CAMARILLO : Higher Price for Site of Station Weighed

The Camarillo City Council will consider today whether to pay about $100,000 more than it had budgeted to purchase the Bill Esty Community Center for conversion into a sheriff’s station, according to city officials and the property manager.

The council will consider its negotiations for the building in a special closed session at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

Assistant City Manager Larry Davis said the city plans to close escrow on Monday for the community center, located at 3701 E. Las Posas Road.

But before the deal is signed, the council may have to agree to pay more than the $1.6 million it had initially approved in January, he said.

Dave O. White and R. Craig Mason, who hold title to the community center, agreed to donate their equity in the building if the city would pay the various liens on the property, Davis said.

At least four parties have liens on the property, he said.

Jeff Allen, president of Ag Land Services, which manages the community center, said it became apparent during negotiations that “it was going to take a little more money on the city’s part to satisfy the lien holder.”

Davis would not disclose the amount the council will consider tonight, but Allen said the city will probably have to pay about $1.7 million to close the deal.

The city has taken out $3.5 million in certificates of participation to purchase and renovate the community center into a station for Ventura County sheriff’s deputies who patrol Camarillo and surrounding rural areas.