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Fire Commission approves SFFD capital and IT budget submission, department requests roughly $98'$99 million over two years
Summary
The San Francisco Fire Commission voted to approve the department's FY2017-18 capital and information-technology budget submittal, which requests roughly $98'$99 million over two years for station repairs, electrical and HVAC upgrades, emergency generators and IT modernization; the department said it expects far less in actual allocations.
The San Francisco Fire Commission on Jan. 11 voted to approve the San Francisco Fire Department's capital and information-technology budget request for submission to city capital and IT review committees.
Deputy Director Mark Corso told commissioners the packet seeks funding for facility repairs and upgrades not covered by existing bond programs, including roof and envelope repairs, HVAC and boiler maintenance, apparatus bay doors, emergency generators, exhaust extractor systems, station electrical rewiring and site/sidewalk safety work. The request also includes three studies: a training-facility needs assessment, a study of repurposing the Bureau of Equipment property at 1415 Evans, and station-level electrical/IT assessments.
On the IT side, Corso described funded and proposed work such as replacement of mobile data terminals and vehicle modems, business-intelligence upgrades, a new fire-prevention platform to manage inspections and permits, data consolidation efforts for public transparency, and pilot Wi-Fi installations at training facilities and Station 49. He said the department is coordinating with the Department of Technology and COIT and has received FEMA and other grant support for some projects.
Commissioners pressed for details about how station-level needs are collected, DPW support for facilities work and likely funding. Corso said the department worked with DPW on a facility assessment that identified hundreds of millions in backlog maintenance and that the current capital/IT submittal totals approximately $98'$99 million over two years; he noted that past allocations have been far smaller, citing recent annual capital allocations in the $600,000 to $3.5 million range and roughly $2.5 million approved in the most recent cycle.
Vice President Ken Cleveland moved to approve the submittal so the department could meet the Friday deadline to the Capital Planning Committee and COIT. Commissioner Hardiman seconded, and the commission approved the submission by voice vote.
The department emphasized that the request does not represent total needs but seeks to prioritize projects that cannot wait for bond funding. The mayor's office and capital planning process will determine final allocations.
What's next: The department will submit the package to the Capital Planning Committee and COIT; the mayor's office will incorporate recommendations into the overall proposed budget, and the commission expects follow-up reporting as the city's budget process advances.
