City Commission to move forward with architectural design of public safety campus

A Winter Park firm that bid on the design contract for a new police headquarters on the south side of town received the highest ranking by the city of Tallahassee's architectural evaluation committee.

The City Commission will vote today on the recommendation to hire Architects Design Group and give permission to the city manager to negotiate a contract with them. ADG beat out Dewberry, CRA, Barnett Fronczak and JRA architectural firms that answered the city's request for proposals.

The meeting begins at 4 p.m. in commission chambers.

The city has $6.5 million budgeted this year for the new police headquarters, which is being called a public safety campus. City officials envision more than just a police station, with a community center, basketball courts, police training facilities and other features to engage the surrounding community.

In October, the City Commission approved spending $5.5 million to buy the old Towne South Shopping Center on South Monroe Street with plans to relocate current tenants over the next two to three years.

Its proposed 12.3-acre location has drawn mixed support from the community, with County Commissioner Bill Proctor leading the vocal opposition. He held at a news conference on the matter Tuesday.

Some residents said eliminating businesses from the area runs counter to efforts to revitalize the community.

The architectural firm will work with Ajax Building Corporation, a Quincy-based company with a growing portfolio of public safety projects, including seven police headquarters.

The city last year authorized staff to acquire real estate for a new headquarters, as the TPD has outgrown the complex of buildings on Seventh Avenue it's occupied since 1972. It's also got a growing list of maintenance needs.

The commission also will vote on a policy change to eliminate the 30-minute limit on public speaking on items on the board agenda, as well as allow an opportunity to speak when each item is brought up for discussion. The change would also apply to advisory boards.

Contact Schweers at jschweers@tallahassee.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffschweers.