What is your vision for Provo’s City Center and Public Safety Buildings?

Help the City Council choose an option!

In August, Provo's City Council intends to adopt a resolution asking voters to approve a general obligation bond to replace or upgrade its Municipal, Police, Fire, and Dispatch operations and headquarters building currently located at 351 W Center Street in Provo. The City Council is seeking your input into the selection from one of three alternatives to be funded by the general obligation bond. While the bond referendum will be voted on in the November 6 general election, the Council is asking for your input now (and again in November).

Mayors and City Councils need to ensure that first responders are prepared to react to emergencies, that our departments are able to efficiently provide the services the public expects and pays for, and that our employees have safe and efficient work conditions. Provo's population has also more than doubled since the City Center was first constructed in 1972. This growth has greatly increased demand for a variety of city services such as information requests, utility billing issues, and public safety needs.

The majority of the current Provo City Center buildings, which includes operations and headquarters for Police, Fire, and Dispatch services, as well as city administrative departments) have not been structurally updated since the '70s, meaning these facilities lack appropriate seismic protections. In the event of an earthquake, this would mean key city offices, including the police and fire departments, could easily be incapacitated and unable to serve residents in need. In order to be adequately prepared for emergencies, the city needs to update the buildings that house some of its most critical functions and services.

Most critically within the City Center complex, the Police Department does not currently have adequate space to meet public safety needs. Provo Police officers and public safety officials don't having enough training room, office space, staging or parking areas for police vehicles, or report/briefing room space. Due to current building limitations, the Department has even had to close their shooting range and use it for evidence storage space, and lease an additional old building to manage its Community Policing operation.

Similarly, the Fire Department faces limitations for its operations and administration at the City Center. Its most critical need, however, is the proposed replacement of Fire Station #2 on Canyon Road, which proposal is included in all three options under consideration.

Watch the videos below to see the concerns we have with our current facilities.

Fire Department

Police Department

City Offices

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Background

Remodels and rebuilds of city hall have been discussed for years with the Mayor and City Council. In fact, the need to upgrade or replace these buildings has been mentioned in every State of the City address for the past eight years. We’ve had a number of studies performed to help us determine the needs and viability of our buildings. Some concepts were shared with the public and received input along the way. An employee committee worked with experts and discussed the options, looking for the most cost-efficient proposals, and considered many different alternatives before recommending these three to the City Council.

Council members have a limited amount of time to make this decision in time to put the bond on the November ballot and they want to hear from you on the options before them.

What Options Are Being Considered?

Three options are being considered by the City Council. 

1. Purchase the former Sears property at Provo Towne Center and build city hall and public safety offices as a remodel of the existing buildings (includes former auto center). Current Center Street property would be sold for redevelopment.
2. Build new public safety building on Center Street property and remodel current city hall building.
3. Build new city hall and public safety buildings on Center Street property. 

All three options include $4.5 million to replace Fire Station #2. Click here to see a matrix comparing the options on various points.

Assumptions

In order to compare the three options, certain assumptions have been made:

• Justice Court stays at current location
• Community Policing (COP) building lease ends, eliminating the cost of lease payments
• All three options include replacing Fire Station #2 for $4.5 million
• Options 2 and 3 have not factored in a cost for temporary locations during construction
• None of the options include a reduction in costs for any eventual sale of land on Center Street

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The Mayor and Municipal Council intend to address the critical space needs and deteriorating, unsafe condition of the current Municipal City Center and Fire Station No. 2 by asking residents for approval of a general obligation bond in the upcoming election.

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Here’s your chance to let us know what you’d like to see on the ballot.

Take the survey now.

Registered users can add to and edit their answers at any time before the survey closes.

Note: The numbers presented are approximations based on reasonable assumptions.

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Taking the survey is one way to participate. Here are some others:

• Several Open Houses are being held at the City Center building. You can tour some of the facilities, learn more about the current conditions and the options being considered, and ask questions. See the information on the Mayor’s blog.

• Send an email to Council members at newprovocitycenter@provo.org

• Read some of the frequently asked questions and submit a question of your own: