To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: TED SEMAAN, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
TITLE
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE REDONDO BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT SHOOTING RANGE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget and Capital Improvement Program approval, the City Council asked staff to prepare a report on the cost and scope of work options for the Police Department Shooting Range Improvement Project.
The current police shooting range is an open-air facility that was placed in service in the 1950’s and needs to be updated. Due to the high cost of an entirely new range, staff initially explored the installation of a prefabricated modular structure for a four to six lane training facility and hired an engineering consultant to prepare preliminary site concepts to better understand the full project costs.
During the 2023 CIP budget discussions, a potential grant program was introduced that could provide a significant portion of funding for an entirely new facility. The grant would involve a partnership and shared use of the facility with the Los Angeles United States Air Force (USAF) Base and would need to follow the minimum federal requirements for a small-arms shooting range, including a range with a minimum of 7 lanes.
In order to determine the feasibility of installing a range that meets the federal requirements, and to identify the cost benefit of possibly pursuing the grant, staff worked with the City’s consultant to develop a larger site layout and to prepare project cost estimates for the larger facility. The cost of an entirely new grant-compliant facility is estimated to be $17.2M. The federal grant could offset as much as $12M of this expense, reducing the City’s net cost to roughly $5.2M. In comparison, a small modular unit range for City needs only, with a 4-lane prefabricated structure and the necessary site improvement work, is estimated to cost $5.4M. Additionally, the site could accommodate a seven-lane modular range for an estimated cost of $6.5M. However, the modular range option does not appear to meet the minimum specifications required for the federal grant.
While there is money in the CIP for the design of a new shooting range facility, there is not currently funding available for construction. This item provides the City Council an opportunity to discuss the project and give staff direction on the preferred concept and project approach.
BACKGROUND
The Redondo Beach Police Department is currently at an inflection point concerning its firearms training capabilities. The existing open-air firearms training facility is deteriorated and in need of an upgrade or replacement. The facility’s structural limitations severely restrict the Department’s opportunity for training. An updated facility would allow the Police Department to train personnel in all current weapons systems, locally and at all hours of the day, without impact to the community, enhancing officer readiness and operational effectiveness.
An advanced facility will also address several critical community and environmental concerns. It will significantly reduce noise pollution, mitigating the ongoing complaints from both Redondo Beach and neighboring Torrance residents, as well as concerns raised by the Torrance City Council. An enclosed, modern facility will eliminate the necessity for costly non-toxic ammunition and reduce the financial burden associated with renting off-site ranges and personnel costs associated with off-site training, such as overtime and travel expenses.
In addition, incorporating state-of-the-art training technologies, such as the MILO (Mulitple Interactive Learning Objective) Judgement and Live Fire training simulator, for use-of-force situations, critical incident training, de-escalation, decision support training, traditional tactical judgment training, and low-light courses will provide officers with more realistic, scenario-based training experiences. This enhancement is not just an upgrade; it's a forward-thinking solution to ensure the safety of the officers, while addressing environmental and community noise concerns, and upholding the Police Department's commitment to outstanding training, preparation, and community trust.
The current police shooting range was constructed during the 1950’s and has received only limited operational improvements since that time. The facility is co-located with the Public Works Parks Maintenance Yard and Offices, and is across the street from a Torrance elementary school. A state-of-the-art facility could be installed, or built, at the existing location and could, potentially, draw partnerships with other nearby law enforcement agencies that have similar training and qualification needs.
On October 10, 2017, City Council received and filed a report studying a replacement of the shooting range, and the replacement of the existing range was included in the City’s CIP programming. The report also provided cost estimates for the construction of a new facility on the site, along with a base option of a premanufactured turnkey shooting range on the existing shooting range footprint.
Due to the high costs of an entirely new facility, City staff was directed to explore a reduced cost modular facility option. This option included a modern, completely enclosed, pre-manufactured four to six lane, 50-yard shooting facility, set within the current facility footprint to meet the needs of the Police Department. On February 27, 2023, an RFP was released to solicit proposals from qualified engineering firms for design of the civil and site improvements needed to support the modular option. On May 2, 2023, design services were awarded to Gills+Panichapan Architects, Inc. (GPa).
On June 20, 2023, during a review of the CIP Program, there was discussion of potential grant opportunities available through a partnership with the Los Angeles USAF Base. Staff was directed to include additional planning and pre-engineering work to better understand the costs of two options prior to moving ahead with site work for a modular shooting range.
GPa shifted their task to provide scale and cost information for both the modular and constructed, grant-eligible options. For a Federal Facility small arms range, the minimum number of lanes required is seven, with additional lanes in increments of seven. The Department of Defense’s Unified Facilities Criteria Small Arms Ranges requirements include, but are not limited to: 50-meter range, steel floors, 5-feet wide lanes, ballistic side and downrange walls, specific communication and dust/exhaust collection systems. To include these components, the existing Public Works Parks Yard office and warehouse buildings will need to be relocated to provide the space needed for the range’s floor plan. The Parks Yard office and warehouse space are necessary and would be relocated on the same site in the conceptual plan. The total cost for this option - to demolish the existing site and construct a facility that meets all federal small arms range requirements, including the cost to rebuild the parks yard facilities - is estimated to be roughly $17,184,000. Much of the cost would be eligible for funding by a federal grant (Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program), in partnership with the Los Angeles USAF Base, if awarded. As much as 70% (or $12,028,000) of the cost could be funded by the grant. The City would be expected to provide the remaining 30% (estimated at $5,155,000).
In comparison, a Department only serving option, with four prefabricated modular, 50-yard long lanes, including demolition of the existing range, site preparation, and the installation of a smaller foundation and utilities associated with the pre-manufactured units is estimated to cost $5,428,000. This option would not meet the Federal Small Arms Ranges requirements and all costs would have to be funded by the City.
A larger modular facility could also be located in the footprint of the existing range. A seven-lane prefabricated, 50-yard-long, range would require a similar-sized foundation at an estimated cost of $6,521,000. The larger, modular option would also be funded solely by the City. Multiple vendors have the ability to supply and install modular firing range units, and staff will review and obtain information and quotes from qualified vendors if this becomes the preferred option.
COORDINATION
Information in this report, and the continued work to advance the project, is coordinated between the Public Works and Police Departments.
FISCAL IMPACT
Project estimates for the shooting range project have been identified above. These are budget level estimates only, at this time, and would be refined as the project scope and schedule are better defined. Currently, there is $545,270 available in the City’s CIP Budget for the shooting range project.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Firing Range Conceptual Exhibits