LBReport.com

News / Follow-Up

Mgm't Recommended Fix For Mold-Closed Fire Station 9: Temporary Stn 9 At Stn 9's Current Site + Rebuild New Stn 9 At Location Not Yet Identified Or Owned; Initial Est. Cost b/w $13-$20 Million; Potential Sources Incl. "Reprioritizing" Measure A Projects, Deferring Other Capital Improvements, Borrowing, One Time Spending, Reducing Expenses Or Other One-Time Or Gen'l Fund Sources

Mgm't "goal" is relocation w/in 120-160 days BUT may be longer w/ enviro review/ongoing historical analysis; to get started, City needs to find $1.5-2.0 Mil in one-time funds + $1.0 mil in short term to begin new stn. design.


If LBREPORT.com didn't tell you,
who would?
No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report.

LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. Support independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.
(Sept. 1, 2019, 4:15 p.m.) -- Barely seventy-two hours after residents voiced dismay and displeasure at an August 27 public meeting over LBFD's mold-cited closure of Fire Station 9 (3917 LB Blvd.), City Manager Pat West informed the Mayor/Council by memo that management recommends creating a temporary Station 9 at Station 9's current location (a thin strip of land between Virginia Rd. and LB Blvd., north of Roosevelt Rd.) and redesigning/constructing a new Station 9 at a location not yet identified on land not yet acquired.

Management's memo dated August 30 doesn't identify currently available sources for this but lists general areas: "reprioritizing" Measure A projects, deferring other capital improvement projects or one-time spending, possible borrowing, reducing operating expenses or any other source of one-time or General Fund dollars. The memo adds: "Given the number of high priority projects and services in the City, this will require some difficult choices on behalf of the City Council. Design funding will be needed in the short term to start the design of the facility while the City examines options to fund the permanent station."

By management's initial estimated numbers:

  • Estimated cost to create a temporary Station 9 at Station 9's current location: $1.5-2.0 million

  • Estimated cost to design new Station 9: up to $1.0 million

  • Estimated cost to acquire land for a new Station 9: $2-4 million

  • Estimated construction cost of new Station 9: between $10-$15 million

  • Estimated total cost: between $13-$20 million.

Under the 2016 Measure A "temporary" sales tax, LB consumers currently spend $60 million more sent to LB City Hall as General Fund ("blank check") revenue. In July 2019, the City Council voted without dissent to put a measure on a special March 2020 citywide election ballot to extend the "temporary:" Measure A sales tax permanently.

Following the Aug. 27 community meeting, LBREPORT.com asked LBFD Chief Espino whether management plans to link building a new Station 9 to voter approval of the March 2020 ballot measure to extend the Measure A General Fund ("blank check") sales tax permanently. Chief Espino said he knew of no such plan and hadn't heard management mention any such plan.

The Aug. 30 management memo, which surfaced on the Sept. 3 agenda of the Council's Budget Oversight Committee, states in pertinent part:

[Scroll down for further.]








City staff have continued extensive deliberations on options for quickly relocating Fire Station 9 apparatus from their temporary locations back into the core service area with the long-term objective being a new replacement station in a suitable location With consideration to public safety, real estate, building structural integrity, environmental laws, location, and cost, staff currently believes the existing location, 3917 Long Beach Boulevard, offers the greatest opportunity for bringing Fire Station 9 apparatus back into the core service area without disrupting local businesses, jobs, or homes. While many locations for a temporary station were considered during these deliberations, the density of the neighborhood served by Fire Station 9 makes it difficult to immediately identify a suitable location for temporary Fire Department operations in the area.

Returning apparatus to 3917 Long Beach Boulevard would require demolition of the existing structures, as the history of active mold, previous illnesses reported by crew members, and likely extent of repairs are well documented. Further, the building is unable to shed water effectively off the exterior of the structure, windows and roof, which would further exacerbate existing active mold onsite. The City is currently working with environmental experts to evaluate the severity of this structural challenge. Even if all mold could be remediated permanently, the station would still not meet requirements for gender accommodation and is significantly undersized for modern day fire operations, leaving the City with a station that would be renovated at high expense and would still not meet the Fire Department's needs to serve the community.

Sponsor

Sponsor

Review of Alternative Sites

Other sites reviewed included vacant public, and private land, a former Fire Station that is currently privately held, and the adjoining land uses around Fire Station 9. Several of these options were outside of the preferred response area for Fire Station 9. Others would require a lengthy lease or purchase negotiation process, which would add time to delivering a temporary station through acquisition of the adjoining property would require displacement of several private property owners and severe disruption to residents and businesses, as well as involve a lengthy period of time.

Given these factors, staff recommends the current location of Fire Station 9 as the best alternative to house a temporary station. The cost of replacing Fire Station 9 with a new permanent station will depend greatly on land value, the size of the facility, and construction costs. Purchase of private land in the area could range from $2 to $4 million. The City has already engaged an architect, and design costs for a new station could range up to $1 million and take approximately one year to complete. Construction costs for a new station, depending on size and scope of the project, could range between $10 and $15 million, and construction time would be approximately 18 months to 2 years. Altogether, the cost of a new station could range from approximately $13 million to $20 million, in addition to the $1.5 to $2 million required for the temporary station.

Funding for a Temporary Station

Should the City decide to temporarily relocate Fire Station 9 apparatus to 3917 Long Beach Boulevard, the City would need to identify approximately $1.5 to $2 million in one-time funding. This amount is expected to cover the environmental review process, demolition of the existing structures, and purchase and placement of prefabricated temporary facilities for firefighters, and covered parking for the engine. This amount does not address a future permanent station. This funding will be required in the immediate term to establish a temporary station. Establishment of a temporary station would provide the time necessary to plan, design and fund a new permanent Fire Station 9.

Timing of a Temporary Station

The timing of relocation is important. The City's goal is to complete the temporary relocation within 120 to 160 days. However, the environmental review process could add additional time to that timeline. The City's Development Services Department is currently conducting a historical analysis of the building, that will inform the level of environmental review necessary.

Funding and Timeline for a Permanent Station

The cost of replacing Fire Station 9 with a new permanent station will depend greatly on land value, the size of the facility, and construction costs. Purchase of private land in the area could range from $2 to $4 million. The City has already engaged an architect, and design costs for a new station could range up to $1 million and take approximately one year to complete. Construction costs for a new station, depending on size and scope of the project, could range between $10 and $15 million, and construction time would be approximately 18 months to 2 years. Altogether, the cost of a new station could range from approximately $13 million to $20 million, in addition to the $1.5 to $2 million required for the temporary station.

Funding Considerations for a Permanent Station

Because of a shortage of both one-time and structural resources, the funding of Fire Station 9 will be a difficult decision likely requiring either deferral or cancellation of planned or proposed onetime spending, or an increase in future operating costs for debt service that will require future offsetting service reductions, or some combination thereof. Staff will further evaluate options for funding a new station once locations are identified and a better understanding of facility needs can be determined. Those options will likely include reprioritization of Measure A projects; deferral of other CIP projects or one-time spending; evaluation of borrowing options; reductions in operating expenses; or any other source of one-time or General Fund dollars. Given the number of high priority projects and services in the City, this will require some difficult choices on behalf of the City Council. Design funding will be needed in the short term to start the design of the facility while the City examines options to fund the permanent station.

Sponsor


Funding for a Temporary Station

Should the City decide to temporarily relocate Fire Station 9 apparatus to 3917 Long Beach Boulevard, the City would need to identify approximately $1.5 to $2 million in one-time funding. This amount is expected to cover the environmental review process, demolition of the existing structures, and purchase and placement of prefabricated temporary facilities for firefighters, and covered parking for the engine. This amount does not address a future permanent station. This funding will be required in the immediate term to establish a temporary station. Establishment of a temporary station would provide the time necessary to plan, design and fund a new permanent Fire Station 9.

Sponsor

Sponsor

Timing of a Temporary Station

The timing of relocation is important. The City's goal is to complete the temporary relocation within 120 to 160 days. However, the environmental review process could add additional time to that timeline. The City's Development Services Department is currently conducting a historical analysis of the building, that will inform the level of environmental review necessary.

Funding and Timeline for a Permanent Station

The cost of replacing Fire Station 9 with a new permanent station will depend greatly on land value, the size of the facility, and construction costs. Purchase of private land in the area could range from $2 to $4 million. The City has already engaged an architect, and design costs for a new station could range up to $1 million and take approximately one year to complete. Construction costs for a new station, depending on size and scope of the project, could range between $10 and $15 million, and construction time would be approximately 18 months to 2 years. Altogether, the cost of a new station could range from approximately $13 million to $20 million, in addition to the $1.5 to $2 million required for the temporary station.

Funding Considerations for a Permanent Station

Because of a shortage of both one-time and structural resources, the funding of Fire Station 9 will be a difficult decision likely requiring either deferral or cancellation of planned or proposed onetime spending, or an increase in future operating costs for debt service that will require future offsetting service reductions, or some combination thereof. Staff will further evaluate options for funding a new station once locations are identified and a better understanding of facility needs can be determined. Those options will likely include reprioritization of Measure A projects; deferral of other CIP projects or one-time spending; evaluation of borrowing options; reductions in operating expenses; or any other source of one-time or General Fund dollars. Given the number of high priority projects and services in the City, this will require some difficult choices on behalf of the City Council. Design funding will be needed in the short term to start the design of the facility while the City examines options to fund the permanent station.



Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.


blog comments powered by Disqus

Recommend LBREPORT.com to your Facebook friends:


Follow LBReport.com with:

Twitter

Facebook

RSS

Return To Front Page

Contact us: mail@LBReport.com



Adoptable pet of the week:



Carter Wood Floors
Hardwood Floor Specialists
Call (562) 422-2800 or (714) 836-7050


Copyright © 2019 LBReport.com, LLC. All rights reserved. Terms of Use/Legal policy, click here. Privacy Policy, click here