The authority opened a policy discussion on conditions assessments for its parking facilities, prompted by a recent garage collapse in White Plains. The board reviewed its current practice of commissioning condition assessments every two years and discussed whether to increase frequency or retain a second firm for alternating-year reviews.

Bridal Lutz raised the topic and said Desmond (the structural firm that performed the 2023 assessment) is finalizing the 2025 assessments and will present findings to the board when the draft is ready. Lutz said the current rotation is every other year with flexibility for additional evaluations as needed.

Commissioners including Peter Fulham and others said there could be value in obtaining a second, independent opinion on a more frequent cadence. One suggestion was to commission assessments annually but rotate firms so each report represents an independent evaluation rather than a peer review. Lutz said the last finalized assessment was completed in 2023 and the next full cycle would likely start in July 2026 under the current timing; staff said they would try to schedule Ken Sugarman of Desmond to present in November.

Members also asked practical questions about expected service life for precast concrete garages; commissioners reported engineers commonly cite facility life spans near 70 years and said specific lifespan and repair recommendations would be better answered by the structural consultant. Commissioners noted budget and procurement implications if the authority were to increase assessment frequency and asked staff to research options and cost estimates from firms the staff has worked with previously.

Staff said the condition-assessment reports inform multi-year budgeting and that more frequent or alternating assessments could provide additional assurance but could also add cost. Commissioners asked staff to return with proposed options, estimated costs and a plan for presenting Desmond’s report to the board in November.