LA HABRA : Improvement of City Buildings Studied

Confronted with an aging set of city facilities, City Council members last week approved a study to examine the state of city buildings and determine whether voters should be asked to approve as much as $7 million in improvements.

The city’s Police Department is housed in a 26-year-old station house, and its community center operates out of a converted savings and loan building.

The growing police force and its facility requirements have commanded top attention, but Councilman William D. Mahoney urged his colleagues to take an overall view.

“If we just look at one facility, I think we’re going to be making a mistake,” he said. “I think we need to take an overall look at the whole downtown area.”

The council voted Tuesday to authorize a study of community needs as well as options for funding improvements. The discussion included the possibility of a special election asking voters to approve expenditures.

City Manager Lee Risner told the council the study should include a projection of the city’s future population makeup. “If we’re going to have a large percent of senior citizens, that will have an impact on recreational needs. It will also have an impact on the police department,” he said.

The study will also examine the possibility of a city beautification plan, an idea suggested by Councilman Douglas Bystry. Although some council members worried about the costs of such a plan, Bystry urged development of landscaped medians along major streets, entrance signs at the city limits, flower plantings and additional trees.

Mayor Beth Graham agreed, saying she has urged the council to take actions to beautify city streets since 1970.