4/11/23
The new Vallejo City Council unanimously directed city staff to make a plan to rebuild the city’s police station at its current location at 111 Amador St!
https://www.vallejosun.com/vallejo-seeking-to-rebuild-police-station-at-current-location/

9/26/22 UPDATE:
This is back on the City Council agenda tomorrow. Let's pack the room!

3/9/22 UPDATE:

At the March 8 meeting, the Vallejo City Council voted to continue the item to April 12, where they will again consider the $30 million loan and also consider creation of a working group to evaluate options for the police HQ.

Vallejo residents continue to oppose the police station at 400 Mare Island Way. We support formation of a committee tasked with evaluating alternative locations and funding strategies for a new police HQ. This group should be comprised of community members, councilmembers, and staff, with a transparent selection process, and no decision should be made on the police building until good faith community outreach is conducted and consensus is reached on the best option for Vallejo.

The City's press release states:

"The April 12 agenda will include an item to be considered by Council to create a working group that would provide beneficial feedback on the options for replacement of the outdated Vallejo Police Department Headquarters to suit the needs of the Vallejo Community.

On April 12 Council will also revisit the question of whether to submit an application for a loan from IBANK for $30 million to fund the upgrade and retrofit of 400 Mare Island Way to serve as the Vallejo Police Department Headquarters.

Between now and the April 12 City Council meeting, the City will conduct preliminary outreach to community members and partner organizations seeking input regarding alternative locations for the proposed Vallejo Police Department Headquarters that best benefit the community."

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ORIGINAL PETITION:

We, the undersigned, oppose a permanent police station on the Vallejo Waterfront at 400 Mare Island Way. We call on the Vallejo City Council to reject any plan to make 400 Mare Island Way the permanent police station. 

Significant renewal in every Bay Area city and beyond has been linked to waterfront renewal and the expansion of water access, fishing piers, trails and parks. 

We, Vallejo residents, want to EXPAND the community, environmental, economic and social benefits of our waterfront now and in the future. We want to make the best use of our assets and avoid negative impacts. See our General Plan sections about the waterfront.

A permanent police station on the waterfront would WASTE our assets and INTERFERE with our present diverse uses of this priceless public space. Let’s make a wiser choice of location.

On March 8, 2022, at the city council's regular meeting, City Hall will attempt to jam through, without building consensus, funding for a waterfront police station. 

City Hall knows that Vallejo voters rejected Measure G, the November 2020 sales tax measure that would have partially funded a police station at 400 Mare Island Way. 

City Hall knows that council candidates in November 2020 heard from their constituents that they oppose a waterfront police station. 

Ignoring majority opposition to a police station at 400 Mare Island Way, staff seeks council approval of a waterfront police station. Staff’s report is accompanied with  900 pages of attachments, many of which are stale and unreliable cost estimates. Why?

Here is our vision for 400 Mare Island Way and the waterfront:

• A nonprofit hub, a library, hotel, university or college classrooms, and many other uses would be compatible with Vallejo’s jewel, its waterfront.
• Bike and trail connections, an outdoor theater or stage for concerts and plays and special events, exercise equipment, benches and picnic opportunities, sports fields, a children’s play area, large art pieces, better water access, a food truck court, an arts and crafts fair space, and a nature walk. This must be our legacy for our children and grandchildren. We can do it.

City government executives do not live in or near Vallejo. They do not understand how much the people of Vallejo value experiencing waterfront sunsets, views of ferries, historic buildings, and families strolling on the waterfront. We celebrate community at festivals and special events. We see the beauty of Vallejo’s diversity. Strangers greet each other. We are all neighbors at the waterfront. The waterfront unites Vallejo. 

We must move beyond this proposal NOW. This is a waste of our time. This project has been rejected. What does it take to be heard?

We support a new VPD station -- but NOT ON OUR WATERFRONT! 

City hall must seek advice and guidance from the community and council about features of the best sites, the needs of the residents and police department, and the cost that the community can afford.

Formal staff presentations and council meeting speechifying are not substitutes for small group discussions, extensive note-taking, and compilations of community and council priorities. Our voices matter. Serious and inclusive community engagement is required for the biggest capital project in decades. There has been none.

We are starting the recruitment of a new city manager. We cannot afford to fracture our community by approving a project opposed by the majority of Vallejo voters. We need to build trust through real community engagement. 

Does City Hall really believe that a majority of voters shares its conviction that 400 Mare Island Way is better and cheaper than every other site in Vallejo? We, the undersigned, know that it is not the best site or the cheapest. 

We urge the City Council to listen to the community. No waterfront police station!