Title
Reallocate Capital Improvement Project Funds for Installation of a Modular Fire Rescue Building (NB)
This is a request for City Commission approval to reallocate Capital Improvement Project funds.
Explanation
In preparation for Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR) to assume all fire rescue services in the southwest service area, a temporary fire station will be needed to house the personnel, apparatus, and equipment.
The City has been providing service in the rapidly growing southwest area between SW 20th Avenue and SW Archer Road. The long-term plan is to follow the City Commission’s direction given to staff on June 19, 2014 to develop plans to build a new City fire station in the southwest area. Although work has progressed toward identifying potential sites in the area of SW Archer Road and I-75 for a permanent location as recommended in the Fire Station Location Study; identifying a site, securing funding, purchasing land, and planning, designing and building a station will take time, hence the need to move forward quickly to address interim deployment needs.
In identifying funding options, the Capital Improvement Plan for FY2015-2019 was reviewed and included $455,055 for renovations at Station 5. While working with Facilities staff to determine the best course of action regarding Station 5, it was determined that the work needed would likely exceed the available funding and could be a significant factor in deciding whether it would better serve the City in the long-term to replace the building rather than renovate it. The factors related to this decision are still under consideration and a decision is not expected in the immediate future.
To provide services in this area, the interim plan is to activate a more capable unit. GFR management have explored a number of options to locate this unit and a site has been identified near the RTS station in the newly expanded commercial area south of SW 24th Avenue. An estimate to install a temporary mod...
Click here for full text