Apr 11, 2008

Contain the cost of new police digs

Editorial

As the city of Palo Alto tries to determine how to pay for a new $69 million public safety building, it can do itself a favor by finding ways to contain the ambitious project's escalating cost.

Council Member Pat Burt, for instance, wondered whether the new project needed the 2,125-square-foot multipurpose room that would be used for training and occasional community meetings. And are there other amenities that might be trimmed to save money? These are the right kinds of questions to pose at this early stage.

Officials might want to first determine what they can afford, and then work from there. After all, that's what people in the private sector must do.

The expense of a new, 50,000-square-foot public safety building has been creeping steadily higher since the city started work on it. Just last year, a $50 million price tag was discussed.

The desire for a new public safety building and revenue to finance it has brought forth a burst of creativity from city staff, who have come up with various proposals to help finance the project. Some seem frugal and sensible, including cutbacks in some areas and fee hikes.

Others could trigger a minor revolt. For example, residents could be asked to share the cost and liability of non-emergency sidewalk repairs and there is talk of starting a business license tax. If the council approves those, some merchants and homeowners are going to wonder how badly the city needs a new public safety building.

More cost-conscious residents are also going to wonder whether the city really needs a proposed $80 million in library upgrades. Palo Alto is weighing a November bond measure for these.

There will be no bond measure for the public safety building. That is a tougher sale to voters, even though it is just as important.

The existing police station doesn't meet seismic standards and could be compromised during a major emergency. So city officials have turned to internal financing.

There is no denying that a new public safety building is needed. While city officials consider how to pay for it, however, they also must look at limiting its costs.