Some background
The purpose of the plan is to develop a guiding document for current and future utilization, improve operational efficiencies and assess and provide for individual departmental needs, according to agenda documents. The master plan proposes updates for nine facilities including Live Oak's:
- City Hall & Administration
- Public Works Administration
- Animal Control
- Public Works Equipment Storage Yard
- Public Works Equipment Storage
- Public Works Maintenance Shop
- Utilities Shop & Storage
- Public Works and Police Storage
- Fire Department
Austin-based Huitt-Zollars—the engineering consultant on the project—put together a summary assessing the repair cost, replacement value and current conditions of eight of the aforementioned buildings and provided several recommendations. The fire department was not included in the facilities assessment summary, agenda documents note.
Assessing the need
The plan proposes construction of a new 22,440-square-foot city hall facility with 209 additional parking spaces. This proposed project would allow for anticipated staff growth and feature two dedicated areas for public hearings and a large break room. Also being proposed is a 2,680-square-foot Community Building, which would be located where the current Live Oak City Hall is. The Community Building would be designed as a multi-functioning space for the community to gather for different occasions, agenda documents state.
The plan found the Public Works Administration building to be in good condition, however, anticipated growth finds that the 5,500 square-foot building will need to be about 8,500 square feet in 20 years. The recommendation was to maintain and repair the existing building, relocate Public Works Administration to a new or renovated city hall and renovate the current building to meet additional Public Works needs, according to agenda documents.
Similarly, the city’s animal control building is also in good condition, however, Huitt-Zollars found that the department will need some renovations—including a lobby separation with controlled access for security—and a possible expansion to accommodate future growth. The current building is also about 6,040 square feet and in 20 years' time that building will need to be about 9,800 square feet. The proposed expansion includes an outdoor area for dogs, space for new intake pets and conditioned space for animals.
What council members are saying
Council member Aaron Dahl said he thought the presentation was good direction for the city.
“I think it’s something that’s going to have to kind of work through council and we’ll all need to discuss it as a community to figure out what’s going to be right for the city for future generations. We’re always looking toward the future. I don’t wanna build something that’s right for today and not right for five years from now,” Dahl said.
Council member Mendell Morgan Jr. said it seemed like every building in Live Oak represents the time in which it was built, and advocated for a more unified aesthetic of how the buildings are constructed and grouped together.
"I'm excited about this, because it really helps us focus our attention where I think it needs to be," he added.
