REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
October 19, 2017
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, P.E., Director
Public Works Department
KERRI L. DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
BY: ROBERT N. ANDERSEN, P.E., Assistant Director
Public Works Department
DEBBIE BERNARD, Project Manager
Public Works Department, Facilities Management Division
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to the Fire Station No. 11 Remodel project (Council District 4):
1. ***RESOLUTION - 12th Amendment to the Annual Appropriation Resolution (AAR) No. 2017-165, to appropriate $535,000 to fully fund the Fire Station No. 11 Remodel project (Requires 5 affirmative votes) (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
2. RESOLUTION - Providing for a loan from the Fire Station 10 Urban Growth Management (UGM) Fund to the Fire Station UGM Citywide Facility Fund
3. Adopt finding of a Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301(a) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines
4. Award a construction contract with R&H Construction of Fresno, CA, for $443,900 to remodel Fire Station No. 11
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that Council adopt the 12th Amendment to the AAR No. 2017-165 providing appropriations in the total amount of $535,000 for needed capital improvements at Fire Station No. 11 located at 5544 N. Fresno Street, Fresno, CA. Staff recommends that Council adopt the resolution providing for a loan from the Fire Station UGM Fund to the Fire Station UGM Citywide Facility Fund, this resolution shall serve as a loan agreement as required by the Reserve Management Act and the Taxpayer Protection Act. The funding will be derived from two sources; $381,000 debt service savings to the General Fund by utilizing two Fire UGM funds and a $154,000 loan utilizing cash reserves from the UGM Fire Station 10 Relocation Fund that is slated for future use. It is further recommended that Council adopt a finding of categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301(a) of the CEQA Guidelines and award a construction contract to R&H Construction of Fresno, CA (R&H) for $443,900 to remodel Fire Station No. 11 and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fire Department has opened a 4-person truck company to help meet demands for emergency services. The new 4-person truck company which equates to 12 additional firefighters, additional apparatus and equipment will be strategically located at Fire Station No. 11 based on the volume of calls and geographic location of the station. The Fire Department is also relocating the Urban Search and Rescue team to Fire Station No. 11 which requires modifications be made to the existing fire apparatus bay and bay doors. The opening of the 4-person truck company along with the relocation of the Urban Search and Rescue team necessitate modifications be made to the living quarters by converting a locker room into new dorm rooms as well as other improvements. This construction contract with R&H will allow the necessary modifications be made to Fire Station No. 11 to accommodate the additional firefighters, apparatus and equipment.
BACKGROUND
With the City’s increasing population and growth, the Fire Department opened a 4-person truck company to help meet demands for emergency services. Based on call volumes and geographic location, Station 11 was strategically selected for housing the new company and relocation of the Urban Search and Rescue team. The opening of this company greatly enhanced fire protection and improved response times in one of the busiest areas of the City. It also increased the department’s staffing to 77 firefighters on shift every day. Obviously, the additional apparatus and personnel made it necessary to expand the facility.
Through the joint efforts of staff from the Public Works Department, Fire Department and Finance Department, it was concluded that fees collected for Fire Stations No. 16 and 19 were eligible for current year debt service payments since the construction of those stations was fully funded by bond proceeds and are components of the City’s overall bond financing. These two Fire Station UGM funds currently have combined cash balances of $381,000 eligible for debt service. Utilizing these two funds for current debt service payments will relieve or otherwise reduce the General Fund’s budgeted obligation for such debt service. The resulting savings to the General Fund can accordingly be transferred to the Fire UGM Citywide Facility fund for Station 11. This arrangement would create a net zero impact to the General Fund and result in Fire Station UGM monies being utilized for Fire Station expansion.
After the $381,000 transfer of funds, an additional $154,000 is required to complete the work. A UGM fund with cash reserves held for the future relocation of Station 10 is in a position to loan the Fire UGM Citywide Facility Fund the $154,000 balance required, in accordance with the attached resolution.
Plans and specifications were prepared by David Baisa Architect. A Notice Inviting Bids was published on July 31, 2017, distributed to ten (10) building exchanges and posted on the City’s website. The specifications were distributed to twenty (20) prospective bidders. Two (2) sealed bid proposals were received and opened in a public bid opening on August 22, 2017, with the bid amounts ranging from $443,900 to $554,000.
Staff is recommending that Council adopt the 12th Amendment to the AAR No. 2017-165, adopt a resolution providing for a loan from the UGM Fire Station 10 fund to the Citywide Fire Facility Fund ; adopt finding of a Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15301(a) of the CEQA Guidelines and award the construction contract to R&H, for $443,900 for the Fire Station No. 11 Remodel and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to sign and execute the standardized contract on behalf of the City of Fresno.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Staff has determined that a Categorical Exemption is appropriate, based on Class 1 Section 15301(a) of the CEQA Guidelines, which exempts interior or exterior alterations involving such things as interior partitions, plumbing, and electrical conveyances. Furthermore, staff has determined that none of the exceptions to Categorical Exemptions set forth in the CEQA Guidelines, Section 15300.2 apply to this project. Staff recommends that the Council, based upon its own independent judgment, adopt a finding of a Categorical Exemption per Staff determination, pursuant to Section 15301(a), Class 1 of the CEQA Guidelines for the Fire Station No. 11 Remodel Project.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not utilized as the apparent low bidder is a local business.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no impact to the Fiscal Year 2018 adopted budget for the General Fund. Funding will be provided from transfers and inter-fund loans among Fire UGM Funds and Fire Citywide Facility Funds as noted in the Background section above.
Attachments:
12th Amendment to AAR No. 2017-165
Resolution
Bid Evaluation
Fiscal Impact Statement
Standard Contract