SFFD says training center cost estimates exceed design target; Station 7 CEQA under way

At the Feb. 11 meeting Assistant Deputy Chief Gareth Miller updated commissioners on capital projects funded or proposed under prior and prospective EASER bonds.

Miller said the Division of Training project has 95% construction documents complete, with a planned construction start in April 2026 and substantial completion targeted for December 2028. He told commissioners the fixed construction budget limit for the training center is $152 million and the design target was $145 million, but recent cost estimates "came in above that number," prompting value engineering and program review.

Miller also reported that additional EASER funds became available and that the department intends to apply them to the Station 7 replacement, which currently has a construction cost estimate approaching $42 million. He said the Station 7 design will be based on the Station 5 model and that Public Works is leading project management and environmental review for CEQA determinations.

Commissioners pressed staff on CEQA timing and whether multiple station projects could be run in parallel. Miller said Station 7's soil conditions will require focused environmental review rather than a categorical exemption; Public Works project-management capacity will likely stagger subsequent station reviews to avoid overloading staff.

What comes next: The department is conducting value-engineering for the training center to bring costs in line with the budget limit and will continue to coordinate with Public Works on CEQA and project sequencing.