Politics & Government
Creve Coeur Eyes Government Center Improvements
City officials are readying a bid for a space needs analysis for the building located on New Ballas Road.
Fresh off of an energy audit of city facilities, Creve Coeur officials are looking anew at the possibility of renovations to the Government Center building.
City Council members were presented with results of the audit Monday night, which outlined suggestions large and small related to energy conservation. The report suggests that a half million dollars in investment could be recouped within roughly seven years.
A move to study city facility needs comes after discussions picked up within the last year about possible improvements to the Creve Coeur Government Center, which, with the exception of changes made to the police department, is largely the same building it was when the city moved into it in 1989.
According to a staff report by Public Works Director Jim Heines:
The goals of this proposed study will be to consider current and future facilities needs of the city as well as investigating the following issues:
- Security
- Archive space
- Departmental expansions
- Public spaces
- Community Center and meeting room needs
- Remodel and update aesthetics of the building
- Improved curb presentation
Ward 4 Councilwoman Jeanne Rhoades voiced support for the energy improvements, calling it a "no-brainer" but wondered aloud about the getting too excited about making those improvements if the city were to ultimately decide that the better course of action would be to relocate the Government Center instead of renovating it.
Without categorically saying there would not be a need for a move, City Administrator Mark Perkins said the city has space needs but that didn't anticipate growth in city government.
City officials found agreement with Ward Four Councilman Scott Saunders' suggestion that a citizens task force should be involved in the process of evaluating what should be done as far as making improvements to the site. A resident who doesn't walk the halls of the building daily like a city employee or a city council member could offer unbiased feedback about what the city really needs, they said.
The city likely won't have a request for qualifications for the needs survey ready for another two months.
You tell us: Have you been to the Creve Coeur Government Center lately? What would you improve if you had the chance?
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