Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMARCH 3,1992 1 I O/IO-~() (),j'O..$! '10.2. 34: 0053 ce,. CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS ARE TAPE RECORDED AND ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK ROLL CALL PROPOSED CONCEPT PLANS - FIRE STA.2 o ?30 ''';-0 11/ e,w Coli d- M I NUT E S CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA STUDY SESSION (PROPOSED PLANS - FIRE STATION NO.2) MARCH 3, 1992 The City Council met in a Study Session at 6:00 p. m., Tuesday March 3, 1992 to consider the proposed plans for the construction of a new facility at the site of Fire Station No, 2 on Baldwin Avenue, PRESENT: Councilmembers Ciraulo, Fasching, Harbicht, Young and Gilb None ABSENT: Also in attendance: Fire Chief, Gerald Gardner Larry Wolff, Principal Architect, Wolff, Lang and Christopher Consideration of the proposed concept plans for construction of a new fire station at the Baldwin Avenue site of Fire Station No, 2, The architectural firm of Wolff, Lang and Christopher has completed the site analysis, space need study and schematic design for construction of the new fire station. The proposed design utilizes the landscaped site immediately south of the existing station and has no impact on the Santa Anita Mall parking, The plan provides for continued emergency fire and paramedic ambulance service for the existing station during construction of the new facility, The proposed station is a one story building of approximately 11,750 square feet of usable space, The station is designed to accommodate ten personnel per shift and includes separate male/female dormitory and locker room facilities. A total of six (6) regular personnel plus one auxiliary trainee per shift are currently assigned at the existing station. The station will house one pumper ladder truck with a four (4) man crew, a reserve engine, one paramedic ambulance with a two man crew, an air/light unit, and a fire prevention patrol unit. The three bay station will also accommodate a future truck company or hazardous materials unit if needed in the future. The construction is expected to take approximately one year. Approximately 1500 square feet of office space is planned for relocation of the Fire Prevention Bureau currently located at Fire Station No. 1. The existing Fire Prevention offices total approximately 500 square feet and are inadequate to serve the current and future needs of the Fire Prevention Division. Space is critically needed for this division, therefore, rather than proposing a costly addition to Fire Station No, I, the needed office space for Fire Prevention is included in the proposed project. The architect's final cost for the entire project is estimated at $2,685,457, details of which are included in Exhibit D of the February 27, 1992 staff report, 1 3/3/92 34:0054 Three architectural renderings and a model of the proposed fire station were displayed for Council's consideration, Fire Chief Gardner pointed out and explained the various areas of usage on the floor plan, In his comments, Chief Gardner noted that the new station is designed for the next 50 years of service to the City, In response to Councilmember Ciraulo, Chief Gardner replied that outdoor training occurs on the Colorado Street parking lot of the race track, An agreement is in effect with the track for this use. The City has installed two fire hydrants in that area of the parking lot, large drills are held there, A brief exchange ensued around the Fire Prevention Bureau offices at the new facility which will facilitate this service and provide the needed room for counselling; provide space for plan checks and space for developers to layout their plans, as well as space for future staff increases, if needed. Mayor Pro tem Harbicht expressed his concern that originally the proposed fire station construction was estimated to cost $1,700,000 and now that figure has increased to $2,600,000. The existing fire station on Baldwin Avenue is manned with six to seven people and this proposed fire station will accommodate ten people very comfortably. This equates to a 50% greater capacity than now exists, He asked the question, "why would we need more? The population has been static, essentially". Further,' Arcadia has only grown 5% in the last dozen years, which is less than half a percent a year; there is no vacant property on which to build; the Council has changed all the zoning on the south side of the City to prevent the dividing up of large properties'and putting in cul.de.sacs; also most of the high.rise zoning in the City has been eliminated, Moreover, 50 years is a long time to project. however, at the same time there has been a 50% increase in zoning and he does not see where there will be a 50% increase in demand for fire services, Chief Gardner responded that the need is already there in West Arcadia; the Mall; the race track; retirement hotels; convalescent hospitals; condominiums and apartment houses .., the density in that area is such that a larger fire station is needed, Further, if the accommodations are not added now for the possibility of three to four additional fire fighters, there will not be that capability for future expansion, Chief Gardner said that the station is adequately manned at present, but staff cannot project 20 to 25 years from now what may be built on the race track property if the track were not there. Further, Station No. 2 is the busiest station of the three fire stations in the City. Further discussion ensued around the reasons for moving the Fire Prevention Bureau from Fire Station No. I to Station No, 2. The one story design was considered; this in relation to needs of the handicapped, and the increased cost to install an elevator if a two story building were constructed. Also, the possible liability to the City if a fireman's pole were to be installed to the 2nd floor, The roof line and ceiling heights were considered; several areas in the proposed building would have ceiling heights of 10 to 12 feet with the apparatus area required to be 14 feet to accommodate the doors for the vehicles such as the ladder rigs, Mr. Wolff commented that the building is designed to have a low appearance by accentuating the roof lines and overhangs to give the building a low profile level. Mayor Pro tem Harbicht expressed concern of energy efficiency with ceilings that are so high. Mr. Wolff replied that the overall volume of the building compared to the square footage and plan, and also the surface area of the enclosure is very, very energy efficient. He is confident of that, Further, some of the space will be built-over to provide mechanical equipment platforms for the station. Mr. Wolff further explained the slope of the roof, which is designed at a 2 and 12 pitch and is very shallow. 2 3/3/92 1 I 1 I , / 34:0055 Councilmember Fasching asked Chief Gardner if any future improvements are planned for Fire Stations 1 and 3 in the next five to 10 years, such as living accommodations and training rooms, since the proposed new facility will be state-of-the. art, Chief Gardner responded that Station No. 1 on Santa Anita needs some remodeling of the kitchen area and the same is true for the Orange Grove station, He does not foresee any major improvements other than interior upgrading, He agreed that the Santa Anita site is limited in area, however when the Fire Pr~vention Bureau moves to Station No, 2 the Santa Anita location should be adequate to meet the department's needs without an addition to the building. Mayor Gilb questioned the size of the training room at the proposed facility '" a 24 by 36 foot room for four persons and a maximum of ten if personnel should increase at the new facility, Mr, Wolff responded that the training room was designed to not only accommodate the fire staff training program, but also possible Saturday CPR classes for the community; exhibits and other classes; or a blood bank drive, The Mayor noted that Stations 1 and 3 already have large training rooms, why build another large room at this site? Chief Gardner commented that the training room at Station 2 would be for that crew only, The training room at Station 1 is almost three times the size of that proposed for Station No, 2, Chief Gardner noted that there would be certain situations when 10 to 12 personnel would be at Station 2 for training, Councilmember Fasching commented that with six to seven staff at Station 2 and nine to ten at Station 1, and the fact that Station 2 receives more calls for service than the other stations; also that Station 1 is limited in size by the site; why not consider transferring headquarters to the Baldwin Avenue location. This, he noted, would allow more space at Station No.1. Further, the 9-1-1 operation could be left at No, 1 and the administration offices are cramped and could be moved to the new facility, Chief Gardner noted that this situation would be alleviated when Fire Prevention moves to No.2, Further, he did not feel the move is warranted; the administration offices at the Santa Anita Station are adequate for the needs that are there. As for the dormitory situation at Station 1, the room is only lacking partitions between the beds. Staff commented that the design of the new facility achieves two things; the traditional brick fire station affect, and it appears residential in character to blend in with the west side of Baldwin Avenue north of Huntington Drive. ADJOURNMENT At 6:48 p. m, the Study Session ADJOURNED sine die, ATTEST: 3 3/3/92