YORBA LINDA : City Scouting for Police Office Site

Patrol officers may get a new office in the eastern end of the city where they can stop for breaks and write reports.

The City Council indicated support for a new administrative office for police officers by directing the city staff Tuesday night to scout out possible locations in the eastern part of the city.

But the council at the same time postponed discussion of a new police contract with the Brea Police Department, saying it wanted a few more figures and details before deciding whether to approve the contract, which calls for a 9% increase in spending.

Police officers on patrol in Yorba Linda use a two-room office in the recreation center at 4701 Casa Loma Ave. as a stop-in spot to write reports and reference crime data without having to return to police headquarters in Brea.

But the recreation building is in need of repair, which prompted the city staff to ask the council whether it should keep the 300-square-foot police office in the center or move it elsewhere.

Remodeling the entire recreation center would cost the city an estimated $40,000 to $50,000, while a minor, “bare-bones” upgrade to make the building functional for police operations would cost about $9,200, according to City Manager Art Simonian.

Brea Police Lt. Bill Lentini also sought alternative sites and found what he deemed an ideal space in Lakeview Office Park. The 1,000-square-foot suite has three separate offices that could house a work area, conference room and lunch room and is equipped with restroom-shower facilities, Lentini said.

The lease would be about $13,000 a year.

But council members indicated that they would prefer a comparable office farther east.

The council postponed until Aug. 4 a review of a proposed 1992-93 contract with the Brea Police Department that reflects an increase of $430,000 over last year’s $4.7-million contract.

Lentini said the main reason for the increased cost is that positions and programs initiated halfway through the last fiscal year will be continued and funded for a full year. Yorba Linda has contracted with the Brea Police Department for 21 years. Roughly 25 patrol officers are assigned to Yorba Linda.