Molalla Police Station Bond Q&A

The Molalla Police Station Bond Q&A

Our police department can’t stop Molalla from growing, but we do need to keep Portland problems off our streets and protect the quality of life we have here. The Molalla Police Station will be on our November ballot requesting voters’ permission for the city to secure a twenty-six-year, $16 million public safety bond to build a more functional headquarters for the Molalla police department.

WHY DO WE NEED A NEW POLICE HEADQUARTERS?

Molalla police need safe, secure facilities to book and temporarily hold criminals, before taking them to Clackamas County Jail in Oregon City. Right now, our police officers operate out of makeshift space at city offices and share a public parking lot. In City Hall officers don’t have private desk space to fill out paperwork, room to store evidence properly on site, training space, or space to hold public meetings. There aren’t secure bathrooms, lockers, or showers for on-duty personnel. There is no protected parking lot or staging area for preparation and safety.

All this costs the City of Molalla critical police time and wastes public money, while preventing our sworn officers from being able to do their jobs effectively. Worse, it will keep us from increasing capacity as our public safety and community needs continue to grow.

Finally, a proper police headquarters would allow Molalla to finally have an emergency operations center to direct emergency efforts and coordinate public safety crisis response.

WHAT WILL THE MEASURE ACTUALLY DO?

If approved, the bonds would pay capital costs to provide a new police station and related facilities on existing City land. Specifically, the project will:

• Increase capacity and safety for officers, staff, and the public,
• Allow for local, adequate temporary holding cells,
• Provide secure space for equipment and evidence,
• Provide space for officer training and task force meetings,
• Allow for on-site community group meetings,
• Create an emergency operations center to direct emergency efforts and coordinate other public safety crises,
• Increase efficiency of operations with additional officer workspace, improved technology, and adequate showering and toilet facilities.
• Be seismically sound and accessible to all.

HOW WOULD IT BE PAID FOR?

The City Council has been putting aside money for years to be able to purchase land for a police station without increasing taxes. We now have a city-owned site (the old bowling alley) ready to roll. We are ready to move forward, but first the public must approve this public safety measure to create a $16 million bond for construction costs over the next twenty-six years.

Bonds may be issued in multiple series in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $16 million, each series maturing within 26 years from issuance. The estimated annual tax rate would be $0.97 per $1,000 of assessed value or approximately $20.21 per month on a home assessed at $250,000. The actual levy rate may differ due to final interest rates and changes in assessed value.

This measure requires citizen accountability and oversight over bond expenditures. Proceeds of the bonds would pay capital costs to provide a new police station and related facilities on existing City land.

DON’T WE ALREADY ARREST AND HOLD CRIMINALS?

Well of course. But there is no doubt the existing space is inadequate to securely process criminals, let alone hold them safely. There is no private desk space to process paperwork. Our current temporary holding space is a converted shower/bathroom with a wooden door that gets damaged and has to be replaced repeatedly. Dangerous offenders have to be immediately transported to Oregon City, costing us critical officer time, reducing safety on our streets, and costing us tax dollars.

WHY IS A SECURE PARKING LOT SO IMPORTANT?

Right now, the police have actually had to respond to calls in their shared parking lot, keeping them from using their own lot for other police business. There is no place to prepare for mobilization, do training, or even maintain vehicles. A secure police parking lot for officers and the public preserves safety and will allow the police department to fully function at all times.

ARE THINGS REALLY THAT BAD?

No need to take our word for it! The police department has a virtual tour video of their existing facilities which will be posted online in August. Give it three minutes of your time to consider whether there is a real need.

DO WE REALLY NEED A MOLALLA EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER?

This isn’t the reason the bond initiative was referred, but it is a huge additional benefit. Local crisis coordination will save lives and property by decreasing response time and improve our capacity to mobilize resources and first responders when we need them most. Forest fires aren’t going away, but we can be better prepared for them as well as all crises that come our way. Molalla should be able to take of its own, and right now we aren’t.

WHAT ABOUT OUR SCHOOLS AND ROADS?

We need good schools and to manage traffic as Molalla grows. Nothing is free, but we must make responsible choices by working together for the good of our community. We referred this measure to avoid sacrificing our public safety needs. The city has planned this process for years and built in accountability. Other public needs will inevitably arise, but if everything is done as carefully and responsibly as this measure has been, we believe we will continue to keep Molalla a place we are proud to call home.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THIS MEASURE PASSES?

We are ready to begin construction of a new police headquarters as soon as voters decide if this is their priority. Thanks to responsible financial management, the City Council has already been able to secure and prepare a site without raising taxes. The old bowling alley has been removed and the site can be converted into an appropriate police headquarters with additional space available for community meetings.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF IT FAILS?

Our police will always continue to do the best they can to deal with the increased traffic, crime, homelessness, and drug problems that come with our growth. But make no mistake, those problems probably won’t get better on their own. We will only have to react as best as possible to our very limited capacity and growing needs.

If you have question please let us know!

**some questions have been submitted via social media or emails to city representatives - they are are posted and answered below**