REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: KERRI L. DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: WILLIAM C. HERR, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Facilities and Construction Management Divisions
DEBBIE BERNARD, Project Manager
Public Works Department, Facilities Management
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Fire Regional Training Center Project (Council District 3):
1. Approve an agreement with RossDrulisCusenbery Architecture, Inc., of Sonoma, CA in the amount of $1,810,960 with a contingency amount not to exceed $25,000 for the design of 30% Schematic Design level full site plans and probable construction cost estimates for the Fire Regional Training Center project.
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopting the 47th Amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution (AAR) No. 2021-178, appropriating $25,000,000 for the Fire Regional Training Center Project granted through revenues from the California State Office of Emergency Services (Requires 5 Affirmative Votes) (Subject to Mayor’s Veto).
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff is recommending that Council approve a consultant agreement with RossDrulisCusenbery (RDC) Architecture, Inc., of Sonoma, CA in the amount of $1,810,960 with a contingency amount not to exceed $25,000 for the design of 30% Schematic Design level full site plans and probable construction cost estimates for the Fire Regional Training Center and allow the Public Works Director or designee to sign on behalf of the City; and adopt the 47th Amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution No. 2021-178, appropriating $25,000,000 for the Fire Regional Training Center Project granted through revenues from the California State Office of Emergency Services.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno has been awarded a $25 million grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), pursuant to SB 129, to build a Fire Regional Training Facility. For many years the Fresno Fire Department has been in need of a fully functional Fire Regional Training Center that will accommodate all of the stations and neighboring agencies that look to Fresno for their training needs. The planned location of the facility is a City-owned parcel immediately to the east of the Police Regional Training Center on Central Avenue west of Hayes Avenue (APN 327-040-011ST), and south of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The Consultant Agreement with RDC Architecture, Inc. will cover the design of 30% Schematic design level full site plans, submittal of the plans required for Design Review Committee review and approval and probable construction cost estimates for the Fire Regional Training Center. After the 30% Schematic design phase has been completed including probable construction cost estimates, staff will return to Council with an amendment to the consultant agreement to fully fund the 100% Construction Documents phase of design, for the initial phase of the training center that can be constructed with the $25 million Cal OES grant.
BACKGROUND
The Fire Department has been pursuing the construction of a Fire Regional Training Center for over 15 years. According to the Fire and Police Facilities Impact Fee nexus study prepared by MuniFinancial and adopted by Council, the construction of a new Fire Regional Training Center was identified as being a necessity. This Consultant Agreement with RDC Architecture, Inc. will allow the development of the 30% Schematic Design level full site plans, submittal of the plans required for Design Review Committee (DRC) review and approval by the Planning Division and probable construction cost estimates for the Fire Regional Training Center.
In accordance with AO 6-19 Public Works distributed requests for Statements of Qualifications (SOQ’s) to various firms dated June 11, 2021, as well as publishing the Request for Qualifications on the City’s website and in the Business Journal. Six Statements of Qualifications were received, and interviews were performed the week of July 19, 2021.
The Public Works Department is requesting the approval of the agreement with RDC Architecture, Inc. and the authorization of the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the contract approved by the City Attorney’s Office on behalf of the City of Fresno. The agreement is for the development of the 30% Schematic Design level full site plans, submittal of the plans for DRC review and approval and probable construction cost estimates of all components of the full site for the Fire Regional Training Center for a total fee of $1,810,960 with a contingency amount not to exceed $25,000 for unforeseen conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Design of plans and cost estimates is not a “project” pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this agreement is funded by a Cal OES State Grant.
FISCAL IMPACT
Costs for the design of the Fire Regional Training Facility will be fully funded by the Cal OES State Grant pursuant to SB 129 in the amount of $25 million, as reflected in the attached resolution amending the AAR. There will be no impact to the General Fund associated with the design of this facility.
Attachments:
Consultant Agreement
Resolution (AAR)