Gustine Police Department will soon see an upgrade to its garage after Gustine City Council officials approved the motion for City Manager Melanie Correa to enter an agreement with a Bay Area contract last Tuesday.

Currently, the garage’s infrastructure, located at the southwest corner of Sixth Street and Third Avenue, is deemed outdated as it can not handle any charging load, with the exception of one electric cart and equipment sequentially, according to the staff report. The space is shared between the Recreation Department and GPD.

Additionally, the site used for the garage includes multiple buildings, including one where the original fire station was located, three smaller structures and a large building. The large building, used to store four electric vehicles and a motorcycle, has its electricity cut off when more than one vehicle is charging.

“We take turns because we can really only plug in one car at a time. We take turns, plug it in, so we don;t pop the fuse,” said GPD Police Chief Ruben Chavez.

The staff report also mentioned two new higher-load panels would need to be installed. Out of the three panels used currently, one needs to be replaced as it could be from the 1920s, Chavez said.

“Literally the electrical box is probably from the 1920s,” he said. “It’s the old-used type.”

To upgrade the electric system, the existing outdoor electrical equipment will need to be removed, upgrading and installing service equipment and adding multiple outlets in the garage.

After getting quotes from three contractors, city staff recommended accepting CG Wiring & Integrators bid of $23,275.80. The projects align with the city’s strategic goal of robust infrastructure.