Shooting Range Study Cites Rebuilding Costs

Rebuilding the police shooting range at Huntington Central Park for law-enforcement and public use could cost as much as $8 million, according to a study released Friday.

Of that amount, about $2.5 million would go for soil remediation and site preparation, the study says.

The outdoor shooting range, operated by Huntington Beach Police Officers’ Assn. on city-owned land, is off Gothard Street on a former landfill site where leakage of methane gas has been a problem in the past.

Also included in the cost estimate is about $2 million in safety improvements and shooting area amenities, such as installing baffling and bullet collection systems to reduce noise and prevent rounds from escaping the facility.

Safety at the shooting range became an issue in January after a bullet that may have come from the range struck a nearby home, shattering a sliding glass door but causing no injuries.

Homeowners Kevin and Linda Brooks recently filed a $500,000 claim against the city alleging negligence by city and police union officials. The city is reviewing the claim and has 45 days to respond.

A City Council committee met Friday afternoon to review the results of the $36,000 study. Another committee meeting will be held before a final recommendation is made to the City Council on whether to rebuild the range, which was closed briefly after the incident at the Brooks’ home but then resumed operations.

The city in recent months has been negotiating with the police union on a new lease agreement for the facility, which is used by a number of law enforcement agencies for training but is not currently open to the public.

Community Services Director Ron Hagan said that the city has no money to rebuild the range and is exploring alternatives with private concerns for a joint venture that would include the improvements.

Hagan also said that if the range is rebuilt, noise issues must be resolved. The city has received a number of complaints from nearby residents about gunshot noise.