Temple Terrace Council Workshop February 3, 2026

The Temple Terrace City Council held a workshop on February 3, 2026, to discuss plans for a new public safety complex, including a police station and a potential fire station. The city has acquired land for these facilities and received conceptual designs and cost estimates from the architectural firm PBK. The police department currently operates in an outdated and undersized facility, while the fire department has identified a need for a new station to improve response times, especially in the growing eastern part of the city. The estimated cost for the police station is approximately $34.6 million, and the fire station about $10.7 million, with a recommended general obligation bond issuance of up to $50 million to cover costs and contingencies. The council discussed the timing of the bond referendum, with options including the primary election, general election, or a special election, and the primary election was favored due to a less crowded ballot and better voter focus. The workshop included detailed discussions on operational impacts, funding mechanisms, potential annexations affecting tax base, and the importance of maintaining the city's Class One fire department rating. The council expressed strong support for building both facilities concurrently and moving forward with the bond referendum at the primary election. Public education efforts on the bond issue were also planned to ensure voter awareness.