Public Safety Facility 

Our objectives

• Unified public safety facility with Police and Fire
• Use existing City property
• Enhance community engagement
• Focus on employee wellness

The process

• Went through a request for proposal (RFP) process in January/February 2023
• Chose CNH
• Approached project as a remodel/addition (remodel existing Fire Station, add Police Station)
• Original space needs study presumed 2nd floor could be added to the east bays of the Fire Station, and then both floors would be used for crew quarters, locker space, training, etc.
• CNH structural analysis of existing building determined footings/foundation not built to accommodate a 2nd floor. 
• Shape of existing building created challenges with interior flow - square footage would need to be added to accommodate current and future office space, training space, and emergency operations center (EOC).
• CNH and RJM (construction consultant) did analysis of costs of project under assumption that existing station was taken down and replaced with new public safety facility.
• Analysis found construction costs for new building nearly identical to remodel/addition to station.

Why a new building?

• Structural analysis done by architect firm CNH found that footings/foundation of Fire Station were not built to accommodate a 2nd floor. That means the east bays would need to be demolished and rebuilt to structurally support a 2nd floor, which would be necessary to fit spaces for crew quarters, lockers, training, and decontamination 
• More efficient use of space
• Long-term maintenance for new building more cost effective
• Reduces construction timeline which reduces time needed to relocate Fire Department during construction
• Flexibility for the future
• Cost of new construction nearly identical to remodel/addition

What this plan brings to the table

• No property acquisition
• Current Fire Station site is centrally located in the city, making it an ideal location for public safety campus
• Community space for public events and meetings
  • Police Department Picnic
  • Safety Camp
  • Police and Fire Explorer programs
  • Fire Department Open House
• Provides training spaces, secure parking, adequate locker rooms, and break areas for Police and Fire Department staff
• Current Fire Station would be replaced with a new public safety facility for Police and Fire Departments
• Meadow park and trail will be reconstructed as part of this process

View from the northwest from Engler Boulevard

View from the north from Engler Boulevard

View from the west (from Meadow Park)

View from the southwest

View from the south

View of lobby from entrance doors

View of lobby from the other side

View of Fire Department from lobby

View of Police Department from lobby

View inside Police Department's lobby

Planning Process Overview

• Applicant: City of Chaska
• Location: 285 Engler Blvd, where the current Fire Station is. View on city's development hub.
• Project basics: A new public safety facility that would house the Chaska Police Station and Chaska Fire Station. This project is part of a larger city facility improvement plan. Visit the future of city facilities page for more info. 

Current Status

All planning steps have been completed.

Concept Approval

Planning Commission 

• Approval: 9.13.23
• Watch video
• View agenda supporting documents (packet page 36, agenda item 7.B)

City Council 

• Approval: 9.18.23
• Watch video
• View agenda supporting documents (packet page 92, agenda item 8.B)

Preliminary Approval

Planning Commission 

• Approval: November 8, 2023
• Watch video
• View agenda supporting documents (packet page 15, agenda item 7.A.)

City Council 

• Approval: November 20, 2023
• Watch video
• View agenda supporting documents (packet page 20, agenda item 8.A)

Final Approval

Planning Commission 

• Approval: December 13, 2023
• Watch video
• View agenda supporting documents (packet page 48, agenda item 6.A.)

City Council 

• Approval: December 18, 2023
• Watch video
• View agenda supporting documents (packet page 186, agenda item 8.A)

Background

During a Strategic Planning Session in 2021, the City Council identified 6 strategic visions for the future. One of those strategic visions is "In 2025, Chaska has quality facilities." 

As a part of that vision, the Council and Department Heads developed the following direction: "Reinvesting in core assets so that facilities are adequate to meet the growth of the community and reflect community pride."

What facilities?

• Public Safety Facility (Police Station and Fire Station)
• Municipal Services Building (MSB)
• City Hall
• Chaska Library

Learn more about the future of city facilities and why these projects are need.