Pricier child care plan comes before Menlo Park council Pricier child care plan comes before Menlo Park council (April 28, 2004)

By Rebecca Wallace
Almanac Staff Writer

Plans are crystallizing for converting the old Menlo Park police station into a child care center, with a conceptual plan up for City Council approval on April 27.

A new consultant's estimate puts the project cost higher than the preliminary estimate by International Child Resources Inc. of $2.7 million. After more study ICRI is now saying costs will be around $3.6 million.

The new figure includes some costs that the earlier estimate did not: $364,000 for a new modular building, where some of the care will be provided, and $318,000 for revamping the police station's basement.

Mayor Lee Duboc, a supporter of the plan, said the costs were reasonable, especially in light of the $6.15 million tab for a new building for the child care center. A divided council voted last year to remodel the police station instead of building a new center, voicing concern about budget constraints.

"It's always better to reuse a building you have than to tear one down," Ms. Duboc said.

Toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children would be housed in the station, with the modular building put in next to the station to create more room for school-age youngsters. Outside, play areas for the 164 kids would have such features as a play house, lawns and trike parking.

Including time for design development and Planning Commission review, the project could be completed in 25 months, according to a staff report by city supervising engineer Art Morimoto.

Once a bullet-riddled shooting range for the police force, the basement would be used for administrative offices and public works storage space, which Ms. Duboc said are sorely needed.

"I'm not considering that a child care cost," she said of the $318,000 for the basement work.

Not everyone, though, is a fan of the proposal. Some residents are still smarting over the council members' decision to dump the new building for the center, saying they broke their promise to have it built.

Even though some walls in the police station would be removed, parent Pauline Burke said the rooms are still too small for children, and criticized the fact that many kids would end up in a portable building.

"Sometimes it's worth spending a little more to get something that's a lot better," she said.

Under the plan, the project would be funded with $2 million from the city's general fund and the rest from Measure T bond money.

The April 27 council meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 801 Laurel St. At 5:30 p.m., there will be a council tour of the old police building at the Civic Center, which is open to the public. For more information, call 330-6620.

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