The Moraga-Orinda Fire District board on March 31 approved the purchase of the building located at 1150 Moraga Way for $3.6 million.  The former home of Mason McDuffie, the building comprises 9,516 square feet of office space and will come with appropriate furniture included.  The building is a short walk from Fire Station 41.

    The upcoming reconstruction of Station 41, located nearby at 1284 Moraga Way, will require the demolition of the existing administration building, located at 1280 Moraga Way. The existing administration building is inadequate for the district, with insufficient space for offices and no dedicated space for board meetings. 

    Currently the Human Resources department cannot be in the building at the same time as the Finance Department, owing to lack of space. The board has had to rely on external venues, which resulted in ongoing rental costs and logistical constraints.  

    The acquisition of 1150 Moraga Way will allow the district to centralize its administrative headquarters. The staff report concluded that this will result in improved workflow efficiency, communications and staff coordination. Additionally, the site will provide a dedicated location for board meetings.
 
    The property includes an approximately 9,516-square-foot office building situated on approximately 0.56 acres of land. Staff negotiated purchase of the property in the amount of $3.6 million. Ad hoc committee of MOFD Directors Steve Danziger and Craig Jorgens were instrumental in locating the property and negotiating the purchase. There will be associated transactional costs.

    A Capital Projects Fund expenditure budget adjustment increase was necessary in the amount of $3.7 million. This will provide a budget of $100,000 for necessary improvements (board meeting room equipment and dais, installation of public lobby, cabling for information technology requirements, etc.) and transaction costs. MOFD had already budgeted an expenditure of $3.6 million for the administration building. 

    The building will be purchased with existing funds so no financing will be required. The purchase is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Title 14.

    Former MOFD Board President Fred Weil submitted a written comment supporting the purchase. “About 15 years or so ago, when I was president of the MOFD board, we considered the purchase of 1150 Moraga Way. The community at that time was strongly against it, even though the cost would probably have been offset to some degree by rentals to private parties. I thought it was a good idea to purchase the building then because of woefully inadequate administrative space, but finances were very tight. Although the District will pay much more now than it would have then, finances are better now and I continue to think it is a good idea.” No other comments were received by the board.