MEASURE X
Measure X, Fire Safety Bond
On November 3, 2020, voters in Alameda County’s unincorporated communities adopted Measure X, the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) Fire Safety Bond on the November ballot. The adoption of Measure X authorizes the ACFD to issue up to $90,000,000 in bonds to repair, upgrade, and replace outdated fire stations in order to maintain fire and emergency medical services in the unincorporated communities of Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, Livermore, San Lorenzo and Sunol. The estimated cost of Measure X is 1.6 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Background
In 2003-2009, the ACFD retained a cost estimator to provide budgets to replace Stations 6 (Cull Canyon, Castro Valley), 7 (Palomares Hills, Castro Valley), 8 (Livermore), 22 (San Lorenzo), 23 (Cherryland), 24 (Ashland), 25 (San Miguel, Castro Valley) and 26 (Lake Chabot, Castro Valley).
These costs, and the associated projected disposition of each station, were included in the County of Alameda Capital Improvement Plan Category 5, New Construction, Purchase or Leases, as unfunded, future or potential projects.
In 2011, the County proceeded with the approval of replacement of Station 23 (Cherryland). In 2014-15, the project design was completed, approved and construction contract awarded. The 11,800 square foot station project was completed in 2017 for a total project cost of $12,162,190.
In 2015, the long-term planning for the ACFD facilities continued and was advanced as anticipated in the County of Alameda Capital Improvement Program. In a collaborative effort with the County General Services Agency (GSA) professional staff and expert consulting architects, the ACFD funded a programming and feasibility study as a detailed update to the County’s earlier work.
County GSA retained the prequalified firms of Shah Kawasaki Architects, Noll & Tam and KTA Architects to perform a study to evaluate Stations 6, 7, 8, 22, 24, 25 and 26. The study took into account the base data from past studies, developed criteria for evaluation of stations based on industry standard functional and space requirements for fire stations, assessed site criteria for long-term use and development of new or repurposed stations, and extrapolated costs for future projects based on both baseline metrics for fire stations, regional market bid data, industry standard rates of escalation, site costs and other data.
The results of this study culminated in the ACFD Programming and Feasibility Report developed in February 2016 and revised and updated in August 2018. The report is intended as an update of earlier assessments in the Alameda County Capital Improvement Plan and a current reference for strategic and potential long-term capital improvement planning for the maintenance, use, replacement and repair/update of ACFD facilities.
At the request of County GSA on November 13, 2019, Cumming, a project and cost management consulting firm, issued a revised project cost estimate. Cumming’s estimates were based on escalation of cost between 2019 to 2027. The long-range master plan (Cumming Project No. 19-01417.00) estimated the cost for the strengthening and improvement of substandard aging fire stations $103,695,000.
Fire Station 6 was constructed in 1978 and is 5,616 square feet. The Station houses a Type I Engine and a Type VI Engine. Other buildings on site are a workshop used for wooden ladder repair and SCBA maintenance. The Station responds to all of the canyon areas and the easternmost areas in Castro Valley. Fire Station 6 is located at the intersection of two busy roads. The site is large but steep in the unused areas. Functions are housed in a 1-story main building with house and apparatus bays.
The ACFD Programming and Feasibility study determined this fire station to require replacement on the existing site.
Fire Station 7 was constructed in 1986 and is 2,790 square feet. The Station houses a Type I Engine and a Type III Engine. The Station services the urban wildland interface in its area, as well as I-580 east to the City of Dublin and west to Grove Way, Castro Valley. The Station is ideally located adjacent to a residential neighborhood; however, the station is too small to accommodate all of the required functions of a modern fire station, thus several functions are absent.
The ACFD Programming and Feasibility study determined this fire station to require replacement. The ACFD has already purchased the adjacent property as a site for the new fire station.
Fire Station 8 was constructed in 1949 and is 3,450 square feet. Fire Station 8 firefighters were relocated to ACFD Station 20 at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory with Engine 8 (Type I) and Engine 308 (Type III). Though Fire Station 8 no longer houses firefighters or equipment, it remains an out of service fire station facility for the department.
This fire station’s response area is the largest in the ACFD, encompassing 280 square miles of open range land and freeways. Responses of 30 minutes or more are not uncommon because of the vast unincorporated area.
In addition to being in an unacceptable location as the existing site is well within the City of Livermore, Station 8 is also inadequate from a size and functional standpoint. The housing and support functions are either missing or located in substandard spaces. The ACFD Programming and Feasibility study determined this fire station requires replacement. ACFD is considering several options for Station 8 including continued co-location with Statin 20 on or near the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
Fire Station 22 was constructed in pre-1940 with a 1963 addition and is 3,967 square feet. The Station houses one Type I Engine company and responds to the downtown, residential and business areas of San Lorenzo. The ACFD leases this fire station from the San Lorenzo Homeowners Association. The site is tightly surrounded by heavily traveled and utilized roadways and parking lots. Several functions such as shop, PPE cleaning and medical cleaning are missing. Other functions are in non-compatible shared spaces.
The ACFD Programming and Feasibility study determined this fire station requires replacement. Due to the lease status of the existing building, the ACFD is working with the County General Services Agency to locate a site nearby.
Fire Station 24 was constructed in 1976 and is 7,086 square feet. The Station houses a Type I Engine and a Type I Heavy Rescue unit. There are seven firefighters at the Station. The response area includes all of the Ashland area and major sections of Highways 580 and 238. The station is located in a residential area with nearby commercial businesses on East 14th Street. The site is sufficient size but lacks some functionality including PPE cleaning and a separated medical cleaning station. This is one of the busiest stations in the ACFD.
The ACFD Programming and Feasibility study determined this fire station to be eligible for repair and upgrade on the existing site. However, more recently, the ACFD will be looking to completely replace this Station. The ACFD owns the adjacent property which is utilized by the County’s Dig Deep Farms program.
Fire Station 25 was constructed in 1966 and is 10,000 square feet. The Station houses a Type I Engine company, a Truck company, a Battalion Chief, a HazMat Support Unit and numerous other apparatus. There are seven firefighters assigned at this station.
Behind the main building there is a modular building utilized as a classroom and offices. This modular building is planned to be used as temporary fire station during construction.
Originally designed as the headquarters for the Castro Valley Fire Protection District, the station is fairly large. What may have been adequate for an administrative headquarters in the 1960s is no longer an efficient layout for a modern fire station. As a result, over the years, Station 25 has required periodic remodeling. Its current living and work environment is not optimal.
The ACFD Programming and Feasibility study determined this fire station requires replacement on the existing site.
Fire Station 26 was constructed in 1963 and is 2,700 square feet. The Station houses a Type I Engine company and Type VI Engine. The station responds to the northwestern area of Castro Valley including the Lake Chabot Park and Redwood Road. Its service area is considered a “high fire severity” zone given the urban interface with the East Bay Regional Park District park and East Bay Municipal Utility District land.
The fire station is cramped and there are significant shortcomings. Fire apparatus are parked outside due to the undersized apparatus bay, there are a lack of support spaces and many spaces serve multiple functions that are non-compatible.
The ACFD Programming and Feasibility study determined this fire station requires replacement on a new site.
Project Milestones
- June 8, 2021: Alameda County Board of Supervisors Presentation
- Board Letter: Appointment of a Financing Team for the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds (Measure X)
- December 1, 2021: Alameda County Registrar of Voters certifies the results of the 2021 Election
- July 28, 2020: Alameda County Board of Supervisors Presentation
- Board Letter: Alameda County Fire Department Fire Safety Bond
Upcoming
- Late 2021/Early 2022: ACFD to issue Phase One Bonds
- Late 2022-2023: ACFD to break ground on first station replacement.
Project Design & Construction
- Late Summer/Early Fall 2021: A Request for Proposals (RFP) for Project Manager is anticipated to be released.
- Late Summer/Early Fall 2021: An RFP for a Design/Architect Team is anticipated to be released.
Project News & Updates
- October 2021, Supervisor Miley and Alameda County Fire Department Fire Chief McDonald hosted a Town Hall Meeting on the new Station 7 and unveiled the location for the New Station #7.
Ballot Measure X
ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES VOTER ADOPTION OF MEASURE X, FIRE SAFETY BOND
December 1, 2020 – Voters in Alameda County’s unincorporated communities adopted Measure X, the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) Fire Safety Bond on the November ballot. Measure X authorizes the ACFD to issue bonds to repair, upgrade, and replace outdated fire stations in order to maintain fire and emergency medical services in the unincorporated communities of Ashland, Castro Valley Cherryland, Livermore, San Lorenzo and Sunol. The Alameda County Registrar of Voters certified the results of the election today.
“This was an important decision for the community to make in this unique election year. Aging, outdated fire facilities affect the communities we serve and our service delivery. Measure X will help ensure we can continue providing timely emergency medical and fire response and wildfire protection and prevention. We greatly thank the community for their support and participation,” said Alameda County Fire Department Chief William McDonald.
Inadequate funding and aging facilities, including two stations over 50 years old and two over 70 years old, have forced the Alameda County Fire Department to consolidate and close a fire station. Measure X will upgrade existing fire stations and equipment in unincorporated Alameda County communities that rely on the emergency medical lifesaving services, fast 911 response, wildfire protection and disaster response services provided by Alameda County firefighters in local stations.
Measure X includes Independent Citizens Oversight, independent audits, and provides that no money can be spent on salaries, benefits, or pensions of Fire Department employees. By law, all funds are required to be spent locally.
The ACFD is dedicated to maintaining and promoting the safety, health, and well-being of the communities it serves and protects, and to delivering the highest quality of emergency services.
After gathering feedback from a thousand residents living in the unincorporated area of Alameda County, the County Board of Supervisors unanimously placed Measure X, the Alameda County Fire Department’s Fire Safety Bond, on the November 3, 2020 ballot to address inadequate fire facilities in the unincorporated communities we serve. If enacted, Measure X will help maintain life-saving services, improve emergency communications and response, and enhance wildfire and disaster protection services residents in our unincorporated communities rely on.
Inadequate funding has affected our unincorporated communities, including the closure of one local fire station. Nearly 80% of our local 911 calls are for medical emergencies like heart attacks, strokes, and car accidents. If enacted, Measure X funding will be used to upgrade fire stations in our unincorporated communities so that we can ensure efficiency when responding to emergencies. Measure X will upgrade aging and outdated fire stations that are at least 30 years old, including two that are over 70 years old.
If enacted Measure X will repair and replace aging fire stations to assist in:
- Reducing 911 emergency fire and medical response times
- Enhancing wildfire protection and disaster response
The estimated cost of Measure X is 1.6 cents per $100 of assessed value.
For more information about Measure X please see our Frequently Asked Questions and visit the additional links on this page. If you have any questions, feel free to call my office at: 510-632-3473.
Sincerely,
William L. McDonald
Alameda County Fire Department Chief
Related Documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Ballot Measure
Board Resolution
Community Presentation
Mailer 1
Mailer 2
Mailer 3
Después de recopilar la opinión de mil residentes que viven en el área no incorporada del Condado de Alameda, la Junta de Supervisores del Condado colocó unánimemente la Medida X (Measure X), el Bono de Seguridad contra Incendios del Departamento de Bomberos del Condado de Alameda, en la votación del 3 de noviembre de 2020 para abordar las inadecuadas instalaciones contra incendios en las comunidades no incorporadas en las que servimos. Si se promulga, la Medida X ayudará a mantener los servicios de salvamento, mejorar las comunicaciones y la respuesta de emergencia, y mejorar los servicios de protección contra incendios forestales y desastres en los que confían los residentes de nuestras comunidades no incorporadas.
La financiación inadecuada ha afectado a nuestras comunidades no incorporadas, incluido el cierre de una estación de bomberos local. Casi el 80 % de nuestras llamadas locales al 911 son para emergencias médicas como ataques cardíacos, accidentes cerebrovasculares y accidentes automovilísticos. Si se promulga, los fondos de la Medida X se utilizarán para mejorar las estaciones de bomberos en nuestras comunidades no incorporadas para que podamos garantizar la eficiencia en la respuesta a las emergencias. La Medida X mejorará las estaciones de bomberos viejas y obsoletas que tengan al menos 30 años, incluidas dos que tienen más de 70 años.
Si se promulga, la Medida X reparará y reemplazará las estaciones de bomberos antiguas para poder:
- Reducir los tiempos de respuesta ante emergencias médicas y de incendios del 911
- Mejorar la protección contra los incendios forestales y la respuesta ante los desastres
El costo estimado de la Medida X es de 1.6 centavos por cada $100 de valor estimado.
Para obtener más información sobre la Medida X, consulte nuestras Preguntas frecuentes y visite los enlaces adicionales en esta página. Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en llamar a mi oficina al: 510-632-3473.
Atentamente,
William L. McDonald
Jefe del Departamento de Bomberos del Condado de Alameda
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