Item Number: 13
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: October 20, 2026
Submitted By:
Tony Camargo, Deputy City Manager
Subject:
Design of the New Police Station and Civic Plaza
Recommendation:
That the Honorable City Council authorize staff to proceed with the preparation of bid documents for the Civic Plaza project, consistent with the approved project scope and LPA’s existing contract authorization.
Fiscal Impact:
This action does not have a direct fiscal impact; however, should the City Council authorize the preparation of bid documents for the Civic Plaza project, staff will present the award of bid at a future meeting. Thus far, the estimated cost for the Civic Plaza project is $21,298,000. Sufficient cash reserves are available to fund the estimated project through the DIF Recreation Fund (354).
Strategic Plan Goal:
This item aligns with Goal B, Public Safety and Goal E, Invest in Infrastructure. Goal B, Public Safety, focuses on implementing public safety strategies to support a thriving and growing community. Goal E, Invest in Infrastructure, focuses on creating a healthy and livable community by maintaining the City’s assets through investment in infrastructure and innovations.
Background:
On March 21, 2023, the City Council approved a Consultant/Professional Services Provider Agreement with LPA, Inc. (LPA) to develop a conceptual design for a new Police Station and Civic Plaza. As part of the RFP, the consultant was asked to determine the most suitable site for the new Police Station from two locations identified as 1) the parking lot south of City Hall, and 2) across from City Hall, where there are nine vacant parcels comprising approximately 2.5 acres. LPA chose the vacant property across from City Hall as the preferred site and completed a Phase I conceptual design study on those parcels.
The study then determined that the selected lot was not sufficient in size and would not be able to accommodate the Police Station and Civic Plaza as proposed.
Based on LPA’s conclusions, City staff conducted a search for additional parcels that would accommodate the project, and on October 24, 2023, the City Council and Planning Commission held a Special Joint Workshop to identify possible site locations. Based on the workshop selections, City staff presented an analysis of potential sites, which were subsequently discussed during Closed Session on February 20, 2024. The City Council then authorized the City Manager to proceed with real property negotiations for the four parcels located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Seneca Rd. and Civic Dr., comprising of +9.18 acres, which provides ample space for construction of an approximately 44,000 square-foot Police Station and a Civic Plaza with approximately three acres.
At the meeting on April 2, 2024, the City Council approved the Purchase and Sale Agreement involving four vacant parcels totaling approximately +9.18 acres for the future Police Station and Civic Plaza, and on May 13, 2024, successfully closed escrow, acquiring said parcels. The next phase of this project was a new conceptual design that builds upon the previously developed program and conceptual plans, followed by Phase II of the Schematic Design.
On June 18, 2024, the City Council approved a contract between the City of Victorville and San Bernardino County (County) to receive funding in the amount not-to-exceed $3,700,000 towards the new Police Station and Civic Plaza for land acquisition costs, conceptual design, and the schematic design. In Section B.5 of the contract, the City is required to provide a 25% match or $925,000. The costs for this project will exceed the City’s match requirement and will be satisfied based on the overall project costs.
Shortly thereafter, the City Council approved Amendment No. 2 to the Consultant/Professional Services Provider Agreement with LPA for completion of Phases I and II of the new Police Station and Civic Plaza on August 20, 2024. At the May 20, 2025, City Council meeting, LPA presented the final conceptual design for the Police Station and Civic Plaza as part of Phase I. At the same meeting, and after discussion of the conceptual design, the City Council approved LPA to proceed with Phase II of the Schematic Design. Subsequently, Amendment No. 3 was executed on June 29, 2025, extending the contract term to June 30, 2026, while said phases were completed.
Amendment No. 4 with LPA was approved by the City Council at the meeting of November 4, 2025. This amendment extended the term through December 30, 2028, and consisted of the design development, which allowed LPA to utilize the approved schematic design plans to prepare design development documents consisting of plans, outline specifications, and cost estimates and other documents to establish and describe the size and character of the project as to architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical systems, materials, and such other elements as may be appropriate to enable the City to understand the progress and development of the project.
Discussion:
Since LPA’s last update to the City Council, Phases I and II have been completed, and Phase III is currently underway. Most recently, on September 9, 2026, the Planning Commission reviewed the Police Station and Civic Plaza Project (Case PLAN25-00012) and recommended to the City Council the adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration, approval of a Specific Plan Amendment to allow for government facilities as a conditional use within the Civic Mixed land use district of the Civic Center Community Sustainability Specific Plan, approval of the Site Plan and approval of the Conditional Use Permit.
As part of the recent design, the Police Station will be a single-story structure totaling approximately 44,010 square feet. This new building significantly expands the space compared to the current 15,828 square-foot Police Station. The building's expansion not only increases its overall capacity but also provides ample space for growth in critical areas, such as evidence storage and the locker area, addressing current constraints. The Police Station will feature new interior spaces, including the Real Time Information Center (RTIC), a community room, a fitness center, storage areas, and sleep pods. The parking lot, which currently has a limitation of only 114 parking stalls, will be expanded to accommodate over 300 parking stalls. Furthermore, the Civic Plaza will feature a range of amenities, including a splash pad, heritage walk, playground with inclusive swings, pickleball courts, shade canopies, amphitheater with a spacious grass area, and a walking loop.
While the overall project includes both the new Police Station and Civic Plaza, current funding levels are only sufficient to advance the Civic Plaza component at this time.
Accordingly, staff are proposing a phased approach, with the Civic Plaza serving as Phase I and the Police Station as Phase II. As a part of Phase I, all off-site improvements will be completed in preparation for Phase II. Staff will continue to actively pursue and evaluate additional funding opportunities for the Police Station project and will return to the City Council with future recommendations as funding becomes available.
The City Council previously approved LPA to complete the construction documents for the project and will utilize the approved design development documents to complete working plans and specifications in sufficient detail to permit firm bids in open competition for construction of the Civic Plaza project.
LPA will provide the following construction administration services outlined below:
o Upon receiving approval from the City to proceed to Construction, LPA will provide services for the project for an anticipated construction schedule of 12 months. o Attend pre-construction conference to discuss the general project requirements with the Contractor and the City.
o Attend regularly scheduled construction meetings with the contractor and City on a weekly basis and prepare and distribute minutes of each meeting. o Provide project management services from bid through construction that coordinate with the Contractor and the City.
o Review and approve Contractor shop drawings, product submittals, and samples. o Review and respond to project requests for information during construction. o Review Contractor payment requisitions and advise the City if the payment request is representative of the progress of work.
o Review change order requests or issue construction change directives as necessary.
o Conduct periodic observation for each major discipline, including geotechnical, civil, structural, architectural, industrial equipment, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, to become generally familiar with the progress and quality of the work.
LPA shall report in writing to the City any deviations observed at the time the periodic observation was conducted.
o Conduct substantial completion and final inspections. o Monitor submission of close-out documentation from the Contractor, including operation and maintenance manuals, warranties, as-built drawings (prepared by the Contractor), and the final certificate of completion.
Advancing the Civic Plaza at this time allows the City to begin delivering a significant community amenity while maintaining the long-term vision for the complete project.
Therefore, staff recommends that the Honorable City Council authorize staff to proceed with the preparation of bid documents for the Civic Plaza project.
Staff remains available for any questions or comments you may have.
Attachments: None