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Council debates adding public safety training facility to the CIP; supporters cite training needs, others urge caution on bond priorities
Summary
Council members discussed adding a comprehensive public safety training facility, including an indoor range, to the CIP; proponents argued it would improve officer training and scheduling, while others warned it could compete with projects voters expect to be funded and urged seeking chief input and outside funding options.
A proposal to add a comprehensive public safety training facility — including an indoor shooting range and scenario‑based training spaces — prompted a substantive council discussion during Glendale’s March 3 CIP workshop.
The mayor raised the facility as a possible addition and asked council to "think about the opportunity that we have to keep our officers safe," urging the group to consider whether to include the project in future bond authorizations or as a standalone bond. Supporters pointed to a Gilbert example where a similar public safety training facility passed its bond by roughly 70% in 2018, saying that a dedicated election or outside funding could make the project feasible.
Other council members urged caution. Several said the council should not reallocate dollars already promised in bond packages and recommended first hearing from Police Chief Brandt (who was not present) and other police leadership about priority and timing before committing to add the project. Council Member Baldenegro suggested exploring federal (DoD) funding opportunities and public‑private options such as contracting with a nearby private indoor range to meet near‑term scheduling needs.
Assistant Chief (referred to in the transcript as Assistant Chief OOA) described the kinds of capabilities staff would want in a training facility — high‑tech, computerized scenarios, varied lighting conditions, vehicle‑based training and room for SWAT‑level exercises — and said an on‑site facility would improve scheduling flexibility and reduce reliance on outside agencies for training.
No formal decision was made. Council members asked staff to carry the item forward to the CIP follow‑up and to obtain input from Chief Brandt and public safety leadership, then return with cost estimates and funding options before any formal motion or bond placement.
The workshop produced no vote; discussion and staff follow‑up were the recorded outcomes.
