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Public Works reports progress on 2010 and 2014 earthquake safety bonds; questions on procurement and financial reporting
Summary
Public Works told the committee the city has completed most AWSS cisterns and advanced several police, fire and medical examiner projects under the 2010/2014 earthquake bonds, but commissioners pressed staff on competitive procurement (CMGC/design-assist for core trades) and availability of updated financials amid a new city accounting system rollout.
Charles Agaras, bond program manager for Public Works, presented the quarterly report on the 2010 and 2014 Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response bonds, delivering progress updates and financial status through June 2017.
"26 of our planned 30 cisterns for the AWSS auxiliary water supply system have been completed," Agaras said, and he listed other milestones including the Public Safety Building warranty and closeout, ongoing work at fire stations and a near-complete medical examiner facility.
Project managers reported project-specific updates: Magdalena Ryer said Fire Station 5 is on schedule with a topping-out ceremony planned for January and Fire Station 16 has experienced delays with final completion now targeted in summer 2018; Sherry Katz said multiple focus-scope projects are underway, affecting 35 stations, and several bid advertisements are expected in the coming weeks.
Michael Roseto described the Traffic Company and Forensic Services Division relocation to a new facility at 1995 Evans Avenue: real estate division vacated the site, hazardous abatement and demolition notices to proceed were issued, and Clark Construction will lead a CMGC (construction manager/general contractor) delivery team joined by trade subcontractors.
Commissioners raised procurement and cost-control concerns. Several asked whether the core trade subcontractors in CMGC are competitively bid or negotiated; Public Works described a "design-assist" role for core trades early in preconstruction, followed by reconciliation and affirmation of price before construction, with fallback options to obtain further pricing if agreement cannot be reached.
Financial reporting also drew scrutiny: commissioners noted the packet's financials were current to June; Agaras said the city's new financial system did not yet produce reliable data for September, and Peg Stephenson (Comptroller's Office) confirmed accountants are correcting cost-center mappings and will prioritize updated bond reporting.
Agaras emphasized market pressures — labor shortages, materials and effects from recent North Bay fires — and said those factors require project scoping and procurement approaches that seek predictability and avoid repeated cost escalations.
Next steps: Public Works will provide updated financials when corrected by the controller's office, improve quarterly visual presentation of progress, and meet with liaisons for more detailed briefings ahead of planned bond sales in spring 2018.
