Item 21 - Restroom Building at the Centennial Park Police Dept. Training Facility

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TO: Chief D. Valentin (via the chain of command) FROM: Commander M. Sorenson DATE: May 5, 2021 SUBJECT: Centennial Park Training Facility Purpose The purpose of this memorandum is to provide context regarding the usage of the Centennial Park Training Facility, the demonstrated benefits of utilizing the location, and the necessity for improving the facilities. Background In 1991, the U.S. Department of Education deeded a parcel of land, located in the south/west corner of Centennial Park, to the City of Santa Ana for educational purposes. At that time, the Santa Ana Fire Department assumed operational control of the location and developed a 1.2-acre piece of the parcel to conduct training. Originally designated as the Santa Ana Fire Training Facility, the Centennial Park Training Facility provides City personnel with a secured location to conduct training in various specialties. In 2013, with the dissolution of the Santa Ana Fire Department, the Police Department, in conjunction with Parks and Recreation, assumed operational control. The facility consists of a developed and undeveloped area. The developed area is 1.2 acres and consists of a concrete pad with two bungalow classrooms and a single men's/woman's restroom bungalow. Additionally, on the north side of the complex sits a facility housing a portion of the Parks and Recreation Department. Finally, there are eight Connex boxes on the grounds used to store equipment for the Homeland Security, Training, Field Operations Divisions, and the Orange County Fire Authority. Facility Usage The following City departments utilize the Centennial Park Training Facility: 1) Police, 2) Public Works, and 3) Parks and Recreation. In addition, the Orange County Fire Authority conducts training at the facility, and the Human Resources Division conducts monthly physical agility testing, interviews, and background pre-screening at the facility. Lastly, the Police Department Training Division uses the facility to host courses from inside and outside presenters that are open to all law enforcement personnel throughout the County and State. For example, in 2021, county-wide training in Tactical Emergency Casualty Care and Basic Interview and Interrogation occurred. For further details regarding the facility usage, see the attached annual report Deputy Chief Gominsky submitted to the U.S. Department of Education. Facility Benefits The size, and combination of open area with available classrooms, offers several benefits to training for those who utilize it. The concrete pad provides enough room for the Police Department, Orange County Fire Authority, and other City departments to conduct behind-the- wheel drivers training. This type of training is critical to reducing the liability associated with vehicle operations. Additionally, effective in July 2021, the California Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) will require all police officers to attend behind-the-wheel drivers training instead of driving simulation. While behind-the-wheel drivers training is a new requirement for POST, the Police Department began conducting the training in 2019. Following the training, Memorandum Training Division