A long-awaited new police facility could be coming to Forest Grove — depending on what voters have to say during the upcoming May special districts election. (File Photo)

A long-awaited new police facility could be coming to Forest Grove — depending on what voters have to say during the upcoming May special districts election.

On Monday, Feb. 10, the Forest Grove City Council approved a bond measure for the May 20 ballot, seeking voter approval to fund construction of a new $29.5 million police station.

For the average household in Forest Grove, the bond would cost approximately $263 per year — or $22 per month — over its 20-year lifespan.

The push for a modernized facility has been years in the making, according to Forest Grove Police Chief Henry Reimann, who outlined how the current police station at 2102 Pacific Ave. has remained largely unchanged since its construction in 1977, despite a police force that has doubled in personnel to serve a growing community.

If approved, the new station would be 45% larger than the existing 12,120-square-foot space, expanding work areas for officers and staff. Plans include improved Americans with Disabilities Act-accessibility, adequate evidence and record storage, a secure and private space for victim interviews, and proper separation between adult and juvenile offenders (as required by state law).

The proposed station would be built at the corner of 19th Avenue and Birch Street on city-owned property, adjacent to other municipal buildings and centralized to ensure convenient access and equal response times, Reimann said.

“The project represents the next step in the city’s long-term building plan and an investment in the safety, accessibility and operational efficiency of the Forest Grove Police Department,” the city said in a statement.

More information, including community outreach events, preliminary building designs, and background details, is available at forestgrove-or.gov/policebond.