$350 million public health and safety bond would fund new ambulance deployment center and fire facility upgrades, SFFD says

City capital‑planning staff and the San Francisco Fire Department presented details on a proposed public health and safety general obligation bond during the commission's April 13 meeting.

Chief Lombardi outlined the bond package as a $350,000,000 bond that would fund five project groups citywide; the fire department's share is $58,000,000. Of that allocation, Chief Lombardi said $44,000,000 would fund a new ambulance deployment center (a proposed modern Station 49 replacement and consolidated restocking/training facility) and $14,000,000 would be dedicated to modernization of fire department facilities across the city.

Chief Lombardi described the proposed ambulance facility as a three‑story, 30,000‑square‑foot building with a 60,000‑square‑foot three‑story garage, internal restocking bays, locker rooms and classrooms; the chosen site would be behind the current Station 9 on Gerald Avenue. He said a new facility could be occupied by about 2021 if the bond is approved and the project proceeds on schedule.

Brian Strong, director of capital planning, told the commission the bond requires a two‑thirds majority to pass and explained the city's capital plan capacity and upcoming bond cycles. Commissioners discussed capital constraints and tradeoffs with other city needs; Strong noted voter capacity and the city's schedule for future bonds.

Union representatives told the commission they back the proposition and a new Station 49, but raised procedural concerns about being asked to sign a ballot argument prior to seeing the campaign plan and outreach strategy; they asked for more opportunity to review consultant materials before endorsing ballot materials formally.