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Council hears estimates for fire station mold remediation, HVAC work and command vehicle
Summary
Council members heard staff and the fire chief describe mold and maintenance problems at the fire station, a proposed command vehicle for the chief and options for a new standby generator, with preliminary cost estimates presented for each.
City staff and the fire chief told council on July 30 that Hollywood Park's fire station needs significant repairs and upgrades, and they presented preliminary cost estimates for mold remediation, HVAC work, a command vehicle and a replacement generator.
Chief Burnside, speaking as fire chief, described why a dedicated command vehicle matters on emergency scenes: "It is vital for the chief to at least have a command vehicle," he said, explaining that a command vehicle gives the on-scene incident commander communications equipment, a mobile data terminal and room to coordinate responding resources. Burnside said a used command-capable vehicle is not an effective substitute for a purpose-configured vehicle because of space and equipment requirements.
Preliminary costs and scope: staff and the mayor offered initial estimates during the workshop. Fred, presenting the budget, said the mayor had suggested about $175,000 for mold remediation and interior remodel of the fire station; Fred added that full HVAC replacement estimates ranged widely and that one contractor suggested the air-conditioning work could be significantly higher than an initial $75,000 estimate but that final bids were pending. Chief Burnside said a fully outfitted command vehicle would require roughly $50,000 for a chassis and about $20,000 to equip it for fire-command use; staff also discussed the department's need to replace an aging Tahoe used for command duties.
Generator discussion: staff reported the municipal building's 25+-year-old diesel generator needs an audit and repairs; Fred said one contractor reported about $15,000 in immediate repairs plus $3,000–$5,000 in additional items, and that a new natural-gas generator quote ran about $75,000. Council members asked whether the existing generator could be repaired versus replaced; staff said they would obtain a secondary quote and an electrical audit to confirm the building's load and the best route forward.
Why it matters: the fire station's interior was described as mold-affected after roof leaks and long-term deferred maintenance; council members and staff emphasized health and safety concerns for on-duty firefighters who live on site, and the need for reliable emergency communications and command capability during incidents.
Next steps: staff said it will collect formal contractor bids and an audit of the generator's current capacity and report back to council. Council did not approve funding at the workshop but flagged the fire station's repairs as a high priority for capital spending drawn from reserves.
