Plans for 6th Valley Police Station Hit Funding Snag

In a setback for efforts to build a sixth police station in the San Fernando Valley, two top city administrators recommended Monday that $6.3 million go to other projects.

The city administrative officer and chief legislative analyst recommended that surplus funds from Proposition 2--a 1989 police bond measure--be spent to improve and maintain existing stations, including making them more accessible to the disabled.

But the council’s Public Safety Committee delayed a recommendation on the proposal in order to give the Police Department more time to flesh out its plan for building a new station in the northeast Valley.

“I know an additional north Valley station, even with modular buildings, would be a big help in that area,” said Councilman Alex Padilla.

Councilman Mike Feuer said the money could help the city keep a promise it broke when it asked voters in 1989 to approve the bond measure to pay for a sixth Valley station.

Councilwoman Laura Chick said the surplus bond money cannot be used for lease payments and is not enough to build a new station.

She asked the city administrators and LAPD to report back with other funding sources for a new station and to reexamine a much-criticized proposal to use the Department of Water and Power’s Anthony Office Building in Sun Valley for the new station.