01-31-1991 Public Hearing and Special Meeting

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® • C: Page 5 of 6 An important portion of the space utilized by the social programs sponsored by the City is located in the Police Department facilities, approximately 6,000 square feet of space. There is an existing need to expand these facilities but there is no available space. The Police Department intends in the short term to expand its facilities by either building new facilities or expanding into the space occupied by public agencies and programs (approximately 12,000 square feet). • LJ After discussions with the City staff and the Comprehensive~Plan Steering Committee it was considered _ more appropriate to allow the Police Department to expand within its existing facility and develop the Social Services Center. The Wellness Facility will house the City's '~"Senior Citizen Center." This is one of the social service facilities. currently located in the Police Administration building. Relocating the Senior Center to the Wellness Center wily: facilitate the needed Police Department expansion. Additionally, the relocation of the Parks and Recreation Office to the .Wellness Center will help alleviate a similar crowding problem~at the Public Works Service Center. These moves will act .to satisfy stated goals of the City's Comprehensive Plan. Development of the recreation facilities, (swimming pool, weight rooms, etc.) also satisfies a specific Comprehensive Plan goal, namely the construction of a "4,000 square foot gym with support pavilion" to be developed in conjunction with the Little Cedar Bayou Park. Exhibit D, indicates the relatively close proximity of the Wellness Facility site to Little Cedar Bayou Park and more specifically, to the established pedestrian trail that links the Park and Galveston Bay. The proposed facility will fit in well with Little Cedar Bayou Park, The Bay Forest Golf Course and pedestrian trails that are located in what is becoming the "recreational center" of La Porte. Finally, by adaptive reuse and expansion of an existing facility, the above listed goals are being accomplished in an efficient and economically prudent manner.