THE STOCKTON CITY COUNCIL voted unanimously to approve $236,479 from town’s basic fund reserves to pay for elevated safety measures at Metropolis Corridor.
The safety measures embrace making a full time safety providers supervisor, to the tune of $49,724.
The extra $186,755 in new gear whole contains:
$5,500 for walk-through and handheld steel detectors.
$4,800 for indicators and unspecified supplies.
$75,000 for brand new X-ray methods.
$35,000 for bulletproof glass within the second flooring foyer service window and entry door.
$5,500 for a motor operated roll-up steel curtain for the second flooring foyer service window.
$28,000 for bulletproof drapes and curtains for the council chambers convention room.
$23,055 in contingency funds for value overruns.
$10,000 to cowl employees time.
District 3 Councilmember Michael Blower mentioned that safety was “pretty lax” When he started serving on the council in 2016.
“I remember when I asked about it,” Blower mentioned, “I was told, ‘well, the dais is bulletproof.’ I thought, ‘That’s not quite what we need. We need something better.’”
Nevertheless, Blower and different members of the council questioned the $236,479 price ticket for safety enhancements, when Metropolis Corridor is slated to maneuver to its Waterfront Towers location at 501 and 509 W. Weber Ave. The present Metropolis Corridor was inbuilt 1926.
“Why would we spend that money on those items, when we’re just about to leave,” mentioned Blower, referring to the bulletproof glass and drapes.
The council is scheduled to have conferences at its new location on the finish of 2025, mentioned Public Works Director Chad Reed in the course of the council’s March 4 assembly.
In explaining the rationale for creating the safety providers supervisor place, Stockton Police Division Assistant Chief Scott Graviette mentioned, “We feel that this position not only bridges the gap between the police department, but with the city manager’s office, and direct correspondence with the council to meet all the needs… (such as) interactive reports (and) interacting with staff on a daily basis.”
The safety providers supervisor place may even assist each metropolis constructing and the employees who work there, Graviette mentioned, and can evaluate security plans and coordinate lively shooter drills, amongst different duties.
‘We want you to be safe’
Vice Mayor Jason Lee mentioned that when he arrived at Metropolis Corridor as a newly elected member of the council, he was shocked to see a scarcity of safety cameras, walkie-talkies for safety employees to speak with one another by means of the constructing, or any “plan to deal with a crisis.”
“When you come down here,” Lee mentioned, addressing these in attendance, “we want you to be safe.”
Shortly earlier than the vote on the safety measures, Mayor Christina Fugazi mentioned, “I want our councilmembers, as well as our staff and the public, to feel like they are in a safe location.”
On the identical assembly, the council voted unanimously to approve a $2.34 million contract to renovate Columbus Park. Newly elected members of the council balked on the agenda merchandise on the Feb. 18 council assembly, saying they wanted extra data earlier than they dedicated $2.43 million of taxpayer cash.
This story initially appeared in Stocktonia.
