Public Safety Building Project
Summary
The City of Puyallup is issuing a bond measure to fund a new Public Safety Building. The measure will appear on the November 7, 2023 ballot. The new building would be a modern facility and house the Police and Jail all under one roof. The new building would be located at 600 39th Ave SE next to Central Pierce Fire & Rescue Station 72, and unlike current facilities, there would be space for all police officers. Additionally, the new jail would have adequate room to separate inmates and space for rehabilitative services such as mental and medical health. In addition to the new facility, the project would include a police substation located in downtown Puyallup. The substation would be located inside City Hall on the first floor, allowing residents of downtown access to police services.
The following webpage contains information about the new Public Safety Building and updates on a bond measure to fund the project.
Project Updates
2017 – The City hires Mackenzie Consulting to perform a feasibility study on the new Public Safety Building.
July 19, 2019 – City Council presentation on Mackenzie report and findings.
2020 – The project was put on pause due to the pandemic and concerns over cost estimates.
March 25 – 30, 2021 – Elway Research Inc. conducts research in the community about a new Public Safety Building.
June 15, 2021 – City Council approves first reading of an ordinance authorizing ballot measure in the amount of $82 million.
July 13, 2021 – City Council approves second reading of an ordinance authorizing ballot measure.
November 2, 2021 - The November election results determined that the ballot measure did not meet the 60 percent required voter criteria to pass. The measure received 59 percent.
November 23, 2021 - City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance authorizing a new ballot measure to be placed on the February 2022 ballot for $81 million.
December 7, 2021 - City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance authorizing the ballot measure to be placed on the February 2022 ballot.
February 2022 - The February election results determined that the ballot measure did not meet the 60 percent approval required voter criteria to pass. The measure received 56 percent. City staff and Council decided to go back to the drawing board and re-examine the project.
March 2023 - City Council, staff, and the consultant took a deep dive into the project and decreased the total project cost by $9 million, or roughly 10 percent. This included decreasing the number of jail beds and the total square footage of the building by over 8,000 square feet and reducing the number of jail beds from 82 to 58.
May 2023 - City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to place a bond measure on the November ballot that would fund a new building and downtown substation for $56 million. The total estimated cost would be $76 million and, if approved, would be paid with the voter bonds plus non-voted councilmanic bonds of $20 million. The councilmanic bonds would be paid using existing City funds.
June 2023 - City Council approved the second reading of the bond measure ordinance for $56 million. This will appear on the November 2023 ballot.
In 1968, the current Public Safety Building was built in downtown at 311 W Pioneer Avenue. At the time, Puyallup’s population was roughly 14,000. The facility was built based on the City's population size and level of law enforcement service needs at the time, which was approximately 23 police staff. The Jail was built attached to the facility and was designed to hold 21 inmates.
In this 55-year time frame, Puyallup’s population has grown to over 43,000. To meet the demands of this increase in population, the Police Department has grown to staff 68 police officers and approximately 95 total employees. Storage for evidence and equipment is at capacity due to the lack of space available in the current building. As a result, property and evidence storage is spread across four separate facilities within the City, creating inefficiencies for the department. Additionally, the age of the building has resulted in an increased need for constant repairs and maintenance. The Jail, which was originally built for 21 inmates, now holds 52 inmates and is significantly overcrowded. This has created issues with officers performing their duties due to overcrowded and inadequate workspace.
In 2017, the City hired MacKenzie Consulting to conduct research and provide a feasibility study for a new building. In July 2019, a report was prepared and presented to City Council, with their recommendations. The Feasibility Report can be reviewed in the Documents section of this page.
The Report proposed multiple options for a new Public Safety Building. City Council expressed interest in the 39th Ave SE option. However, they were concerned about the building costs, which were nearly $120 million. Council directed staff and the consultant to go back and research a new, lower-cost option for the location. But in 2020, due to the pandemic, the project was delayed.
In 2021, the project was re-evaluated by staff and City Council, and a new cost estimate of $82.7 million was determined. The City hired consulting firm Elway Research, Inc. to conduct a public survey about a new Public Safety Building in March 2021. A total of 250 households were interviewed by phone, email and text, and a report was created and presented in April 2021. To view the report, please visit our Documents section.
In July 2021, the Puyallup City Council voted and approved an ordinance that would authorize a bond measure for the Public Safety Building to appear on the November 2021 ballot.
The State of Washington requires that bond measures must obtain at least 60 percent "Yes" votes and obtain at least 40 percent voter turnout, from the previous general election, to validate. In November 2021, the bond measure met the voter turnout threshold but received 59.3 percent "Yes" votes. Additionally, there were several hundred undervotes, which means residents neither voted "Yes" nor "No."
The City Council determined that more voter education is needed and agreed to place the bond measure back out in 2022. In December 2021, Council unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the bond to be placed on the ballot in February 2022. Council did make one change to the bond, which was the amount. The bond amount is $81 million. Net proceeds from the sale of the existing Public Safety Building would be used towards the project cost if the bond were approved.
In the February 2022 election, while the bond measure received 56 percent "yes" votes, the bond measure did not meet the 60 percent threshold. City staff and Council decided to return to the drawing board and re-evaluate the project.
Project Cost
The total cost of the new building would be $76 million. Here is a cost breakdown.
Hard Costs: $45.6 million
- Building Construction
- Site
- Contractor Fees, Conditions, and Contingencies
- Escalation
Soft Costs: $30.4 million
- AE Design Fees & Reimbursables
- Site Survey
- Special Inspections
- Hazardous Material Testing and Survey
- Building Commissioning
- Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FFE)
- Phone, Data, AV, and Security Equipment
- Permitting Fees and Sales Tax
Overall Project Cost: $76 million
Minus Councilmanic Bonds: $20 million
Voter Bond Amount: $56 million
FAQs:
Why is the Puyallup Police Department doing this?
The original building was intended to house approximately 23 police staff. The PPD currently has approximately 95 employees and lacks the space to provide sufficient service. Since 1968, when the current building was established, Puyallup has grown significantly. The City has become more populated and its geographic boundary has increased in size. However, the current police building has not kept pace with this growth. The Police Department has outgrown the building.
What are the current building issues?
The current building has served the community for over 50 years. However, the building is showing its age. Repairs that are needed include a new roof, plumbing and sewer system, HVAC, and a telecom system. These repairs are costly and will continue to rise. Additionally, the jail is overcrowded, which has caused issues with management of inmates. The jail was originally designed for 21 inmates. Today, it houses 52 inmates.
Storage for equipment and evidence is at capacity. Officers have to create makeshift storage areas to accommodate the lack of space. The building has also run out of workspace for officers. As a result, officers are working in areas that were originally designed as closets, storage rooms, and work benches. The Department also has officers working off-site in leased locations due to insufficient office space. A lack of parking has made it difficult for officers to park their patrol vehicles and for visitors to access the building.
The current building is also located within a Lahar zone, making it subject to an emergency event. If a natural disaster were to occur, the building would be at risk of being demolished, which would impact PPD's ability to deliver critical emergency services.
The building is also non-compliant with ADA requirements, specifically regarding doorways, sink and counter heights, and turning clearances.
How much will this cost and who is paying for it?
The total project cost for the new building is $76 million and would be paid for by two funding sources. The first would be a voter-approved bond measure of $56 million and would be issued for 30 years. A home valued at $500,000 would see an additional assessment of $15 per month on their property tax bills if the bond is approved.
The second source would be councilmanic bonds of $20 million issued over 30 years. The councilmanic bonds will not affect property tax rates as they are paid using existing City funds.
What are councilmanic bonds?
Councilmanic bonds, also called Limited Tax General Obligation (LTGO) Bonds, are bonds that the City would issue onto itself, and be paid off through annual payments, including principal and interest, over the course of several years. These bonds do not require a vote of the people and are issued directly as debt to the City. It is important to note that the amount of councilmanic bonds issued is determined by how much debt capacity the City can handle. It is also important to note that the issuance of these bonds does not affect property tax rates, since they are paid using existing City funds. The City decided to use Councilmanic bonds to help offset the total project cost, which would lower the amount that residents would need to pay through the voter bond. The City has issued Councilmanic bonds in the past, most notably for City Hall. The debt payments for City Hall will be sunsetting in the next few years, and it is the City’s intention to “roll over” these debt payments to the new Public Safety Building.
What is the cost breakdown for the building and how much will I pay in additional taxes?
The additional tax is determined by a Puyallup homeowner's assessed property value. A home in Puyallup assessed at $500,000 would see an additional amount of roughly $15 per month for the 30-year voter bond. Here is what a cost breakdown looks like for the project.
Hard Costs: $45.6 million
- Building Construction
- Site
- Contractor Fees, Conditions, and Contingencies
- Escalation
Soft Costs: $30.4 million
- AE Design Fees & Reimbursables
- Site Survey
- Special Inspections
- Hazardous Material Testing and Survey
- Building Commissioning
- Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment (FFE)
- Phone, Data, AV, and Security Equipment
- Permitting Fees and Sales Tax
Overall Project Cost: $76 million
Where will this new building be located?
The new Public Safety Building would be located at 600 39th Ave SE next to Central Pierce Fire & Rescue Station 72. The City purchased the adjacent lot next door with the intention of utilizing the space for a future City building. This location, along with the downtown police substation, would position the Department within each of the City’s identified regional growth centers.
Why did the City choose this location?
The City decided on the location at 600 39th Ave SE based on several factors. From consulting the Feasibility Report developed by Mackenzie, and from Council feedback, the City decided on this location for the following reasons:
- The building would be located out of a lahar zone. Currently, the existing building is located within a lahar zone and is subject to an emergency event. If a natural disaster were to occur, the current building would be at risk of being demolished, which would impact PPD's ability to deliver critical emergency services.
- The City owns the property, which was purchased with the intention of building a public safety facility.
- Being next door to Central Pierce Fire & Rescue would enhance emergency responses city-wide.
- The City is estimated to grow in the coming decades. In the City’s Comprehensive Plan and South Hill Neighborhood Plan, the South Hill region was identified as an area of significant growth potential in the future. Based on these plans, the new building would be well-positioned to service this projected growth.
- The PPD would still have a location downtown. Part of the bond would fund a Police Substation downtown, which would be located on the first floor of City Hall. There, residents can access Police services.
Didn’t the City put this before residents in 2021 and 2022? Why is the City doing this again?
The City did place this project before voters in November 2021 and also in February 2022. While both measures received over 50 percent approval, they did not meet the State required voter criteria to pass. To pass a bond measure, the State of Washington requires 60 percent “yes” votes and at least a 40 percent turnout from the previous general election to validate the votes. In November 2021, the first bond measure received 59.3 percent “yes” votes. In February 2022, the second bond measure received 56.6 percent “yes” votes.
Following the second bond measure, the City went back to the drawing board to find ways to bring the project, and bond measure amount down. City Council formed an ad-hoc committee and worked with staff and the consultant to look at cost reductions and different funding options. The committee presented its findings to Council and was able to decrease the total project cost, which in turn brought the bond amount down. With a lower project cost of $76 million and a lower bond amount of $56 million, the City will ask residents in November 2023 to consider funding this project.
What has changed since the last bond measure?
In short, the project cost has been lowered and so has the bond amount. Staff, City Council, and the consultant took a deep dive into the project and made cost reductions that would bring the total price tag down by over $9 million. This included decreasing the total square footage of the building by over 8,000 square feet and reducing the number of jail beds from 84 to 52. The Municipal Court was removed from the building footprint, saving additional funds from the total project cost. Additionally, the City will issue councilmanic bonds, that will fund a portion of the total project cost. The councilmanic bonds will be paid using existing funds. City Hall was paid for using councilmanic bonds, and the debt service on that building will sunset in a few years. The City intends to "roll over" its current debt payment on the City Hall building into the new Public Safety Building if the voter-bond measure is approved.
Why is the Municipal Court not included?
The Municipal Court is currently operating in a separate, leased space at 929 E. Main. The City lease is through June 2028. Due to the emergent need for a new Police and Jail building, the City will delay the construction of a new Court until these facilities are operational.
The latest configuration of the new building would allow for a Municipal Court to be built as a third-floor addition later. But for the time being, the Court will remain in its current location.
You’re moving the police station and jail out of downtown? I live downtown. Will this impact response time to issues downtown?
The location of the physical police department will not affect response times to emergencies. Unlike other emergency responders, police officers respond to emergencies from within their patrol districts throughout the City. That way, officers can respond quickly and efficiently from their patrol vehicles. The Puyallup Police Department has 4 patrol districts in town, including one for downtown. Within each district, there is at least one police officer patrolling 24/7. Patrol districts allow officers to respond to incidents quickly, prevent crime, and improve public safety. For a copy of our patrol districts map, please click here.
Residents who live in the valley will still have access to in-person police services through our new downtown police substation, which would be located on the first floor of City Hall at 333 S. Meridian. There, residents can go and speak with an officer and file a report.
What will happen to the current building?
The City is still weighing its options on what to do with the current building if the bond measure is approved. All decisions regarding the future of this lot will be made public at future City Council meetings with public input.
Neighborhood Meetings
Do you have questions for our Department? Come to a Neighborhood Meeting where you can talk to officers, ask questions, and learn more about department projects. The meetings will be held on the following dates and locations. All meetings are from 6 pm to 8 pm.
NW Neighborhood Meeting - October 9, 2023, at First Baptist Church (1219 15th St NW)
SW Neighborhood Meeting - October 18, 2023, at Nazarene Church (1026 7th Ave SW)
SE Neighborhood Meeting - October 19, 2023, at Pierce College (College Center Building, 1601 39th Ave SE)
NE Neighborhood Meeting - October 25, 2023, at the Elks Lodge (314 27th St NE)
Public Safety Building Tours
The Puyallup Police Department invites you to tour the current Public Safety Building, get a hands-on, personalized walk-thru of the facility, and learn more about its current condition. Questions are encouraged throughout the tour. Each tour is approximately one hour in length.
Schedule
August 31, 2023 - 4 pm
September 5, 2023 - 5 pm
September 7, 2023 - 4 pm
September 9, 2023 - 9 am
September 12, 2023 - 7 pm
September 14, 2023 - 5:30 pm
September 19, 2023 - 7 pm
September 21, 2023 - 4 pm
September 26, 2023 - 7 pm
September 28, 2023 - 4 pm
September 30, 2023 - 9 am
October 12, 2023 - 5:30 pm
October 21, 2023 - 9 am
October 24, 2023 - 5:30 pm
Details and Registration
Registration is capped at 6 people per tour. These tours are intended for Puyallup residents and business owners. Tour participants must pass a criminal history screening and provide a copy of state-issued identification. To register, please email puyalluppd@puyallupwa.gov. For questions about the tours, please contact Nichole McNiven at nmcniven@puyallupwa.gov.
Chats with the Chief
Get a chance to talk one-on-one with Chief Scott Engle at these informative events located at the Public Safety Building. Each Chat is approximately 1 hour.
Schedule
September 6, 2023 - 7 am
September 27, 2023 - 6:30 pm
October 7, 2023 - 11 am
October 11, 2023 - 4 pm
October 26, 2023 - 6 pm
Details and Registration
Space is limited and residents should register early. These events are intended for Puyallup residents and business owners only. Participants must pass a criminal history screening and provide a copy of state-issued identification. To register, please email puyalluppd@puyallupwa.gov. For questions, please contact Nichole McNiven at nmcniven@puyallupwa.gov.
Jail Talk
Come learn about why the Puyallup Jail is necessary to keep the community safe and hold criminals accountable. These meetings will be held in the Police Station Community Room and are approximately one hour. Questions are encouraged.
Schedule
August 31, 2023, at 8 am
September 9, 2023, at 11 am
September 12, 2023, at 5:30 pm
September 26, 2023, at Noon
October 12, 2023, at 4 pm
October 24, 2023, at Noon
Details and Registration
Space is limited and residents should register early. These events are intended for Puyallup residents and business owners only. Participants must pass a criminal history screening and provide a copy of state-issued identification. To register, please email puyalluppd@puyallupwa.gov. For questions, please contact Nichole McNiven at nmcniven@puyallupwa.gov.
How to Learn More
For questions and more information about the Public Safety Building project, please contact...
Captain Ryan Portmann, Public Information Officer, ryanp@puyallupwa.gov
Chief Scott Engle, scotte@puyallupwa.gov.
Disclaimer
This information is being published for educational purposes only. It is intended to educate residents about the project and to help them make an informed decision. This webpage is not an endorsement by the City of Puyallup and Puyallup Police Department.