HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 12814 (Critical Facilities Committee Final Report)RESOLUTION NO. 12814
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
SAN RAFAEL ACCEPTING THE FINAL REPORT FROM THE
CRITICAL FACILITIES COMMITTEE
WHEREAS, The City Council appointed a Critical Facilities Committee via Resolution
No. 12381 on November 19, 2007, and
WHEREAS, the Critical Facilities Committee was established in order to develop
strategies for informing and educating the community about the current state of our buildings as
well as develop an implementation plan to advance the priorities set by the former Critical
Facilities Strategy Committee, and
WHEREAS, the Critical Facilities Committee has met faithfully since November 29,
2007, spending numerous hours understanding the City's finances; explored debt financing, tax
solutions and other funding options; engaged with subject matter experts and developed a
communication plan in order to inform our residents and businesses about the current state of our
essential facilities, and
WHEREAS, the Critical Facilities Committee prepared an Interim Report and presented
their work to the community and City Council at a study session on May 5, 2008, and
WHEREAS, the Critical Facilities Committee also prepared a Progress Report in order
to codify their accomplishments to date, delineate findings and conclusions and propose a series
of recommendations, which was accepted by the City Council on August 4, 2008, and
WHEREAS, the City Council actions of August 4, 2008 extended the initial term of the
Critical Facilities Committee until July, 2009, in order for the Committee to fully accomplish
their two primary goals as noted above, and
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WHEREAS, the Critical Facilities Committee has conducted, in conjunction with staff
and consulting expertise, a feasibility and education effort, along with receiving public opinion
polling results regarding city facilities perceptions and needs , and
WHEREAS, the Critical Facilities Committee has deliberated over a series of
recommendations, based upon data and other information, in order to prepare a final report to the
City Council and fulfill their work as a Committee.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the City Council does
hereby:
1. Accept the August 3, 2009 Final Report of the Critical Facilities Committee, a copy of
which is attached hereto, and
2. Acknowledge the commitment, knowledge, leadership and community volunteerism of
Committee members; their collective efforts resulting in a series of recommendations that
lay the groundwork for resolving needed modernization, upgrading and replacement of
many of the City of San Rafael's most critical buildings.
I, ESTHER C. BEIRNE, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing
Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City
Council of said City held on Monday, the 3`d day of August, 2009 by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
Brockbank, Connolly, Heller, Miller & Mayor Boro
NOES:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
None
ABSENT:
COUNCILMEMBERS:
None
t e . E
...........
ESTHER C. BEIRNE, City Clerk
WACity Managers- WorkFile\Council Material\Resolutions\2009\CFC final report reso.doc
City of San Rafael
Critical Facilities Committee
Final Report
August 3, 2009
Mayor Al Boro and
Members of the San Rafael City Council
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On November 19, 2007, you appointed 15 San Rafael citizens to form a new Critical
Facilities Committee (CFC) to "develop strategies for informing and educating the
community about the current state of our buildings as well as (to) develop an
implementation plan to advance the priorities set by the former Critical Facilities
Strategy Committee (CFSC)."
The appointed CFC adopted an aggressive work schedule, first meeting on November
29, 2007. We have been meeting roughly twice a month since that date.
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• Reviewed and discussed the report prepared by the former CFSC.
• Received detailed briefing from Group 4 Architects including updated costs for
the options recommended by the former CFSC.
• Received detailed briefings from key staff on the city budget history, as well as
current budget structure and condition.
• Received detailed briefings from staff and consultants on financing options and
analyzing in particular general obligation bonds and parcel taxes with attention to
the need for furnishing and fixtures and a capital replacement reserve.
• Received information from consultants Elliot Levin and Peter Winder regarding
public-private partnerships.
• Examined alternative procurement methods such as Design/Build, Public Private
Partnerships, and Request for Concept.
• Explored alternative funding opportunities, including MCF and ARRA resources.
• Conducted with assistance from Godbe Research Group and Tramutola LLC a
Phase 1 Feasibility Study. The study consisted of public polling in February
2009 that tested citizen awareness of the current condition of public safety,
library and community center buildings. Polling also tested citizen support for a
general obligation bond in an amount sufficient to pay for needed facility
improvements.
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• Developed and began implementing a Communication Plan including a published
Marin Voice piece, a video presentation, website information, and public tours of
facilities aimed at educating our community about San Rafael Critical Facility
needs.
• Participated in an education effort to raise voter awareness of facility needs,
which included Committee members and other volunteers walking
neighborhoods and talking directly to San Rafael voters.
• Reviewed results of polling conducted by Godbe Research Group in June 2009
to assess the effectiveness of the education efforts, Communication Plan and
potential voter support for a tax to fund facility upgrades and future capital
replacement needs.
Our Findings and Conclusions:
A. Due to the age of City buildings and the changes in City services and needs over
time, the City's facilities are functionally obsolete, seismically unsafe and do not
comply with a wide variety of building codes.
B. We find that no funds presently exist to undertake a capital project of the scope
needed, and that voter approved funding must be obtained.
C. With the addition of the Library to the scope of projects, we developed a
prioritization for facility renovation, expansion or replacement:
1.) Public Safety Building — Police, Fire, EOC, plus needed City Hall
seismic upgrading, reuse of vacated Police space and provision of
required additional parking
2.) Fire Station # 2 / Training Facility
3.) Downtown Library
4.) Fire Stations #4, #5 & #7
5.) Fire Station #6
6.) Terra Linda Community Center
7.) "B" Street Community Center
D. Based upon a recent education effort and July 2009 polling results we conclude
that:
a. Voter misconceptions about the condition of City facilities will continue to
be a hurdle and require ongoing educational and awareness efforts.
b. Education efforts have been successful in increasing voter awareness of
the actual conditions of the City's buildings.
c. Although public support for a tax measure to upgrade or replace the
Downtown Main Library is insufficient to warrant proceeding with a ballot
measure at this time, the Downtown Library expansion and improvements
should remain a priority.
d. Public support for a public safety facilities general obligation bond
measure has a greater chance of success than would a parcel tax.
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E. We conclude that a capital replacement reserve fund is needed to ensure the
facilities remain functional and code compliant over their useful lives.
F. We conclude that the education effort undertaken in 2009 did create sufficient
public support to upgrade the public safety buildings in order to place a ballot
measure before the voters in November, 2009.
G. We conclude that the education effort undertaken in 2009 did not create sufficient
public support to upgrade the Downtown Library in order to place a ballot
measure before the voters in November, 2009.
H. We conclude that the education effort undertaken in 2009 did not create sufficient
public support to upgrade the San Rafael and Terra Linda Community Centers in
order to place a ballot measure before the voters in November, 2009.
Recommendations:
We recommend the San Rafael City Council:
1. Put before the voters, in November, 2009, a ballot measure authorizing the City
to issue up to $89 million in general obligation bonds, and impose a tax sufficient
to upgrade, renovate and replace public safety buildings. The general obligation
bonds should include sufficient funds to allow for the long term planning and
design of core downtown City facilities.
2. Pursue financing for the upgrade, renovation or expansion of the downtown main
library after securing the required financing for the public safety buildings listed in
our prioritization above.
3. Defer action on the replacement or renovation of the community center buildings
until a later date and after securing the required financing for the public safety
and downtown library buildings.
4. Adopt as a formal policy for the creation, maintenance, and regular funding of the
capital replacement reserve for the facilities described above in this report.
5. In response to opportunities or unanticipated challenges, retain the flexibility to
implement solutions for all of these facilities even when not in the order of our
prioritization. By way of example, the Committee has supported the City's efforts
to work with the County of Marin on a combined Fire Station No. 7/Emergency
Operations Facility solution at the Civic Center. Refer to our letter included as
part of this report.
6. Not be precluded from considering relocation of these facilities if conditions
warrant.
7. Pursue all available avenues for private, or public, agency grants, partnerships or
other sources of money to augment the funding raised through any tax measure.
8. Include a provision for the appointment of a Citizen's Oversight Committee in any
ballot measures to be put before the San Rafael voters.
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Attachments:
o Communication Plan
o August 2008 Progress Report
o Letter Regarding Station 7 & County EOF
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Respectfully Submitted,
Mark Luba rsky (Chair)
Phil Abey
Gladys (f'Gilliland
Kevin J. Kroncke
Larr�lye am
Kdren Nielsen
Sean Prendiville
Gordon B. Manashil (Vice -Chair)
D i LJ��1
/Brinckerhoff
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