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San Francisco officials outline need for consolidated fire training campus, point to 2020 ESER bond as funding path
Summary
City staff presented studies estimating a consolidated San Francisco Fire Department training campus would need roughly 7.7 acres and recommended seeking funding through the March 2020 Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response (ESER) bond; commissioners pressed staff on site search, costs and shared use of Treasure Island facilities.
City and Public Works staff told the Fire Commission on March 27 that the department needs a single, consolidated training campus to replace facilities on Treasure Island and Folsom Street and that funding would likely be sought through the March 2020 Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response (ESER) bond.
"The total acreage required identified in their report is about 7.7 acres or close to 8," said Matt Jasmin, one of the presenters, summarizing a facilities study that also estimated an additional 5.4 acres for training props and exterior activities. Charles Zegueras, bond program manager in Public Works, said the department expects to depart Treasure Island by the end of 2024 and is working with real estate staff to identify potential replacement sites but would not disclose specific parcels while acquisition talks remain confidential.
Why it matters: The proposed campus is intended to consolidate duplicate facilities, reduce travel and scheduling inefficiencies between the department—s two current training sites and provide specialized training props (including a training tower, burn rooms and a mock BART platform) the department says are required by NFPA standards and state and federal mandates. Presenters said the consolidated site would accommodate recruit academies, in-service training, EMS instruction and partner agency use.
What was presented: Program-level studies cited by staff identified program-area needs for both buildings and outdoor props and projected annual throughput of roughly 49,220 training participants (about 4,000 per month in the 2016 study). Presenters said usage now breaks down to roughly 45% in-service training, 30% fire academy training, smaller shares for EMS academies and partner/committee use.
Funding and timeline: Staff described the ESER bond process as the intended funding mechanism and discussed a citywide bond package they said totals about $600 million. At the meeting staff referenced component figures for planning purposes (figures discussed in the presentation included amounts described by staff for components of the bond), and emphasized final allocation and the bond—s contents remain subject to approval by the mayor and the Board of Supervisors.
Commissioner concerns and follow-ups: Commissioners asked whether Port property in the southeast, parcels in San Mateo County or other city-owned land had been evaluated; staff said real estate is pursuing options and that vertical construction (stacking program functions) could reduce the acreage requirement. Commissioners also asked whether a consolidated campus could include space to store the Fire Department Museum—s historic vehicles; staff said adding museum space would be considered during initial project scoping.
Next steps: Staff said real estate will continue pursuing sites and that ESER bond planning is underway for the March 2020 ballot. No formal action was taken at the commission meeting on March 27; commissioners requested further updates as the site search and bond planning progress.
