City Hall Public Space & Safety Improvements

The renovated and expanded City Hall reopened in 2019. The renovations improved public safety, ADA accessibility, and visitor convenience through five main concepts:

  1. Secured One-Level Parking Garage

    A garage behind City Hall offers parking for police, sheriff, and courts to allow for secured prisoner and weapon transport.

    This addresses:
    • Public Safety

  2. Central Front Entrance

    The building previously did not have a centralized entrance and receptionist, so visitors were often confused about how to reach their destination. Multiple entrances are not a safety best practice. A central entrance addresses safety concerns, provides clear paths through the building, and includes information like a daily list of meetings.

    This addresses:
    • Public Safety
    • ADA Accessibility
    • Visitor Convenience

  3. Building Code and ADA Renovations

    A number of renovations were needed to comply with the building code and update for ADA accessibility, including creating shelter-in-place locations for the public and staff; upgrading electrical, sprinklers, plumbing, and ADA; replacing the 60 year-old HVAC; and replacing the generator.

    This addresses:
    • Public Safety
    • ADA Accessibility
    • Visitor Convenience

A Short History of City Hall

Built in 1957, City Hall was last renovated in 1986 when the East Wing was added. It is a central gathering place that hosts over 400 community meetings every year. Weekly City Council, Planning Commission, and School Board meetings and court proceedings are held in City Hall. The city’s major community events like the weekly, year-round Farmers Market, Memorial Day, and Fall Festival are held in City Hall’s parking lot.

A majority of city employees work in City Hall; most others are at the Property Yard (7100 Gordon Rd.), the Mary Riley Styles Public Library (120 N. Virginia Ave.), Community Center (223 Little Falls St.), Cherry Hill Farmhouse and Gage house, all of which shares the campus and parking lot with City Hall.

Budget

A total of $16.95 million was approved for these public safety renovations.

The FY2012, FY2013, and FY2014 CIPs approved for $1 million for critical renovations and $10.7 million for City Hall public safety expansion, renovations, and parking.

An additional $5.25 million for additional public safety renovations in the existing building and rear expansion, HVAC renovations in the West Wing, and a second story on the Police/Courts garage was approved in the FY2016 CIP.