Board approves $15 million to complete 6 South El Dorado renovation after audit and oversight concerns

The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 9 approved a $15 million appropriation to the 6 South El Dorado capital project to complete tenant improvements and repairs needed to open the building to the District Attorney’s office. The measure passed 4-1; Supervisor Thomas Dean voted no.

General Services Director Dan Wirtz and newly appointed Capital Projects Administrator Shelly Tice told the board the project’s original delivery method and phased design produced escalating costs and schedule delays. The county purchased the building in 2021 for $10.8 million, and the project’s budget rose through several increments: an initial 2023 budget of $24.5 million later grew, by December 2024, to roughly $58.5 million. General Services said the $15 million request covers outstanding construction work, roof and mechanical system repairs, window resealing and a 20% contingency for unknowns.

Tice said a key problem was using job order contracting (JOC) — a delivery method designed for short, emergency repairs — for a multiyear, multi-floor renovation. “JOC is not intended for this type of project,” Tice said, adding that work sharing across multiple JOC prime contractors led to scheduling conflicts and increased costs.

Public commenters and several supervisors sharply criticized prior oversight. “The oversight on this project has been an abject failure,” said a member of the public, who called for construction-experienced oversight and stronger cost controls. Supervisors pressed staff for immediate process changes; several asked for more frequent budget reviews, clearer project reporting to the board and the option of an independent oversight panel for high-value projects.

County staff described the repairs the appropriation will cover: replacement or repair of HVAC chillers and boilers, installation of return-air fan walls, remediation of clogged and failing sewer piping that required reopening finished walls, replacement of some glazing and exterior joint sealing, completion of the underground fire-suppression tank and furnishing and security system work required for occupancy.

County records presented at the meeting showed $58 million in costs and encumbrances to date and indicated a roughly $500,000 remaining balance before the request. Tice said staff prepared a cost estimate for the remaining scope of about $12.5 million and added a $2.5 million (20%) contingency because of the building’s age and recurring unknowns; the $15 million request reflects that total.

Supervisor Dean said he could not support the request without stronger, demonstrable safeguards and immediate, concrete oversight changes. Other supervisors said the county had to complete the project to provide secure, functional space for the District Attorney and emphasized the need to avoid repeating the procurement and scheduling choices that led to the overruns.

The board directed staff to deliver monthly project budget updates and to return with recommended procurement and oversight safeguards for future high-value capital projects.

Vote: yes — Paul Canepa (chair), Quddus Dhaliwal (vice chair), Kathy Guardia, Richard Rickman; no — Thomas Dean.