A plan to open a pair of police substations in the crime-plagued south end of Stockton has run into financial difficulties.
Stockton police officials on Tuesday presented four options to the City Council for opening two substations, with each proposal costing between $1.3 million and $1.4 million. They also made clear that staffing would, in part, depend on officers being moved from other areas of the department.
Substations, where residents or business owners can drop in to discuss public safety problems with officers or other staff, could revive a community-policing strategy once embraced by the department and community leaders. Deputy Chief Antonio Sajor told the council that over the years, officers have been assigned to get to know people in the city’s diverse neighborhoods rather than just responding to radio calls.
If the substations are successful, the idea is that at least one could eventually be opened in every district. The two currently under consideration would both be in Vice Mayor Jason Lee’s District 6 in south Stockton.
One of the four options presented to the council — to put a substation inside Fire Station 5 on Manthey Road — was rejected as unfeasible. All of the other three options involve one substation at the Sierra Vista Housing Authority office, 1648 E. 12th St., and another in the Weston Ranch shopping center on Manthey Road.
With no clear model winning approval, the idea was put off yet again for further study.
Deputy City Manager Chad Reed requested 60 days to assess the affordability of the substations within the city’s tight budget and to see how mid-year revenues are shaping up.
Councilmember Michele Padilla indicated she wanted more clarity on costs because substations are not included in the city budget.
But an exasperated Lee said that continuing to delay the plan means breaking campaign promises to voters who clearly want the substations.
To underscore Lee’s point, several residents attended Tuesday’s meeting to advocate for the community stations, which were last discussed by the City Council in March.
“It’s not like I’m trying to rush you all in 60 days. I gave you six months,” said Lee, explaining that the clock started ticking when he and other councilmembers took office in January. “I thought I was coming in here to hear the day we’re going to cut the ribbon.”
Lee put an end to the protracted discussion when Interim City Manager Steve Colangelo said that staff would meet and provide a solution by the next council meeting, on July 15.