Voters in Urbandale will decide in November whether the city will get a new police station that officials say is needed.
Urbandale City Council approved Monday, Aug. 3 to place on the Nov. 3 ballot a bond referendum to help pay for the new police station, without raising the city’s property tax rate. The up to $25 million bond referendum will need at least 60% voter approval in order to pass.
Officials have said the existing station does not have the capacity for current operations or the expected growth of the police force.
“A modern police station would give our personnel the space and infrastructure needed to serve Urbandale effectively today while preparing the department for the community’s needs in the decades ahead,” Urbandale Police Chief Rob Johansen said in a city news release after the council’s vote Monday.
The city’s existing police station, built in 1982, is at 3740 86th St. The proposed new 95,000-square-foot station would be on city-owned property at the southwest corner of Douglas Avenue and 100th Street.
The city would pay for the $60 million station with three sources:
Urbandale Mayor Robert Andeweg said in the city’s release that raising property taxes to pay for the project can be avoided because of “planning carefully, using a combination of funding sources and making strategic use of the City’s existing financial capacity.”
What would a new Urbandale police station have?
The existing police station was built in 1982 for 26 officers serving 18,000 residents, but the department now has 62 officers serving almost 50,000 residents.
“The building is now inadequate to meet the operational demands of a growing city and an expanded police department staff and operations,” according to council documents.
A previous space needs study indicated it would not be feasible to continue adding on to the building.
The latest plan calls for about 95,000 square feet that would accommodate more space for training — including with firearms on a range — evidence storage, offices, locker rooms and secure parking.
More information about the proposed police station, financing and bond referendum is available at urbandale.org/vote.
Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at PSitter@usatodayco.com. Find out more about him online in the Register’s staff directory.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Urbandale voters to decide on new police station this November
Reporting by Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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By Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
