The Sedona Police Department will soon get a makeover — one that’s been in discussion for some time.
Bids on the renovation project went out recently and are to be returned by Thursday, July 22, for not only renovation of the police department but expansion of 1,675 square feet of space as well.
The work is to begin in late September and is expected to take no more than 300 days to complete, according to the bid advertisement.
“The coming renovations deliver much-needed capacity building within the police department,” SPD Chief Charles Husted said last week. “Some of the highlights include a designated interview room, improved work station spaces, quiet space and a proper women’s locker room. We are excited for the much-anticipated upgrades.”
When the design phase was underway more than a year and a half ago, it called for the city’s court offices to be moved to the Sinagua Building, which sits adjacent to City Hall and that the city purchased more than five years ago.
However, that is no longer the plan for that building as the city is currently in talks with the Sedona-Oak Creek School District to use its Dr. Nancy Alexander Administration Building at 221 Brewer Road as the new location for the courtroom and offices.
“The current expansion does not include moving into the court space,” City Engineer Andy Dickey said. “A connection will be made between the police department and court buildings, which could allow further expansion in the future. It’s not currently anticipated to be necessary, but the space could accommodate unanticipated future needs.”
A staff report states that the City Hall plaza was originally a standard office complex, and was not designed to accommodate a future police station. The Police Department has made the retrofit space work, despite lacking in several key amenities. The current police station is approximately 5,900 square feet and the underground garage is approximately 8,700 square feet.
Over the years, there have been many alterations, additions and improvements to the police station facility.
Improvements include the underground garage, Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant holding cells and ramp, the armory, gym and K-9 area, and shifting office/meeting space walls.
The report goes on to state that even with these improvements there are still many issues that cannot be addressed within the existing space. Some of the issues with the facility are:
■ Lacking safety and security features that a traditional police station should be equipped with.
■ There are no vacant offices to allow for staff growth, and meeting spaces are undersized.
■ The evidence area has outgrown its space.
■ The women’s locker room is undersized.
■ Workflow regarding holding cells is not adequate.
“Some functions at Sedona Police Department have outgrown our current facility,” Husted said. “For example, as we strive to further diversify our workforce through the hiring of additional female officers, our women’s locker room is in need of expansion.”
A 2016 needs assessment of the current police department found several deficiencies, primarily based upon the configuration of the building.
“The existing facility was not originally conceived to house a police station,” the assessment states. “The building was originally constructed as an office complex that was sold to the city of Sedona prior to completion of construction. Some changes were made to the SPD building to accommodate some police functions such as the addition of holding cells and underground parking, but the overall facility construction was not planned or built to accommodate the unique needs and use of a public safety institution.
“While the department has done an excellent job working within the resources they have, due to the expansion of the SPD staff, the current facility is inadequate to serve the intended purpose.”
An article on the potential lease of the Dr. Nancy Alexander Administration Building will appear in the July 9 edition of the Sedona Red Rock News. An update on the Sinagua Building appears in this edition.
