Saipan’s municipal council wants to revive municipal complex plan

The Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council wants to revive a plan to build a municipal complex that will house both the Saipan and the Northern Islands mayors’ offices.

According to Municipal Council chair Antonia Tudela, the seat of the municipal government, including the mayor, municipal council, and the treasury office, used to be located in Chalan Kanoa in the early 1960s.

More than 50 years later, the Northern Islands Mayor’s Office is now on Capital Hill, the Saipan Mayor’s Office is on Beach Road, San Jose, while the Municipal Council is still in Chalan Kanoa.

“We want to have a municipal complex because right now the mayor’s office is renting and the rental amount can be converted into having a municipal complex. We support the idea of having the mayor and the council working closer together by having them housed in a single complex,” Tudela said.

Saipan residents would also benefit as they will have an easier time accessing their Saipan and the Northern Islands municipal leaders.

In a letter to Saipan and Northern Island Legislative Delegation chair Rep. John Paul P. Sablan (R-Saipan), Tudela said that Sablan could also have a satellite office located at the proposed municipal complex as he is one of the elected Precinct 2 representatives.

Aside from the revival of the municipal complex plan, Tudela is also following up funding from the Department of Public Works for the repair of the CK Kiosku signage and other municipal council infrastructure.

According to Tudela, Sablan and the municipal council met earlier this month and Sablan assured her that he would forward a concurring letter to DPW.

Saipan Tribune learned that the plastic signage engraved with the names of CNMI leaders that is displayed at the Kiosku was blown away by Typhoon Soudelor.

Tudela said the funds are there and they are only waiting for DPW’s consent. This time, instead of a plastic plaque, they want the names engraved in granite. She said a solar-powered streetlight for the parking lot is also needed.

Tudela is also seeking funds for a security alarm, security camera, and shutters to reinforce the doors of the Kiosku, as well as to repair the roof of the municipal council office.

Tudela also noted that they support the acquisition of certain parcels of land around the Kiosku complex to provide Chalan Kanoa with a children’s park and recreation center.