Surrey considers city hall changes
More space is needed for police, public works
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SURREY - Tight quarters for its police and public works departments has prompted the Surrey City Council to look into remodeling and expansion at its city hall.
Following what has been an ongoing discussion, the council voted at a special meeting Tuesday to solicit bids on potential projects.
Police Chief Kevin Howe said his department's evidence room is inadequate for storing and separating evidence properly, and office space is tight for what typically is three full-time and two part-time officers. The department needs another part-time officer to be fully staffed, he said.
"We are all crammed into one small office," he said. "For cars, we only have room for two in the garage, which you have to walk sideways to get in because the garage is so small."
Howe also cited a lack of electrical outlets for the number of plug-in devices required in the department.
Public Works employee AJ Waller described the department's shop as cramped.
"There's no room in the shop. You have to pull everything out to get one piece of equipment out. We have a dump truck with the plow that we utilize, and we can't park it in the shop because there's no room," he said.
Surrey grew from just over 900 people in 2000 to 1,357 residents in the 2020 census. Waller said the population now is nearing 1,500, and that has meant a need for more maintenance equipment to keep up with the corresponding physical growth of the city.
The council voted to seek bids with options for either constructing a 40-foot by 60-foot building or a 60-foot by 80-foot building for Public Works. The new space also would have potential to house police vehicles.
The council indicated the investment could be around $500,000.
The council voted to call for bids to remodel a portion of city hall into three police offices, which could be funded using the city's pandemic funding through the federal American Rescue Plan Act. Existing office space could be reconfigured to better meet the department's other needs.
Howe said the remodeling will allow his department to meet requirements and get by, although it may not be a long-term solution.
"For now, that will solve the problem," he said.