By Chris Levister

In yet another public spar over police funding, San Bernardino City Councilman Neil Derry says internal maneuvering by Mayor Pat Morris most likely caused Stater Bros. CEO Jack Brown to withdraw his offer to the police department to lease a vacant store on the city's north end.

"The offer was on the table then the mayor had a meeting and the offer is now supposedly off the table," said Derry minutes after Morris vetoed a motion by the City Council to allocate $300,000 from the Economic Development Agency's budget toward leasing the building for a police station.

"But that's not going to stop me from doing what I think is right for an underserved community. He just vetoed a substation. He's got to explain that to the people he serves. I have the votes to press on," said Derry.

The long smoldering rift between Morris and Derry came to a head during a four-hour budget workshop Thursday. Morris said while the idea of a police substation may have some merit, the vacant building is not an option.

"It is not available for the purposes intended by Mr. Derry," Morris said, citing a discussion he had with Brown.

Members of the Inland Congregations United for Change, a coalition of local churches talk with Councilmember Wendy McCammack during a contentious budget workshop. The group waited three hours to ask the council for more youth programs.

Johnson argued while he supports the need for adding police substations, allocating EDA funds side steps normal procedures for accessing such projects.

"This is about process. If we are suspending the rules and just spending money, I'm going to ask for a police station in Delmann Heights, in my district, which has been underserved for decades," said Johnson.

"This is putting the cart before the horse," argued councilmember Estrada. "We're talking about spending $300,000 for something that hasn't had a peep of discussion."

Councilmember Wendy McCammack responded "I can point to a whole list of projects in this budget that haven't seen a peep of discussion."

The council unable to reach a consensus voted to table approving the EDA's 2007-08 budget.

Brown offered to lease the vacant 26,000-square-foot store at Waterman Avenue and 40th Street to the city at the reduced rate of $127,000 per year. Derry has proposed converting the building to a police substation.

"It's been vacant for six years. This is a real opportunity to put more police presence in an area which is starting to suffer from a growing crime problem," Derry said.

He said his district which borders the 30 freeway has one satellite library, a smattering of underrepresented parks and community centers while residents pay one third of the city's tax base.

"The substation proposal is not dead. Mr. Brown wants what's best for this city,   his birthplace. I will pursue this with him. The veto won't deter me."   

Meanwhile several speakers including teens affiliated with the Inland Congregation United for Change, a coalition of local churches, fumed after waiting more than 3 hours while the council debated the budget. Others lamented the council's contentious tone and the growing rift between Morris and Derry.

"The constant bickering is counter productive, makes the city look bad, does little to quell crime and leaves our youth at risk," said a clergy member who asked not to be identified.

"If they just keep fighting over money for police nothing will get done. We need a long-term plan for helping youth prevent crime," said group member Mireya Oguin,

The group is proposing to use $303,000 in Measure Z funds to pay for student internships, create more youth after-school programs and open high school swimming pools to the public for free. Oguin says the city should focus more on community centers and parks and less on police suppression.

Council members did not discuss the much debated voter approved Measure Z a quarter cent sales tax increase expected to generate $5.4 million in annual tax revenue.  More than $700,000 from Measure Z remains uncommitted.