by Garth Meyer
A 3-2 vote by the city council April 2 keeps Redondo Beach city staff on the trail of funding a $17 million covered police shooting range, to replace the 1950s original, in a potential partnership with the Los Angeles Air Force Base.
The vote directs city staff to use $545,000 in capital improvement funds to design the project, in its current location next to Dominguez Park, in the hopes that a particular grant could fund the joint project.
City Councilmen Todd Loewenstein and Nils Nehrenheim opposed the move, saying the city should hold off until its money situation is more clear.
The grant in question, part of the U.S. Defense Community Infrastructure Pilot Program, could be for as much as $12 million, making the city’s cost to build the new shooting range $5.2 million.
Councilman Nehrenheim suggested an upgrade of the Redondo Beach fire station on Broadway as one item that should take priority.
“$5 million would go a long way to upgrade a variety of civic structures,” confirmed Mike Witzansky, city manager.
Loewenstein said the city could potentially bond part of the cost of a police shooting range.
Councilmember Paige Kaluderovic, who made the motion that was approved, drawing votes from Zein Obagi, Jr., and Scott Behrendt, noted the federal grant opportunity should drive the decision.
“We need to prioritize that,” she said. “This is also a quality-of-life issue. We’re hearing gunshots in an open range.”
A modular unit shooting range built at a size only for the city would cost $5.4 million.
Bridget Lewis, a Torrance city councilmember, spoke to the Redondo council last Tuesday about the gun range, which borders her city.
“We’re supportive of enclosing that range,” she said.
Also addressing the council were Los Angeles Air Force Base Commander Mia Walsh and another representative of the base.
City staff will now advance a design for the range in conjunction with the Air Force to be grant-ready by next June.
The city has the money to design the project, but not build it.
“$545,000 is sufficient for grant-readiness,” Witzansky said.
Mayor Jim Light asked city staff to also measure the sound created by the range.
“We’ve got to know how much is coming out of there,” he said.
Councilman Loewenstein cautioned against spending $545,000 to design a project that may not get built. Nehrenheim said to wait for a plan for the fire station. In public comment, a Redondo resident suggested money should instead be spent on a new police station, with a shooting range underground.
The new shooting range site layout will aim to meet U.S. Department of Defense Criteria Small Arms Range requirements. ER
