Renovation to turn JFK Library into Vallejo police HQ expected to cost $38M to $53M

VALLEJO – The city of Vallejo says preliminary estimates indicate that it will cost the city $38 million to $53 million to convert Vallejo’s downtown library into a new police headquarters.

City officials revealed the information in an official response to the Solano County Civil Grand Jury which issued its findings over the summer admonishing the city for the delays in getting the department a new building, arguing such delays are hurting the department and community.

The Vallejo City Council is set to approve the official response during a special meeting on Tuesday.

In the city’s official response, City Manager Mike Malone said that a new building would help attract and retain new officers, but he pointed out other issues that were also hurting the city’s ability to hire new officers.

“However, there are a range of other factors including, compensation, workload, training, diversity and community support that also impact law enforcement recruitment,” Malone wrote. “In addition, there is a nationwide challenge in the ability of local governmental entities to attract and hire new employees. The City is actively working to continue to improve and work to employ strategies to recruit and retain department employees.”

The grand jury further recommended that the city look for state and federal grant funding to help renovate the building, something Malone said that “has not been readily available, so it is likely that a local funding source will be required.”

In April, the council directed city staff to begin looking at moving the department from its aging facilities as 111 Amador St. to the John F. Kennedy Library in downtown Vallejo. That study is expected to be revealed to the council during its Sept. 27 meeting.

Shifting focus away from 400 Mare Island Way was a major victory for opponents who argue that the two-story building located along the waterfront is the wrong location for the police force. They say that the department shouldn’t be rewarded with a new building while it is being investigated for a number of police shootings and killings, and they question the location of the building near the water as sea levels continue to rise over the century.

The city said it “agreed in part” with most of the recommendations, but disagreed with the grand jury finding that a “significant portion” of the existing Vallejo Police Department building at 111 Amador “is no longer usable because of asbestos and lead contamination” and that Vallejo “is spending thousands of dollars quarterly to pay for testing and cleanup of areas contaminated with asbestos and lead.”

Malone said about 10% or 2000 square feet of the building including the former indoor shooting range “is currently closed to employee access with shooting range activities currently occurring offsite.”

“Lead and asbestos abatement and cleaning in those areas was completed and is monitored to ensure employee safety,” Malone said.

The city further disagreed with a finding that the current JFK library is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“The JFK Library building has two elevators,” officials wrote. “ADA compliance relating to the Library overall are part of the City’s draft ADA Transition Plan.”

Vallejo purchased the 400 Mare Island Way property for $13.5 million in early 2019 with the expressed intent of transforming it into a new police headquarters. Earlier this year, the council considered obtaining a $30 million loan from the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank (IBank) to fund design and retrofit work at the building.

The council, however, changed course during its March 8 meeting, complying with demands from some members of the community that the city look at other possible locations for a new police headquarters.

Malone also addressed the status of a Community Assistance Resource and Engagement (CARE) Center which was opened at 400 Mare Island Way in May 2021. Police officials previously said the center provides a safe space for adult and child victims of abuse by working with local advocacy groups and the police department.

The unveiling of the new center caused protests over the department’s lack of transparency when officials held a virtual opening ceremony at the last minute after advertising an outdoor ribbon-cutting. It was believed the change was made due to planned protests of the department continuing to use the building.

The grand jury recommended that the center remain at 400 Mare Island Way, which received a mixed response from Malone.

“The City has no immediate plans to move the Care Center,” Malone said. “However, depending on the long-term choice for a new or rehabilitated police facility, it may be appropriate to relocate the CARE center at that time.”

Additional response to grand jury

The Vallejo City Council will also be asked to approve a second response to the Solano County Civil Grand Jury in response to that body’s June report calling out Solano County’s lack of ability to address any future public safety emergencies.

Malone, Police Chief Shawny Williams, and Fire Chief Kyle Long all agreed with the recommendations from the grand jury including that the Solano County Board of Supervisors “broaden efforts to fund and promote the establishment of a modern digital county-wide emergency communications system.”

The trio also agreed with a suggestion that the county expedite the creation of a joint powers authority “to develop consolidated communications system,” and that the county “establish a county-wide fire department to serve the unincorporated areas of Solano County.”

The grand jury argued that the county consolidate all existing emergency management, planning and prevention services into one Department of Emergency Management.

“This new department would provide an umbrella to coordinate existing county and city functions related to emergency and disaster events,” the grand jury wrote.

The  grand jury also argued against raising taxes as a way to provide services since the “economy was badly damaged by the Covid pandemic, those searching for solutions to address the emergency needs of our community need to look beyond new taxes, which could exacerbate the already fragile personal financial health of many Solano County residents.”

The special Vallejo City Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m., Tuesday inside the Vallejo City Hall Council Chambers at 555 Santa Clara St.

Members of the public will be able to participate in-person or remotely via Zoom.