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Council authorizes $1.4 million for design and site work at Eureka Operations Complex
Summary
The Eureka City Council approved a $1,400,000 budget allocation on Feb. 4 to continue design and site preparation for a consolidated public works operations complex at 3993 Broadway. Staff described a revised, single-building schematic that reduces overall project cost from prior estimates and preserves space for future phased expansion.
The Eureka City Council voted unanimously Feb. 4 to allocate $1,400,000 in fiscal year 2024–25 to continue design and preconstruction work for the Eureka Operations Complex, a consolidated public-works facility on a property the city purchased in 2024.
City project manager Katie Marcellon told the council the city already completed site acquisition, CEQA review (an initial study/mitigated negative declaration) and early concept work. The site at 3993 Broadway sits behind Pacific Motorsports and is outside the coastal zone; project materials note the current city corporation yard is in a tsunami-inundation zone and has soils prone to liquefaction. Marcellon said the team has revised the plan to move from a three-building concept to a two-building schematic and is now proposing a single, larger building for the initial phase to reduce cost and accelerate construction.
Marcellon outlined a project budget scenario the staff and finance director have been reviewing: a $21,000,000 target total budget with approximately $7,000,000 for site development (phase 1), $11,000,000 for buildings and $3,000,000 for design, permitting and utility connections. She explained that a construction-manager-at-risk contract with Swinerton Builders is in place for preconstruction services and that the requested $1.4 million will fund final construction documents, long-lead equipment (notably a generator with 48–52 week lead time), PG&E service upgrades including transformer and deposit allowances, and other design and permitting fees.
Council members asked for clarifications on noise buffering adjacent to Ocean View Cemetery, wash-bay containment, and the expected cost savings from the revised single-building approach; Marcellon said the single-building scenario reduced a prior two-building estimate that approached $28–30 million down toward the $21 million target. She confirmed the decant/wash bay will be plumbed and contained to sanitary sewer and built to the standards required by the city’s MS4 stormwater permit.
A resident asked whether hazardous material from wash-bay operations would be captured; Marcellon replied the facility is designed as a decontamination site and would use containment and treatment systems so effluent would not reach adjacent properties. After public comment and discussion, the council voted 5-0 to authorize the requested allocation to account 24047007024 for the project.
Why it matters: The operations complex is intended to relocate aging corporation-yard functions out of a tsunami and liquefaction hazard zone, consolidate fleet and maintenance operations, and provide room for future city infrastructure needs. The council’s approval completes the current funding step and allows staff to finalize construction documents and pursue a guaranteed-maximum-price (GMP) construction contract later in 2025.
Next steps: Staff will proceed with design development and construction documents, continue coordination with Swinerton Builders toward a GMP this spring/summer, and return to council for the GMP award and subsequent construction approvals.
Vote summary: Motion to authorize allocation of $1,400,000 for FY 2024–25 to account 24047007024 for the Eureka Operations Complex Project — Mover: not specified; Second: not specified; Tally: Yes 5, No 0; Outcome: approved.
