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CHAPTER 6 COMMUNITY FACILITIES 128 • PUBLIC LANDS AND BUILDINGS EXISTING CONDITIONS AND NEEDS Office and Meeting Space — The original City Hall located'at 803 - 5th Avenue NW was constructed in 1956. At the time of its construction, the City population was approximately 4,000. This original building had 10,415 square feet of space. In 1987, due to seriously overcrowded conditions, the original City Hall Building was remodeled and a 9,000 square foot addition added. The new remodeled City Hall building houses the departments of Administration, Community Development, Finance, Police, Public Works and Ramsey County Courts. The new City Hall also includes two public meeting rooms and a spacious atrium. The new building is expected to meet the City's office space needs for the next 20 years. In 1988, the City began dialogue on the possible development community center in the downtown area to serve as a focal point for community identity and activity. Liquor Facilities — The City has two liquor facilities: an on-sale facility, constructed in the 1940's, located in the old downtown area near the City Hall, and an on and off-sale building constructed in 1981 at the intersection of Palmer Drive and Silver Lake Road in the Brighton Village Shopping Center area. Profits from the operations have been used primarily for capital expenditures in-recent years; annual earnings are nearly $100,000. There appears to be a potential market for an off-sale facility in the southern part of the City, somewhere in the County Road D/Old Highway.8/New Highway 8 vicinity; however, long term uncertainties in the merchandising of.liquor should make the City very cautious in considering any expansion of the present operation. Maintenance Facilities — A maintenance building was constructed in 1973 and is projected to be able to serve City needs for the next 20 years. The building, located on a 6 acre site just off Old Highway 8, provides for the storage and repair of City vehicles and equipment. Fare Protection Facilities — The City has one fire station, built in 1948 and recently remodeled, located just south of City Hall. The station is in generally good repair. A primary problem is lack of visibility to north bound traffic on 5th Avenue because of a high bank. There are two major facility issues related to fire protection which should be resolved during the next few years. These are, first, whether to expand the present fire station to provide sleeping facilities for night time volunteer staffing, and second, whether to construct a second station that would primarily serve the north and west part of the community.