TITLE
Recommendation to receive and file the Public Safety Facilities Master Plan. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
On September 5, 2006 the Fire and Police Chiefs presented an overview to the City Council on Priority Public Safety Facility Needs. Subsequently, the City Council requested additional information and requested the City Manager to prepare a conceptual Master Plan (Plan) for priority Public Safety facilities. The Plan describes the condition of eleven Public Safety facilities that require replacement. The facilities include neighborhood fire stations, Port area fire stations, the Beach Operations Headquarters and police facilities.
The City of Long Beach has been operating police, fire and lifeguard services for over 100 years. Although the workforce and equipment are growing to meet the needs of the growing and changing population, its buildings and structures have not kept pace.
Since public safety facilities are utilized by and support our personnel and the public, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, public safety facilities deteriorate more rapidly than a typical office or commercial building. In addition, since the service needs of the City have changed, some buildings should be redesigned or relocated.
Many of the City's current fire stations are over-aged and deteriorating. Because of their size, it is difficult to renovate them for gender accommodation and for modernsized fire apparatus. Further, the Fire and Police Departments, with Homeland Security funding, have obtained emergency units and equipment that also require shelter and security. In addition, the conceptual design of the neighborhood fire stations, as well as several of the police facilities, anticipate the inclusion of a moderate-sized meeting room that can be used by community groups.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary Anderson and by Budget and Performance Management Bureau Manager David Wodynski on May 14, 2007.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is not ti...
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