SIMI VALLEY : San Jose Firm Backed to Plan Police Station

An architectural firm that has designed police headquarters in Alaska, Hawaii and South-Central Los Angeles has been recommended to plan a multimillion-dollar station in Simi Valley.

San Jose-based Ruth & Going is the top pick of a city committee overseeing the first nine-month phase of the four-year, $11.3-million project.

The 50-year-old firm specializes in designing police headquarters, jails, forensic labs and other law enforcement buildings.

If the selection is approved by the City Council on Monday, the company will receive nearly $50,000, about $15,000 more than originally budgeted, to scrutinize the needs of the department and find a place to build the new station.

Ruth & Going architect David G. Wilson said the cost of the study is about average for the scope of work.

Deputy City Manager Bob Heitzman said Ruth & Going’s bid was comparable to those of other bidders.

In its proposal, the company said it would hire three sub-consultants to help with the report.

Dworsky Associates of Los Angeles will conduct the search for a site for the new headquarters. The company is currently working with Ruth & Going on a similar project for the Glendale Police Department.

Iksander Associates of Santa Ana will piece together the cost of the new headquarters, and Fieler and Associates of Victorville will focus on designing a communications/dispatch center.

Ruth & Going was chosen from three finalists by a committee made up of Mayor Greg Stratton and Councilwoman Judy Mikels, along with Heitzman, City Manager Lin Koester and Police Chief Willard R. Schlieter.