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Board told ADA upgrades could consume a third of next bond; district will update 2019 cost estimates
Summary
Staff told the Monrovia Unified board that Department of State Architect (DSA) access and code requirements discovered while preparing site plans could significantly increase project scope, citing a 2019 estimate of about $26 million for district-wide ADA work that must be updated to 2025 standards before prioritization.
At the May 23 workshop, district project staff warned the board that addressing ADA path-of-travel, restroom upgrades and other code-driven items will expand the scope — and cost — of projects originally scoped for fencing and security.
The project manager told the board that DSA reviews of site plans often trigger broader work: “the path of travel is from the gate of the parking lot access to that building and does include ADA accessible restrooms,” and DSA-required upgrades can turn a relatively small fencing plan into a multi-million-dollar remediation once full code compliance is considered.
Staff cited the district’s 2019 facilities needs assessment, which estimated roughly $26,000,000 (2019 dollars) to bring ADA access across sites up to code. The project manager emphasized that this figure is based on 2019 codes and must be updated to reflect 2025 code changes and current pricing before the board can set priorities for the next bond draw.
Insurance and funding: the board asked whether fire-related repairs (Bridal Oaks staffing/restroom work and associated path-of-travel items) would be covered by insurance or require bond/general-fund money. Staff said coverage depends on insurer determinations and policy limits; they are compiling costs and will seek to maximize insurance coverage but warned some work may remain the district’s responsibility.
Programmatic implications: staff recommended folding DSA-triggered work into larger project packages when possible to avoid returning repeatedly to the same campus. Project staff also noted portables were flagged in the 2019 assessment as past useful life, and that state modernization dollars — which staff estimated might yield up to about $30,000,000 if eligible — could supplement bond funds, though eligibility and amounts remain to be confirmed.
Next steps: staff will update ADA-cost estimates to 2025 codes, identify which sites require immediate life-safety work versus longer-term remediation, and return to the board with a prioritized list of projects and funding options. No final commitments about using bond proceeds, insurance or the general fund were made at the workshop.
Ending: the board asked that updates be shared at the next regular meeting so the public can review the revised cost estimates and priorities before any formal resolution is drafted.
