Published August 3rd, 2011
MOFD Moves Forward with Facilities Upgrade
By Lucy Amaral
A March 16 report from MOFD's ad-hoc facilities committee found the 60-year-old Station 43, on Via Las Cruces, needed seismic upgrades, has an apparatus bay too small for current emergency vehicles, and lacks adequate space for personnel and equipment. The Board opted to replace the station and at its July 20 meeting approved the hiring of Harris & Associates to serve as Project Manager.
In his staff report, MOFD Fire Chief Randy Bradley said he received nine proposals and interviewed five firms before selecting Harris & Associates. As project manager, Harris & Associate will manage the design and construction of the fire station.
The cost to replace the station is estimated to be $3 million, with funding coming from the Special Revenue fund, and it is estimated that it will take two years to complete the project.
In addition to designing the new station, one of the first orders of business, according to Harris & Associates, will be to set up a temporary station to ensure continuity of service.
During this meeting's public comment session Vince Maiorana, of Orinda, informed the Board that residents have formed an independent task force called Orinda Citizens Emergency Services Task Force. In his statement, Maiorana said that this task force was formed to better understand where they stand with this element of city services. He added that any conclusions obtained from their research that causes a concern regarding the operation of MOFD would be shared with the MOFD Board of Directors.

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