Buena Park : City to Lease Space to Girls Club, Child Center

A child abuse prevention center and a Girls Club that have been scrambling to find new homes have been allowed to lease new space from the City of Buena Park.

City Council members approved new leases for the Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center and the Girls Club of North Orange County when both lose their current homes at the Sullivan Community Center on Melrose Avenue.

The clubs were leasing part of the Sullivan site from the city, which in turn leased the property from the Buena Park School District. The school district terminates its $16,000 lease with the city at the end of this month. City officials plan to buy the 8.5-acre site and turn it into a cultural arts center and possibly a commercial and residential area.

City Council members Monday night agreed to lease a portion of the city’s Civic Center property to the child abuse prevention center for $1,313 per year, said Alcene Cain, the deputy city clerk. They also agreed to lease the eastern portion of the Carl Brenner Park to the Girls Club for $4,388 per year, Cain said. In addition to two trailers, the club also will rent the clubhouse from September to May for $1,623, she said.

In other action, council members voted to spruce up their council chamber. About 70 cracked fiberglass seats will be repaired at a cost of $24,320. For another $15,935, city officials will replace the 25-year-old carpet in the council chamber, halls and conference room, Cain said.