LA MESA: The City Council has awarded a $14.7 million contract to EDGE Development Inc. to build a new police station.

The city hopes to break ground in October; construction is expected to last two years. The station will be built on city-owned property in the Civic Center area, where the old library and Helix Water District buildings stand. The existing police station is on Allison Avenue, across from City Hall.

Seven companies submitted bids; the one from EDGE was the lowest.

The contract with EDGE, a Temecula-based company, covers the construction of the new station and the demolition of the buildings on the site now. The project's total price is estimated to be $18.6 million, which includes costs associated with construction management, architectural designs, testing and inspection services, and setting up utilities.

The police station, which will have an underground parking structure, is being paid for mostly with proceeds from a $25 million bond measure approved by La Mesa voters in 2004.

–L.N.

CCDC seeks public input on what it wants in leader

SAN DIEGO:The Centre City Development Corp. will hold a discussion Wednesday on what the public wants in the agency's next president. The former president, Nancy Graham, resigned last month after nearly three years on the job.

The meeting will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at the downtown San Diego redevelopment authority's offices, 401 B St., Suite 400. Several additional meetings will be held next month for the same purpose, officials said.

The agency is responsible for overseeing the use of redevelopment tax dollars in the downtown area. For more information, go to ccdc.com or call (619) 235-2200.

–J.S.