Commissioners press SFFD on Station 35 costs and bond funding for other stations

Commissioner Catherine Feinstein pressed department leaders at the March 22 Fire Commission meeting over whether spending on the new fireboat Station 35 has crowded out other voter-approved projects.

"Everything was deferred to Station 35," Commissioner Catherine Feinstein said, urging the department to explain why work at older stations has been delayed. Chief Lutra responded that monies for Station 14 are not flowing into Station 35, and that Station 35 is at the end of its warranty period.

Assistant Deputy Chief Darius Lutra told the commission generator procurement is constrained by long lead times and scheduling. "There is currently a 68-week lead time on generators in the United States," Lutra said, and he added that Station 14's generator project is planned to go to bid in the next quarter. Lutra said the work remains within the 2020 bond’s overall budget for the training facility program but acknowledged acceleration of costs has made scheduling and funding challenging.

Commissioners sought financial detail on how much of the $275,000,000 2020 bond for the training facility has been spent. Lutra said design-phase spending was "in the neighborhood of $12,000,000" so far and said staff are seeking additional funding sources and reprioritization if necessary to preserve other projects such as Station 7.

Commissioners asked for a post-project audit and for ongoing monthly financial reporting. Deputy Chief Tom O'Connor said a newly established financial subcommittee is receiving monthly updates and that staff can provide further audit-level detail if the commission requests it.

The commission did not take an immediate funding vote at the meeting; commissioners requested more detailed financial disclosures at a future meeting.