Library and Community Services
DATE: July 11, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
LaShonda White, Deputy City Manager
Daniel Chavarria, Director of Public Works
Patrick Seals, Project Manager I
Josef Munoz, CIP Manager
Subject:
Reappropriate allocated ARPA Funding to complete the
Booker T. Anderson Community Center heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) rebuild
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The $500,000 funding allocation necessary to support the HVAC rebuild is currently available in the FY 2023-24
ARPA budget (AR234). There is no impact to the General
Fund.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
June 20, 2023
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
There exists a gap in the funding available to complete the Booker T. Anderson Community Center (BTA CC)
HVAC renovation and rebuild. Currently, there is
$500,000 allocated in ARPA funding that is assigned to
the Richmond Museum HVAC project. However, the work
at the Richmond Museum has not begun and there is a
current need for funding to complete the BTA CC HVAC
project.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the reappropriation of $500,000 in allocated
American Rescue Plan Act funding to close the funding
gap to complete the Booker T. Anderson Community
Center heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) renovation project – Community Services Department
and Public Works Department (LaShonda White 510-
620-6828/Daniel Chavarria 510-620-6639).
AGENDA
REPORT
DISCUSSION:
Background
As part of the Fiscal Year 2021-22 budget process, the City Council approved $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) work at the Main Library, Nevin Community Center, Recreation Complex, and the Richmond Museum (Figure 1). The ARPA funds for the Main Library project are obligated to the renovation project, and the HVAC design work at the Nevin Community Center and Recreation Complex has already commenced. The HVAC improvement work on the Richmond Museum has not begun. Therefore, City staff is recommending reappropriating the $500,000 allocated for the Richmond Museum HVAC project to support the HVAC project at the Booker T. Anderson Community Center (BTA CC), as there is a current gap in the funding to complete the renovation and rebuild project.
Figure 1: ARPA Budget Allocation
The BTA CC was built in 1971-1972 in Booker T. Anderson Park (also known as Eastshore Park) at 960 South 47th Street in Richmond. Only minimal interior finish modifications, structure repairs, and equipment replacement have occurred since the community center's initial construction. There have been no substantial alterations or additions to the structure, including the HVAC system.
The community center was severely damaged by a fire in November 2020.
Approximately 3,800 square feet of the structure were damaged by fire, water, and smoke, necessitating temporary shoring of structural components and removal of all interior building finishes. An additional 2,200 square feet of smoke damage necessitated the removal of most internal building finishes including a portion of the HVAC system and duct work.
The HVAC system, which was damaged by the fire, is being rebuilt. The eastern wing of the building was not affected by the fire, but the HVAC system has reached the end of its useful life and is not fully operational. The present system will be integrated with the new HVAC system. Additional funding is required to replace the east mechanical system, which includes but is not limited to, demo of old units, installation of new mechanical equipment and duct work, and rigging.
Although there is a current $500,000 ARPA allocation approved for the Richmond Museum HVAC improvements, it is strongly recommended that those funds be used instead to support closing the gap to complete the BTA CC renovation. This funding will allow for quicker re-opening and renewal of service offerings at the center and for the community.