of sheet rock to damaged hallway walls
• Replacing carpet on the second floor
• Removing and replacing tile on the first floor
• Re-painting the first and second floors
• Upgrading the police locker rooms
• Upgrades to the city manager and city clerk areas
• Possibly installing a new security fence system around the lower parking lot for an additional $112,500

See the cost breakdown and additional details of the upgrades in the attached staff report.

After getting the green light from the council, city staff will now begin the bid process for the project.

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