City officials say the new police station remains on schedule, with steel construction beginning later this year and occupancy expected in fall 2028.
Council members want to keep Downtown's Morning Market in downtown while seeking a third-party operator to address declining attendance, vendor participation and parking concerns.
Police say more than a dozen city-owned devices were stolen, mostly from commercial properties throughout Redlands.
City officials say the new police station remains on schedule, with steel construction beginning later this year and occupancy expected in fall 2028.
REDLANDS, Calif. — Construction of Redlands' new police station is expected to become more visible by the end of the year, with structural steel installation scheduled to begin in late December and the facility projected to open in fall 2028.
The Redlands City Council unanimously approved approximately $2.1 million in contracts Tuesday, Oct. 20, for the next phase of the project, which includes solar infrastructure at the former Kmart property.
Why it matters: After months of demolition and underground work, the $78 million police station project is moving toward aboveground construction. City officials expect the facility to be ready for occupancy in fall 2028, with final project closeout in December.
Interim Facilities and Community Services Manager Tricia Munoz told the council that demolition and foundation preparation have been completed and crews are now working on the building pad and underground utilities.
The work has included installing more than 1,000 ground-stabilization elements to strengthen the foundation.
Munoz outlined the remaining construction schedule during Tuesday's meeting:
The council approved two construction agreements totaling $2,094,884 for the project's third phase, covering steel and electrical work associated with the planned solar infrastructure.
The contracts will be funded through proceeds from the city's 2026 certificates of participation, a form of long-term borrowing used to finance public facilities.
The latest approval follows earlier construction phases. In April, the council approved more than $4.2 million for initial work at the site. In July, the council approved approximately $49.7 million in second-phase construction contracts and about $3 million in construction management services.
During Tuesday's discussion, council members welcomed the updated construction schedule, noting that residents have been asking when the new facility will begin taking shape.
Mayor Mario Saucedo said the periodic updates have been helpful in answering questions from the community about the project's progress.
"The hardest part was getting to this point," Saucedo said. "The building doesn't, the construction doesn't take very long, but getting to this point has taken quite a bit of time."
The new police station is part of a broader public safety and infrastructure financing package approved by the City Council in June.
The city authorized up to $85 million in certificates of participation to finance three major projects: the police station, Fire Station 264 and heating and air conditioning improvements at the A.K. Smiley Public Library.
The financing plan anticipated approximately $58 million for the police station. The city has also budgeted an additional $20 million from the General Fund for the police station, bringing the total estimated project cost to approximately $78 million.
Annual debt payments for the combined projects are projected to reach approximately $5 million beginning in fiscal 2029.
Those obligations come as the city faces broader budget pressures. In September, the council reviewed additional spending reductions following new employee labor agreements that added $1.2 million in recurring General Fund costs.
City officials have also projected the need for approximately $4.5 million in ongoing budget reductions beginning in fiscal 2029.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
