Manteca’s next police station may be built on city-owned land along West Yosemite Avenue next door to the municipal wastewater treatment plant.

The location is also northeast of the family entertainment zone anchored by the Big League Dreams sports complex and the Great Wolf Lodge resort.

The recommendation is based on work done by LDA Partners — the firm that designed the transit station and animal shelter among other city projects — that the City Council commissioned in July 2023.

LDA completed conceptual designs for the new police department after assessing department needs.

The next step in the process will take place Tuesday when the Manteca City Council meets at 6 p.m.

The council will consider approving spending $200,000 in government facilities fees collected from growth to conduct a public safety facility feasibility study. The work would include a basic design.

The 1.98-acre site is adjacent to other city-owned property that could allow for future expansion.

It will include 45,570 square feet in building space that’s almost double the current police station at the Civic Center complex at 1001 W. Center Street.

Once parking is included, the project will entail 86,934 square feet.

The police department has been operating out of the same facility since 1976, with modifications in 1989, 2005, and 2015.

Despite updates, the facility has been determined to be inadequate to accommodate the current 118 employees.

Many offices have been converted from old storage spaces, resulting in cramped conditions that isolate staff and equipment.

The department also suffers from a significant lack of natural daylight, contributing to an overall environment that is both cluttered and undersized. Currently, the department operates with just 170 square feet per occupant, far below the recommended 450 square feet per occupant.

Additionally, the building’s structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems are all in a state of disrepair and urgently need attention.

That was the unanimous assessment of three engineering firms that looked at facility’s structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, all of which were deemed deteriorating and unsuitable for continued use.

In regarding the current building it was noted:

*Several critical areas are especially problematic, including the front entrance, lobby, report writing area, Investigations building (General Crimes & Street Crimes Unit), Community Service Officer office, Communications Center, locker rooms, and the Records Department.

*The facility is outdated, too small, and unable to meet the growing needs of the department.

*Enhanced security measures are overdue to protect both staff and the community.

*The lobby is frequently overcrowded due to limited space, lacks public restrooms, and needs additional security features.

*The report writing area is cramped and deteriorating, hindering productivity and disrupting workflow.

*The Investigations building lacks the necessary space and privacy, especially in the outdated evidence work area, making it difficult to handle sensitive cases.

*Storage areas and closets have been repurposed as offices due to the shortage of space.

The community service officers’ workspace office is inadequately small, with poor ventilation, no natural light, and insufficient room for staff expansion.

*The Communications Center, or dispatch area,  is also hampered by limited space, privacy issues, and inadequate sound control, all of which reduce productivity.

*There is no breakroom for dispatchers.

*Both the men's and women's locker rooms are outdated.

*There is insufficient storage for equipment and a lack of space to accommodate a growing staff.

*The Records Department and Communications Center are disconnected from their supervisors, causing workflow issues,.

*The records staff are currently using a foldout table as a workstation without sound control or privacy from the lobby.
The current facility lacks essential amenities, including a Community Room, Emergency Operations Center, Training Room, gym, and public restroom, to mention a few.  

Members of the Manteca Police command staff, city administration, the City Council 2X2 subcommittee, and LDA staff conducted tours of the Turlock, Clovis, and Los Banos Police Departments.

The report going to the City Council on Tuesday notes the “visits to Los Banos PD, both during its construction phase and after completion, provided valuable insights into our needs and how other departments have optimized their facilities.”

The existing police department buildings at the Civic Center, once a new police station is built, would be repurposed for growing city hall space needs.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com