If the city moves to a precinct model to
promote community policing, the city will
also need far less space than previously esti-
mated in a police headquarters. Eugene’s new
Police Chief Robert Lehner says a city
Eugene’s size should “seriously consider”
moving to a precinct model.
Supporters have also argued that the cur-
rent police offices in City Hall aren’t earth-
quake safe. But opponents point out the same
risk applies to the rest of City Hall offices and
other city buildings. The city also spent $4
million recently to move police workers out
of the basement into a safe new forensics
building. “There is no emergency anymore,”
Bettman says.
Remodeling City Hall for earthquakes
‘There is no emergency anymore.’
— Councilor Bonny Bettman
Including nonprofits may also not work
with voters. A county jail measure failed in
1998 despite 20 percent of the money going
to social services.
The old arguments that didn’t convince
voters twice before don’t appear any more
persuasive now.
Backers say the police station is cramped
and needs to double in size. But it’s similar to
per-officer space in Portland and Salem.
There’s even more room now for expansion
after the police forensics and property units
and downtown fire station have moved into
new buildings.
would cost between $500,000 and $4.3 mil-
lion according to city studies.
That’s a lot less than the $405 per square
foot the city wants to spend on a new cop
shop. By comparison, one of the most luxuri-
ous mansions on the homebuilders “dream”
tour this year costs only $175 per square foot.
City staff say that even if voters reject the
expensive police station, they’ll recommend
that the City Council build it anyway with
squirreled internal money.
Bettman says it wouldn’t be a good idea to
defy voters. A “no” vote in November “is peo-
ple saying we don’t want this package.” ew
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Unlike previous police station measures,
this package has also recruited campaigners
by including $2.6 million for 15,000 square
feet of space for domestic violence and youth
service nonprofits to open offices in the po-
lice station. “A lot of us are willing to work
for it,” Kids First Director Elaine Walters told
councilors.
But it’s unclear whether it will make sense
for the struggling nonprofits to pay the fees
the city may want for the space. The city
plans to charge the groups about $13 a square
foot for building operations and maintenance,
according to city data. Private commercial
offices near City Hall rent for as little as 60
cents a square foot, according to Duncan &
Brown appraisers.
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JULY 29, 2004 11