TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Dr. Douglas J. Hewett, ICMA-CM
FROM: Jeffrey Yates, ICMA-CM, Assistant City Manger
John Jones, Director, Office of Community Safety
DATE: February 6, 2026
RE:Title
Receive an Update for the Reuse and Renovation of Former Blue Street Senior Center Building for OCS
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COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 1: Safe and Secure Community
Goal 3: City Investment in Today and Tomorrow
Goal 5: Financially Sound City Providing Exemplary City Services
Goal 6: Collaborative Citizen and Business Engagement
Executive Summary:
This item is to inform the Mayor and City Council of the planned renovation and upfit of the former Blue Street Senior Center. The adaptive reuse will support the continued growth and operations of the Office of Community Safety (OCS). The proposed project will establish the Blue Street site as the primary hub and headquarters for OCS.
The renovated facility will support staff offices, community outreach and engagement space, and programmatic activities aligned with Council priorities and the City’s broader community safety strategy. The project encompasses approximately 9,226 square feet across two existing City-owned buildings. The estimated project cost of $800,000 supports renovation of the administrative building (6,626 square feet) as an initial phase, with additional space to be addressed through future phases subject to final design and funding availability.
Background:
The Office of Community Safety was established by Council action in 2023 to advance a comprehensive, community-based approach to public safety that emphasizes prevention- and intervention-focused services, as well as coordination across multiple service areas. OCS serves as a civilian-led coordinating office that works across City departments and with community-based organizations to implement Council-directed community safety initiatives.
OCS currently supports activities related to mental health response, risk mitigation for unhoused populations, youth outreach and intervention, and violence interruption programs.
The OCS team presently consists of five staff members, with additional positions posted or planned to support expanding initiatives, program responsibilities, and Council priorities. This anticipated growth reflects Council direction, increasing service demand, and the phased implementation of new community safety initiatives. As OCS transitions from initial launch to sustained implementation, the need for space that can accommodate staff, partners, and program activities has become increasingly important.
OCS is currently located in office space on the first floor of the Festival Park Plaza building. While this location supported initial operations, it does not provide sufficient space for a growing team or for community-facing programming, outreach activities, or coordinated meetings. The current configuration limits OCS’s ability to host trainings, program-driven meetings, or engagement with residents and partners. A facility, specifically designed to support flexible, community-oriented work is necessary to effectively carry out OCS’s mission.
In addition to improving engagement and operations, relocating staff from the Festival Park Plaza building advances the City’s long-term goal of reducing or potentially eliminating its footprint within the building.
Issues/Analysis:
The relocation of Senior Center activities to the new Senior Center East created an opportunity to repurpose the former Blue Street Senior Center, a City-owned facility in a community-based location, to support the operations of OCS.
The Blue Street site will operate using a two-building approach:
• Administrative Building (approximately 6,626 square feet):
Dedicated to OCS staff offices and internal operations.
• Multipurpose Building (approximately 2,600 square feet):
Designed as flexible space to support meetings, trainings, and periodic community engagement activities on an as-needed basis.
In addition to serving as the central operations hub for OCS, the site may support the following functions as part of OCS-led initiatives, periodic programming, or one-time engagements:
• Community outreach, engagement, and programming
• Activities related to mental health response and coordination
• Support services and engagement for unhoused individuals
• Youth engagement and outreach programming
• Violence prevention and intervention initiatives
• Community-based trainings and workshops
The multipurpose building is intended to provide flexibility for targeted engagement and coordination and is not intended for continuous or daily public use.
The proposed renovations and location will allow the facility to function as both a professional workspace and a welcoming, accessible community resource. Design intent prioritizes a non-institutional, community-centered environment that supports trust-building, accessibility, and effective service delivery.
Renovation and reuse of the Blue Street facility will:
• Provide adequate space to support the current OCS team
• Enable delivery of community-based services in an appropriate and accessible setting
• Improve coordination with residents, partners, and service providers
• Enhance the City’s ability to implement Council’s community safety priorities
• Maximize use of an existing City-owned facility through adaptive reuse
• Reduce reliance on leased, non-City-owned office space
• Strengthen the City’s capacity for early intervention, coordinated response, and risk reduction related to behavioral health, youth engagement, and community safety concerns
• Establish a centralized OCS hub that improves coordination, accountability, and accessibility through program-driven engagement
Budget Impact:
The estimated $800,000 renovation budget is planned to come from the FY 2026 Operating Budget allocation of OCS. This funding was appropriated by the City Council for OCS operations.
Options:
Receive the update or provide alternative direction.
Recommended Action::Recommended Action
Receive the Update
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Attachments:
Initial Floorplan of Renovations for Administrative Building