Edmonton Police Service

Future Administration Accommodation Requirements

Recommendation:
That the Edmonton Police Commission prepare for Council's consideration a capital
profile and business case for the construction of a new Edmonton Police Service
administration building during the 2019-2022 Capital Budget Process.
Report Summary
This report provides information and options concerning the future long term
accommodation needs for personnel of the Edmonton Police Service.
Report
Space issues at the Edmonton Police Service Headquarters building have reached
critical proportions. Changes to technology and increases to staff and staff functions
have resulted in a significant shortage of available space. Many office areas within
Police Headquarters are over-crowded by two to three times the number of staff than
space standards recommend. For example, there is an area within the Informatics
Division in which there are 19 people in an office area designed for nine. There is no
vacant space available within Police Headquarters, limiting options for further
renovation.
Several specialized units now occupy leased space across the city, resulting in logistical
challenges and additional lease charges. Units that have close working relationships
are often in distant geographic locations. Combining these units into one location
allows for more effective sharing of information during joint investigation of files.
Because so much has been invested in the infrastructure at the Police Headquarters
building, the medium-term vision is to concentrate the specialized policing units at
Police Headquarters and move administrative employees out of the building and into
commonly available office space. The long term vision sees these same Edmonton
Police Service administrative employees housed in a separate Edmonton Police Service
administration building. The existing police headquarters building would evolve into a
strictly operational facility housing Downtown Division, and many specialized units.
The replacement or expansion of Police Headquarters has been included in capital
plans since 1995. During the 2015-2018 capital budget development, project
17-60-1376 Police Administration Building was deferred. This proposed capital project
would envision a building to house up to 800 administrative personnel and other
specialty investigative units which would accommodate future growth needs for the next
15 to 20 years. This figure would include the 200 400 of the current 650
administrative staff which currently need to be relocated into other leased facilities.

ROUTING Community Services Committee | DELEGATION - S. Sandhu/R. Knecht

June 29, 2015 Edmonton Police Commission CR_2613
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Edmonton Police Service - Future Administration Accommodation Requirements

This building was originally anticipated to be built on lands adjacent and contiguous to
the approved North West Campus. However, as other facility plans evolve, the use of
this site as originally envisioned may not be possible. The Edmonton Police Service is
expecting to develop an Indoor Gun Range that will meet the needs of Edmonton Police
Services' law enforcement partners in Northern Alberta on a cost recovery basis. As
this facility will be larger than originally planned, utilization of the site for some of the
other facilities required in the short to medium term must be re-visited.
After the deferral of the Police Administration Building, the Edmonton Police Service
explored, with the civic administration, opportunities to move into the Edmonton Civic
Office Tower. However, the conclusion of this discussion was that this was not a viable
option, mostly due to capacity issues at the new Tower.
Facing up to a ten year wait to alleviate the existing space shortage, the Edmonton
Police Service will utilize lease space in the short term to meet these immediate needs.
A service package to pay for the additional space will be submitted in the 2016
operating budget cycle.
In order to alleviate the immediate space shortage, and to allow for efficient short and
long term capital planning, the Edmonton Police Service is proposing that leased space
be secured outside the downtown core for a period of at least ten years. Such a
location will be cheaper than a downtown facility, will have better employee and police
vehicle parking, and (because it is traditional office space) should be readily available.
Corporate Outcomes
This report contributes to the conditions of success as noted in The Way Ahead.
Specifically, it contributes to the provision of appropriate working conditions and
facilities through enabling infrastructure and thereby increases organizational capacity.
Budget/Financial Implications
The Edmonton Police Service will be bringing forward a service package for
consideration during the 2016-2018 budget process to secure funds for the interim
leasing option.

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