SR-102307-8Ac7_
~;t.o, City Council Report
Santa Monica
City Council Meeting: October 23, 2007
Agenda Item:
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Jim Hone, Fire Chief
Timothy Jackman, Chief of Police
Subject: Construction of Public Safety Storage Facilities for the Fire Department
and Police Department
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1) as client, approve the project locations of public safety storage facilities on
Airport property for the Fire Department south of Fire Station #5, and for the
Police Department at the east end of an existing hanger row near the Airport
access gate at Centinela Blvd. ;
2) as client, approve the proposed schematic design for both public safety storage
facilities;
3) direct staff to proceed with a Request for Bid process and return with a
recommendation for aDesign/Build consultant;
Executive Summary
The Santa Monica Fire Department (SMFD) and the Santa Monica Police Department
(SMPD) provides the community with increasing emergency services, disaster
preparedness and safety training.
1
These services are integral components to providing our community with the highest
level of public safety and disaster preparedness requiring larg er, more specialized
vehicles in greater quantities. Additionally, the City must increase the volume of vital
disaster supplies for effective response and recovery efforts in the event of a local
emergency such as a significant earthquake, pandemic flu outbreak or terrorist attack.
As a matter of public safety, there is a critical need for the City to provide adequate
interior storage space for emergency response vehicles, equipment and disaster
supplies which have exceeded the capacity of our existing Fire Stations, storage
buildings and containers.
To address this critical need the Fire Department and Police Department are proposing
the construction of two public safety storage facilities on Airport property of adequate
size, in the most strategic locations to meet their emergency response requirements
and provide the highest level of service to the community.
Background
Over the past year, staff conducted extensive evaluations of City-owned properties to
determine the most appropriate location(s) to construct or acquire public safety storage
facilities large enough to accommodate the requirements of the Fire Department and
the Police Department while maintaining their ability to provide the community with
exceptional emergency services and disaster preparedness. Staff evaluated five
locations that included:
2
• Fisher Lumber site- not selected because location is fully programmed for open
space park use and recreation functions
• Rear parking lot at Fire Station 5- not selected because the area is not large enough
to meet all Fire Department requirements and would be incompatible with the
neighborhood
• Open Airport space near the Centinela gate- is just large enough to meet all the
Police Department requirements and would provide immediate taxiway access for
their surveillance aircraft
• Open space at the Northeast corner of the Airport- not selected because this remote
location would increase Fire Department emergency response. times by
approximately 5 minutes when conducting weekly reserve vehicle inspection and
maintenance functions; places the reserve Aircraft Crash Response Vehicle in a
remote location and not readily available for use during an aircraft emergency;
increases the project cost by about $530,000 to install all infrastructure elements
and roadway improvements to accommodate the size and weight of emergency
apparatus and an additional $365,000 for the Police Department Public Safety
Storage Facility because the cost to construct a completely new Fire Department
Public Safety Storage Facility of adequate size in this location would consume all
existing project funds plus a $54,000 annual FAA rental obligation for no direct
airport function if the SMFD facility is built separately from the Airport Maintenance
building; and the property is in the City of Los Angeles
• Current site of the Airport Maintenance/Police Department Surveillance Aircraft
storage building on Airport property just South of Fire Station 5- is just large enough
to meet all the Fire Department requirements
During the evaluation process of City-owned properties the Fire Department and Police
Department began using a vacant aircraft hanger located at 3011 Airport Av. to store
some of their vehicles. This vacant hanger is one of the sites being considered for the
future Museum of Flying. Use of this hanger was done as a temporary measure to
secure public safety vehicles that would otherwise be parked outside exposed to the
elements and possible theft and damage.
3
The vacant hanger storage area is approximately 6,700 sq. ft. which is about half the
size of what the Fire Department .needs for the number of reserve apparatus and
volume of necessary disaster supplies. The hanger is also located on the South side of
the airport and causes the Fire Department to be out of optimum position when
conducting weekly required reserve apparatus inspection and maintenance functions
which extends response times to emergency incidents.
Following staffs analysis, it was determined the most operationally effective and fiscally
responsible location for the SMFD public safety storage facility is at the northwest side
of the Santa Monica Municipal Airport and provides immediate access to Fire Station #5
(Location "A"). This site is currently occupied by a sizable storage building that has
existed in this location for more than 20 years and contains Airport Maintenance staff
work space, supplies and equipment, and the Santa Monica Police Department
surveillance aircraft.
This site is ideal for the Fire Department because it provides adequate space in which
to construct a secured storage facility for reserve fire apparatus, equipment and. disaster
supplies while maintaining effective emergency response times to the neighborhood.
Following an earthquake compromising ground transportation routes, this site is also the
perfect staging area for our Emergency Volunteer Air Corps (EVAC) program to fly City
employees to work via aircraft and would serve as the primary medical evacuation
center for patients being flown out to distant hospitals or the delivery and storage of
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emergency supplies, such as the National Strategic Stock Pile (medical supplies for a
bio-terror event).
Utility infrastructure required for the SMFD public safety storage facility, including water,
gas, sewer, communications, electrical and emergency generator electricity, are in
place, significantly reducing the cost of construction.
The existing storage building is 160 feet to the east and 250 feet to the south from
residential property. To the east of the storage building is a large, one-acre paved open
area that has been used as the emergency access way from Fire Station #5 to the
Airport and equipment and maintenance staff parking. Directly to the west of the facility
is the FAA leased Remote Transmitter and Receiver site. This is a secure area that
adjoins the boundary of the Airport. To the south there is a paved area and a row of
aircraft hangers that face south towards the airside of the Airport.
The existing storage building (Location "A") measures 153' x 31', = 4,743 sq ft. and 17
feet high for the entire 153 feet length. Airport Maintenance currently occupies 3,130 sq
ft and the Police Department occupies 1,613 sq ft. It is not large enough to also store
Fire Department reserve emergency response vehicles, equipment and disaster
supplies. Currently, storage of these, and other items including a large Fire and Life
Safety training trailer, equipment and a small quantity of disaster supplies are stored
inside and outside various locations throughout the city.
5
The ability to store these items inside the new SMFD public safety storage facility will
eliminate the deteriorating impacts of keeping reserve emergency response vehicles,
supplies and equipment outside, enhance security, shorten response times during
extreme emergencies, and reduce visual blight.
The proposed SMFD public safety storage facility (Location "A") measures
approximately 125' x 100' = 12,500 sq ft. plus 20' x 30' = 600 sq ft. totaling 13,100 sq ft.
The new facility will be joined to the existing storage building for a combined area of
17,843 sq ft. The height of the proposed facility is 26 feet for the northern 75 feet and
21 feet for the southern 50 feet.
The interior space will be reconfigured to provide 4,085 sq ft for Airport Maintenance
and 13,758 sq ft for the Fire Department. Joining the new SMFD public safety storage
facility to the existing storage building will significantly reduce demolition costs and
landfill waste that the construction of a completely new facility at this location would
require.
The size of the SMFD public safety storage facility is dictated primarily by the number
and size of SMFD apparatus which range 12 feet in height and 30 to 55 feet in length
and the large volume of disaster supplies necessary for public safety personnel to
effectively serve the community.
6
The SMFD public safety storage facility will be permitted based on "Conditional Use" for
the purposes as described above, with the inclusion of minor office functions for record
keeping, a small kitchen and bathroom, and locker/shower facility for staff use. Any
change or expansion of these "Use's" will require that those changes be made through
this same approval process. Parking for Airport Maintenance employees will be
provided along the southeast elevation and not visible to neighbors on the west. The
numbers of Airport Maintenance workers parking at the existing storage building will not
increase. Fire Department staff that perform vehicle and equipment inspection and
maintenance activities in the new public safety storage facility will continue to park at
Fire Station #5.
The proposed location for the SMPD public safety storage facility is at the northeast
side of the Santa Monica Municipal Airport at the east end of an existing hangar row
near the Airport access gate at Centinela Blvd. (Location "B") measures 50' x 100'=
5,000 sq ft and 15 feet high. The storage facility will match the height, extend to the
east and abut an existing row of light aircraft hangers.
This site is ideal for the Police Department because it maintains immediate airport
taxiway access for the SMPD surveillance aircraft, direct access to the surveillance
aircraft from Centinela Blvd, and adequate space to store the SMPD surveillance
aircraft, mobile command post, Special Entry Team Vehicle, safe driver training trailer
and supplies and equipment currently stored outside on airport property and other
locations throughout the city.
7
The SMPD public safety storage facility will also be permitted based on "Conditional
Use" for the purposes as described above, with the inclusion of minor office functions
for record keeping and a small bathroom for staff use.
Any change or expansion of these "Use's" will require that those changes be made
through this same approval process. Police Department staff that perform aircraft and
equipment inspection and maintenance activities in the new public safety storage facility
will park in the designated parking spaces to the north of the existing airport hangers.
Discussion
Consideration has been given to the compatibility of the proposed public safety storage
facilities and relationship with the neighborhood in both locations. Comments received
by the Airport Commission and the public have been incorporated into the size, location
and design of the two public safety storage facilities.
The SMFD public safety storage facility located next to Fire Station #5 (Location "A")
has been reduced 4,000 square feet and the south wall of the new facility has been
relocated about 48 feet to the north since being first proposed to the Airport
Commission and the public. The new facility will extend 20' further to the north than the
existing Airport Maintenance building. This sitting does not to encroach into the existing
open space to the south of the existing storage building therefore preserving the view
and maximizing future landscape potential.
8
The SMFD public safety storage facility will extend 100' further to the east than the
existing Airport Maintenance building which is in the opposite direction from residential
property. It is important to note that no residential property on the west side of this
project faces to the east. The south view of the SMFD public safety storage facility will
be blocked by Fire Station #5 for neighbors on Ashland Ave. and the new facility
maintains a 30' setback from the Airport access gate at 25th Street.
The materials and scale of the SMPD public safety storage facility located at the Airport
access gate at Centinela Blvd. (Location "B") are compatible with the existing light
aircraft hangers and covers in the area.
Current Zoning regulations do not require Planning Commission or Architectural Review
Board review or approval because these bodies have no jurisdiction on Airport properly.
In lieu of these reviews and approvals, staff intends to apply a similar process used for
constructing the Airport Administration Building and the newly completed Airport Park.
Staff intends to bring this project back before City Council for review and approval of the
exterior aesthetics.
Staff will also return to Council twice before the construction of the public safety storage
facilities exterior shells; once in January, 2008, for the authorization to negotiate and
execute a Design/Build Contract, and again in March, 2008, fora 50% Design
Development Study Session and GMP Amendment.
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Commission Action
Staff made a project presentation to the Airport Commission on September 25, 2006.
The Airport Commission requested a public outreach meeting to present the project
which was accomplished on November 4, 2006.
Following the public outreach meeting on November 4, 2006 staff made a subsequent
project presentation to the Airport Commission on November 27, 2006 where the results
of the public outreach meeting were provided. The Airport Commission deliberated on
the information presented by staff and voted to reject the proposed project. The Airport
Commission also voted to draft and send a letter to City Council detailing their
objections and listing five recommendations to be met before reconsidering the project.
(Attachment #4)
Staff. updated the Airport Commission on the status of the proposed facility on
September 24, 2007 and announced that it would be conceptually presented to the City
Council during their October 9th meeting. The Commission expressed its dismay
regarding the lack of public notice/process/participation, lack of a written update report
for Airport Commission consideration and reaffirmed its previous recommendation to
City Council to reject of the site and the overall architectural design and construction.
Staff will present this project again to the Airport Commission following City Council
direction.
10
Previous Council Actions
Staff provided an Information Item to City Council on October 18, 2006 describing the
public safety storage facility project. As indicated in the Information Item, once the
public safety storage facility project has been modified as practical to address the
Airport Commission and public comments staff will submit the design and construction
contracts to the City Council for consideration and approval.
Environmental Analysis
The storage building next to Fire Station 5 has existed for more than 20 years and does
not change the use, only the public safety occupant changes from the Police
Department to the Fire Department and the number and size of vehicles and volume of
disaster supplies being stored inside.
The Police Department public safety facility will store surveillance aircraft,. response
vehicles and supplies which is consistent with the other light aircraft hangers it will
adjoin.
The project will be reviewed by the City Planning Department to determine if an
Environmental Impact Report is required. Early indications are that only a Negative
Declaration will be required for the project.
11
Public Outreach
A public outreach meeting was held on Saturday, November 4, 2006 at Fire Station #5.
Approximately 1000+ individuals were noticed of the meeting including individuals,
Neighborhood Groups, local elected officials, local business, the Friends of Sunset
Park, and direct mailing to residents in the targeted area bounded by 23rd St (West),
Ocean Park Blvd. (North) 25th Street (East) and Pier Ave. (South). Notices were also
posted at the Fairview Branch Library and at Bud's Famous Deli.
A presentation was made demonstrating the need for the new building. Staff discussed
the selection process used to determine the proposed facility location and discussed the
manner in which the design concepts mitigated the visual impact of the facility. Three
design options for the SMFD public safety storage facility were presented which
provided options for roof line configurations.
A public comments, and question and answer session followed the presentation and the
meeting ended with a tour of the site. The 19 members of the public who attended the
presentation were asked to fill out a comments sheet which also asked for preference
among the design options. The results were as follows:
Design Option -Public comments indicated the preference
• Option #1 = 7 -due to lower roofline
• Option #2 = 2
• Option #3 = 0
• Would prefer NO building at this site = 4
• No written input = 6
12
Public Concerns- as expressed both verbally and written comments:
Unmet promises over the years with other Airport projects make residents feel that
this could result in other and expanded uses of the facility, other than storage and for
emergency preparedness.
• Some residents prefer other Airport sites where impact to residents is minimal (east
end of Airport)
• Insure the structure's design and aesthetics complement the design of Fire Station
#5.
Budget/Financial Impact
This project was funded in the FY2005-06 Capital Improvement budget; there are
sufficient funds to cover the costs of the project as described.
Fire Department account #0010547.58900 in the amount of approximately
$756,800.
Fire Department account #M010594.589000 in the amount of $200,000.
Police Department account # 01304.555210 in the amount of $50,000
The ongoing annual operating cost for the SMFD public safety storage facility is
estimated at $9,600 for utilities and $2,400 for maintenance and supplies for a total
annual operating cost of $12,000.
The ongoing annual operating cost for the SMPD public safety storage facility is
estimated at $4,800 for utilities and $1,200 for maintenance and supplies for a total
annual operating cost of $6,000.
13
Staff recommends that Council approve; the project locations of public safety storage
facilities on Airport property for the Fire Department south of Fire Station #5, and for the
Police Department at the east end of an existing hanger row near the Airport access
gate at Centinela Blvd.; approve the proposed schematic design for both public safety
storage facilities; and direct staff to proceed with a Request for Bid process and return
with a recommendation for aDesign/Build consultant.
Prepared by: Alex Parry, Civil Engineering Associate
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
Jim H~e~ir~ fjfie~ ~ ~amont Ewell
// ity Manager
Timothy JacX'rfrafi; Chief of Police
Attachme ti# Site plan
Attachment #2- Location "A" Floor Plan and Exterior Elevations
Attachment #3- Location "B" Floor Plan and Exterior Elevations
Attachment #4-Airport Commission recommendations
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city of
January 8, 2007
Mayor and City Council
1685 Main Street
Santa Monica, California 90401
Subject: Airport Commission Action Regarding Proposed
"Public Safety Storage Facility"
Dear Honorable Mayor and Council;
The Airport Commission considered the "PSSF" project being proposed to City
Council during our November 27, 2006 Airport Commission meeting and
unanimously (5 - 0) rejected the Gity's proposed project. We are specifically
addressing a letter to the Gauncil to stress our opposi#ion to the current proposed
projecf and to inform you of deficiencies in the process.
The proposed "PSSF" was first presented to the Commission at our September
25th meeting. There was no notification to the surrounding neighborhood as
required by previous Gommission action relating to construction projects on
Airport property. Staff proceeded to schedule a Community Outreach meeting
for November 4, 2006 at Fire Station #5 and a folded paper mailer was sent to
- the adjacent neighborhood (an area outlined by the Commission) during the last
week of October.
Three "schemes" were presented to the 19 public members who attended, All
schemes had the same footprint with slight differences in roof shape and western
fapade height. Each scheme was a metal systems building. The majority of
those attending chose not to vote for any of the "schemes". The staff brought the
matter back to the November Commission meeting for a public hearing. Again, a
staff failed to notify the neighborhood of the public hearing as had been required
by the Commission.
Following the presentation by City staff at the November 27th meeting, the
Commission took public comment and deliberated the merits of the proposed
facility focusing on location, use and design. It was also noted that drawings and
exhibits were incomplete and deficient for public discussion without showing fulE
site, accurate use of spaces, or scale of adjacent properties.
At the conclusion of its discussion, the Airport Commission took the following
unanimous action to reject the current proposed project and fo reconsider the
project with the following five recommendations:
1) Prior to Airport Commission approval and City Council review, the proposed
project should be subjected to additional public review such as Architectural
Review Board and the Planning Commission
2} It should be required that outside planning and design services are used for
the project.
3) Detailed mitigation plans including landscape drawings and specifications
should be provided.
4) Based an current information, the project appears too large for the site and
insufficiently designed for its adjacency to the residential neighborhood.
5) The program should be analyzed for non-fire emergency related requirements
that may be located elsewhere such as Airport Maintenance and long term
storage.
Please accept the considered deliberations of all five Airport Commissioners so
that the concerns of the neighborhood and the Airport Commission are not
circumvented. We respectfully request that the current project and process be
rejected and that any proposed project and process include the above
recommendations.
Than%kq'/y/ou f ,e~ur consideration.
N~ r. oung, Cth
it oi~ mission -
p ~~
Cc: Susan Hartley, Vice-Chair
Ofer Grossman
David Kaplan
Yoram Tal
Additional
attachments
available at City
Clerk's Office.