For City Council Meeting [August 22, 2023]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Henry Garcia, Interim City Manager
FROM: Tim Sullivan, Director of Maintenance and Facilities
Title
Request City Council to Authorize the Release of Bids for the Construction of the Rialto Fire Station 203 Dormitory Improvements Project, City Project No. 220204.
Body
BACKGROUND:
On December 14, 2021, the City Council accepted the Cal OES (Governor’s Office of Emergency Services) pass-through grant sub-award allocation of $400,000 for the Fire Station Dormitory Improvement Project. Council concurrently adopted Resolution No 7804, amending the fiscal year 2021-2022 budget to account for these grant funds.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
Nationally, the fire service profession faces a significant gender gap, with only 7% of firefighters in the country being women. In order to recruit, develop, and retain the best candidates, fire departments must develop strategies that appeal to recruits. Having fire station dorm configurations that provide privacy was identified as a strategy to attract and retain recruits. The Rialto Fire Station has two (2) fire stations built in the 1990s with an open dorm configuration separated by partition walls and curtains. The dormitory project would reconstruct the existing dormitories within Fire Station 203 to separate sleeping quarters with individualized rooms for privacy.
The funding provided by Cal OES (Governor’s Office of Emergency Services) in the amount of $400,000 was initially meant for the dormitories at Fire Station 203 and 204. However, preliminary construction estimates indicated insufficient funding to improve both stations and one fire station would have to be prioritized over the other until additional funding is available. The dormitories at Fire Station 203 are proposed to be constructed first, with the dormitories at Fire Station 204 to be improved once additional funding is available.
Staff coordinated with BOA Architecture to prepare the construction plans, specifications, and estimates per their On-Call Professional Architectural Services Agreement with the City.
The project's construction drawings and contract specifications are identified as Request for Bids (“RFB”) No. 24-006 to formally solicit construction bids for the project. A copy of the RFB is on file with the Engineering Services Department. With City Council’s approval, Staff will proceed to advertise the project and return to the City Council with a request to award a construction contract before the commencement of construction.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Section 21084 of the California Public Resources Code requires Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Guidelines are required to include a list of classes of projects which have been determined not to have a significant effect on the environment and which are exempt from the provisions of CEQA. In response to that mandate, the Secretary for Resources identified classes of projects that do not have a significant effect on the environment and are declared to be categorically exempt from the requirement for the preparation of environmental documents. In accordance with Section 15301 “Existing Facilities,” Class 1 projects consist of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing highways and streets, sidewalks, gutters, bicycle and pedestrian trails, and similar facilities; therefore, Rialto Fire Station 203 Dormitory Improvements Project is considered categorically exempt from CEQA, and a Notice of Exemption will be prepared and filed with the San Bernardino County Clerk.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
The City of Rialto General Plan establishes various guiding principles, goals and objectives through which the City looks to improve the community and protect the quality of life for our residents. This action is consistent with Guiding Principle 3A in the General Plan:
Our City government will lead by example, and will operate in an open, transparent, and responsive manner that meets the needs of the citizens and is a good place to do business.
Approval of this action also complies with the following City of Rialto General Plan Goals and Policies:
Goal 5-3.1: Provide for fire personnel, equipment, and fire stations to have adequate and appropriate resources to meet the needs and serve all areas of Rialto.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved this staff report.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impact:
The proposed action will not affect the Operating Budget.
Capital Improvement Budget Impact:
The project is currently funded by the CAL OES grant in the Grant Account 22055186-47514-220204 in the amount of $400,000.
Licensing
This action does not require a business license or payment of applicable fees.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Release of Bids for the construction of the Rialto Fire Station 203 Dormitory Improvements Project, City Project 220204.