Council directs installation of automatic locks at nine park restrooms to reduce contract costs

The Corona City Council gave staff direction to install automatic door‑locking systems on nine park restroom buildings, a one‑time retrofit estimated at about $33,000 and intended to reduce ongoing contract costs and free city contract security time for other uses.

Parks and Trails Manager Moses Cortez summarized three options: 1) maintain current manual locking (status quo) with the highest annual cost; 2) install automatic locks at nine restrooms (one‑time retrofit, estimated $33,000, and ongoing battery/maintenance costs); or 3) use park‑ranger staff to perform nightly locking, which would shift duties to rangers.

Cortez said the automatic strikes and hardware include a manufacturer’s two‑year warranty and estimated battery life of about five years; staff would perform installation. He showed a preliminary estimate of a $63,000 net savings in year one and larger annual savings thereafter if the locks eliminated contracted nightly locking services.

Council members asked about the risk that someone could hide inside restrooms after hours and whether the locks report misuse in real time. Cortez said the locks are scheduled to lock and unlock but do not provide remote notifications; staff said park rangers could be dispatched if the city detects misuse. Council directed staff to proceed with option 2 (auto‑lock installation) and to retain rangers for site checks if problems (people sheltering after hours or vandalism) arise.

Staff will return procurement and schedule details; council provided policy direction rather than a formal appropriation vote at the meeting.