Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Albert Lea City Council voted unanimously Monday to move forward with the preparation of plans for a remodel of City Hall that officials say would improve security and efficiency of the building. 

The total estimated cost for the project is $1.5 million and would include the interior of portions of the lower and upper floors. Areas where the Albert Lea Public Library is housed would not be included. Also included in that cost are some general exterior maintenance on the building as well as exterior lighting. 

Building Official Wayne Sorensen said the city had a committee that included city staff members and three councilors, who looked at the needs of the building with Oleson + Hobbie Architects. In addition to the library, the building houses the city administration, attorney and finance departments on the upper level and engineering and inspection departments on the first level.  

The building was constructed in 1967 and has not seen many renovations, other than the expansion of the library in 2007, as well as some updates to parts of the Council Chambers.

The executive summary of the feasibility report stated though the building is sturdy and long-lasting, it lacks in providing adequate safety and security in today’s society. It referenced the design of the corridors, a lack of secure materials at public interaction locations, the ability to monitor locations of public circulation areas and secure entrances into the building as well as into office spaces. 

Sorensen said he could say with full confidence that the committee worked hard to identify what was a “need” versus a “want” when it brought the project back to the council. He said if the improvements are not made, the building will continue to present problematic security infrastructure into the future. 

On the lower level, the project would include shortening most of the public hallway that leads to the engineering and inspection departments. The work space in both the front and back of the building would be opened up for the engineering and inspections departments, with the engineering department working on the northern part of the building and the inspections department working on the south. 

Currently there are 10 or 11 employees from both departments working in the north part of the building, he said, with two even working out of what would be considered a closet space. 

Under the proposal, engineering would be in the northern part of the level, while the inspections department would be in the south. A shared garage space would remain for city vehicles in space formerly housed by the fire department garage. 

The lower level would also include a new public meeting room made out of currently underutilized space, as well as remodeled staff restrooms and storage space. The main IT room would remain as well. 

The existing public restrooms would remain, as would the rooms on the other half of the building. 

The third floor would include shortening the current hallway to city administration and creating an open workspace with various offices and work stations for employees on that level. A new public window would be added in the remaining hallway, and there would also be a viewing window looking out into the lobby. The proposal calls for adding a building breakroom and wellness area, which has never been available for employees. 

City Manager Ian Rigg said he thought the design could create potential efficiencies for staff and said though there would be some short-term costs, he anticipates long-term gains. 

Sorensen said, for him, the biggest aspect of the proposal is the security aspect. A key card entry would be installed throughout. 

During the work session Monday, Mayor Rich Murray brought up concerns about the cost of the project and how it would be paid for. 

He said in talking to taxpayers who just got their tax statements, it is clear they are feeling some fatigue when it comes to taxes. He said the city needed to be careful with what it is doing with the citizens’ money. He asked about the possibility of phasing it in, but staff talked about how it would ultimately mean more money. 

Sixth Ward Councilor Brian Anderson said as someone who sat on the committee, there had been a much longer wish list that was pared down. 

It is estimated to cost about $70,000 to prepare the final plans, which was included in the overall cost estimate, after which the council will vote whether to proceed. 

Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker at first said he was afraid to spend the $70,000 if the project ultimately does not go through; however, he ultimately voted to do so. 

The bids will have the costs if the two floors are completed separately as well as if they are completed together. 

Third Ward Councilor Jason Howland, who also sat on the committee, said the group pared the improvements down to actual needs, and like Sorensen said, it comes down to needs versus wants.

“The No. 1 need with this building is security, security, security,” he said. “This building is not secure.” 

He said the city has a responsibility as an employer to make sure its employees are safe and secure, and right now with the building there are a lot of lapses with that. 

The city also needs to provide an efficient work space and needs to have employee restrooms and a break room. He said employees should not have to go into the restrooms and see a homeless person in the bathroom. 

Howland also said when he recently went into the city engineer’s office there were towels rolled up next to the window because of leaking windows.

“These are not wants, these are needs, so I think it’s important that this gets done,” he said. 

Murray said he thought the committee had done a good job of identifying the most important things that needed to be completed in the building. After hearing a presentation from city Finance Director Kristi Brutlag in the work session, he said the city had done a good job looking at the budget, making some adjustments and moving some projects or lessening the size of some other projects to make room for this project if the council decides. 

All in attendance ultimately voted to move forward in preparation of the final plans. 

Fourth Ward Councilor Reid Olson was absent for the vote.