Plans to locate a staffed police substation on East Sherman Avenue are moving forward, with a City Council subcommittee on Tuesday supporting the proposal. The full council, which has previously deemed a substation in that neighborhood a high priority, will consider the matter at its next meeting June 3.

Acting police Chief Ron Clark said if the council supports the concept, the police department could move in by July.

Clark told the General Services Committee it would be a “fully functional” substation manned by officers and other support staff. Plans are to staff the building from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Officers would have access to the substation 24/7 to file reports and conduct other police business.

In a report to the committee, Clark said opening a substation in that part of town is not a new concept.

“Over the past several years, there have been many discussions over the amount of perceived and documented crime in the southeast portion of the city and the lack of police presence,” Clark said. “Not only would this provide a visible police presence, the citizens would have a location on the south end of the city to contact police.”

The building under consideration is on the 1400 block of E. Sherman. It currently houses law offices, but there is a vacant unit with about 900 square feet of space.

Councilman Steve Adams, who owns an insurance firm about a block from the proposed substation, said business owners and residents of the area support the endeavor.

“Nobody that works or lives down there is opposed to this,” he said.

Modifications necessary to convert the office space in to a police substation will cost about $45,000, Clark said. The police department could absorb those costs through personnel savings from positions not currently filled, Clark said. Monthly rent and utilities is $1,590.

Under the proposal, the city would initially commit to a 5-year lease if the full council supports moving forward.