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Austin officials say five Fire/EMS stations from 2018 bond are in service after renovations
Summary
City staff told the Bond Oversight Committee that five station renovation projects funded by the 2018 fire/EMS bond have reached substantial completion and are in active service; final closeout and remaining funds will be determined after certificate-of-occupancy and capital delivery closeout procedures.
Austin — City staff reported to the City of Austin Bond Oversight Committee that five fire and emergency medical services station renovation projects funded by the 2018 fire/EMS bond have reached substantial completion and are in active service.
Committee members heard that the work included three combined fire/EMS station renovations and two stand-alone EMS station renovations, and that crews from both the Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS are now operating out of the renovated facilities. “All stations have been put into active service, and right now, both Austin Fire resources and Austin-Travis County EMS resources are all at the stations,” Division Chief Eric Jacoboskis said during the briefing.
The projects opened to service in phases from May through June. Staff provided the committee with completion highlights and dates: Station 1 (substantial completion June 9) increased from about 2,000 square feet to provide additional space and ADA improvements; EMS Station 5 (substantial completion June 20) now houses integrated programs including designated medical officers and physician assistants; Fire Station 8/EMS 7 was the first station occupied after renovation; Fire Station 25/EMS 10 reopened June 13 with expanded EMS footprint; and Fire Station 23/EMS 13 reopened May 13 with improved living and bathroom facilities.
Jacoboskis said crews faced some HVAC- and punch-list-related delays but that the stations have moved into the final completion walk stage. When asked about budget performance, staff said the projects remain within their funding allowances. “As of this point right now, we’re within the cost, all the cost of money for the projects. There have been no overruns at this point,” Jacoboskis said.
Committee members asked about remaining bond funds and how the city will use any balance. Staff said the capital delivery office still holds the final funds pending issuance of final certificates of occupancy and contractor closeout, and that after closeout the city will know exact balances. Staff reported the series of fire/EMS bond projects are approximately 97–98% expended, with roughly $200,000 remaining; planned uses under consideration include deferred maintenance on another station.
The committee also heard how the renovated stations fit with expanded clinical programs. Assistant Chief Steven White described the clinical and navigation roles now operating from EMS Station 5 and related programs: physician assistants, medical direction physicians, community health paramedics and the communications center’s expanded triage (C4). White said those integrated services — including in-person response by PAs and telehealth triage through the communications center — are handling roughly 16–18% of total call volume, and that these programs aim to keep appropriate low-acuity patients from defaulting to emergency departments.
No formal committee action was taken on the bond projects during the briefing; staff said final accounting and distribution of the remaining bond funds will follow project closeout and certificate-of-occupancy issuance.
