TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Philippe Eskandar, City Manager
BY: Philippe Eskandar, City Manager
DATE: September 9, 2026
SUBJECT: REPORT ON EMERGENCY ACTIONS TAKEN TO
REPAIR/REMEDIATE FIRE STATION 91 AND REQUEST
FOR NECESSARY BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS AND TO EXTEND
EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT PURSUANT TO PUBLIC
CONTRACTS CODE SECTION 22050 AND SAN MARINO
MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 2.06.05(A)(8)
STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Efficient, Responsive, and Effective City Services
Fiscally Responsible and Transparent City Government
BACKGROUND
Fire Station 91, San Marino’s sole Fire Station is an essential public safety facility located within the City of San Marino that houses firefighting apparatus, emergency medical equipment, and fire personnel who provide emergency response services to the residents and businesses of the City. The facility is critical to the City's ability to deliver uninterrupted fire suppression and emergency medical response capabilities to the community.
City staff recently discovered that a long-term water leak within the Fire Station has caused significant and extensive water damage to the structure.
The damage includes deterioration of walls, flooring, electrical systems, and other building components critical to the continued safe operation of the fire station.
Fire Station 91, San Marino’s sole Fire Station is an essential public safety facility located within the City of San Marino that houses firefighting Tony Chou, Mayor
Calvin Lo, Vice Mayor
Hunter Chang, Council Member
John Chou, Council Member
Gretchen Shepherd Romey, Council Member
apparatus, emergency medical equipment, and fire personnel who provide emergency response services to the residents and businesses of the City. The facility is critical to the City's ability to deliver uninterrupted fire suppression and emergency medical response capabilities to the community.
City staff recently discovered that a long-term water leak within the Fire Station has caused significant and extensive water damage to the structure.
The damage includes deterioration of walls, flooring, electrical systems, and other building components critical to the continued safe operation of the fire station.
Upon discovery of the water damage, the City Manager, acting pursuant to the authority delegated under San Marino Municipal Code Section
04.03.02(A), proclaimed a public emergency in connection with the water damage at the Fire Station and authorized immediate actions to assess, remediate, and repair the damage. Section 02.06.05(A)(8) of the San Marino Municipal Code delegates to the City Manager the power to proclaim a public emergency, as defined in Public Contract Code Section 1102, to immediately take all actions directly required by the emergency, to procure needed goods, services, and public projects, and to contract for public projects without informal or formal bidding.
At the April 24, 2026, City Council meeting, the City Council unanimously approved Resolution No. R-26-08, ratifying the City Manager’s proclamation of emergency and authorizing emergency procurement of construction and other related services to repair/remediate Fire Station 91. That resolution and governing law require that a report on progress be provided at each Council meeting and a decision be made as to whether to extend the emergency proclamation to facilitate continued emergency procurement.
DISCUSSION
Since the Council’s action, staff have been working with the City’s insurer, the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA) and their designees to carry out the remediation and repair work. The following work is currently in various stages of progress:
- Executed and completed an initial contract with ServePro for initial response, assessment, and rental equipment. Final invoice is pending. - Executed and completed a contract with Enviro Check for a variety of biological testing services. Cost for services was $2,590.00. - Executed a contract with Mobile Modular for the rental of temporary office and housing facilities for the Fire Department personnel. The facilities are expected to be delivered to the Civic Center during the week of May 11th.
Current cost estimate is $44,245.51.
- Executed a contract with BluSky Restoration Contractors, LLC for insurance covered remediation and demolition work. Final cost is $423,780.65. - Negotiating a scope of work and contract with BluSky Restoration Contractors, LLC for repair work. Costs are unknown at this time. - Executed a contract with Griffin Structures for construction management services to oversee the work of BluSky Restoration Contractors, LLC. Current cost estimate is $58,721.
- The City’s Information Technology (IT) servicer SDI is fulfilling the various IT needs related to the move out of the Fire Station and into the temporary facilities. Costs are unknown at this time.
- Executed and completed a contract with Westnet for fire personnel alerting equipment installation. Current cost estimate is $18,651.06. - Executed a contract with The Lavatory for additional temporary shower and restroom trailer facilities for fire personnel. Current cost estimate is $9,265.88.
- Executed and completed a second contract with Enviro Check for asbestos testing services. Cost for services was approximately $900. - Executed and completed a contract with Olfati Design Group for the perpetration of architectural and structural engineering plans. Cost for services was $26,800.00
- Negotiated and preparing to execute a contract with SOCTEC for geotechnical and environmental testing related to the foundation, soils, and concrete work. Current cost estimate is $9,624.00.
Below is a summary table of the cost details above. If the cost is not listed, it is unknown or not finalized as of the date of this report.:
Provider Provider
Description
Insurance
Responsibility
City
Responsibility
ServPro Water damage
remediation
Enviro Check Environmental
testing $2,590.00
Mobile
Modular
Mobile housing and
office units $44,245.51
Blue Sky
Restoration
Mitigation,
demolition, moving,
etc.
$423,780.65
Blue Sky
Restoration Mold abatement $58,171.19
Griffin
Structures
Construction
management services $58,721.00
SDI Information
technology services
Westnet Response alerting
equipment services $18,651.06
The Lavatory Temporary restroom
facilities $9,265.88
EnviroCheck Environmental Testing $900.00
Olfati Design
Group
Architect and
engineering services $26,800.00
Control Fire &
Security Plumbing repairs $17,950.00
Blue Sky
Restoration Rebuilding
SOCOTEC
Geotechnical and
environmental
testing
$9,624.00
Running
Totals $594,578.10 $76,121.19
As of the writing of this report, permits have been issued for the foundation, structural, and framing work to commence in the fire station. That work is expected to begin the week of August 31st. Following the completion of the foundation and framing work, it is anticipated that subfloor and finished flooring should begin installation within the month of September. Once flooring is completed or simultaneously, drywall repairs will commence with cabinetry following. The contractor anticipates finish tilework to begin in October with an anticipated project completion the first week of November.
It is unknown at this time whether additional emergency procurements will be required for the restoration work at Fire Station 91, but staff anticipates having a better understanding in that regard as repair activity progresses and undertaking the standard procurement procedures will unnecessarily delay repair and remediation of Fire Station 91. Accordingly, it is recommended that the Council determine that the emergency action approved in Resolution No.
R-26-08 be continued to facilitate expeditious repair and restoration of the Fire Station.
Ongoing Review Requirements
Pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22050(c) and San Marino Municipal Code Section 02.06.05(A)(8), the City Council must review the emergency action at each regularly scheduled meeting and determine, by a four-fifths (4/5) vote, whether there is a need to continue the emergency action and whether that work should continue without the benefit of informal or formal bidding. The City Council shall terminate the emergency action at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant so that the remainder of the emergency action may be completed by giving notice for bids to let contracts. Staff will report to the City Council on the status of the emergency project at its next regularly scheduled meeting and at each regular meeting thereafter, as required by the Public Contract Code, until the repairs are completed.
Environmental Analysis
The emergency repairs to Fire Station 91 are categorically exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 (Existing Facilities) and Section 15269 (Emergency Projects).
FISCAL IMPACT & PROCUREMENT REVIEW
The full cost of the emergency repair work at Fire Station 91 is not yet known and will depend upon the scope of remediation required once a full assessment of the water damage has been completed. The City Manager will negotiate contracts with qualified contractors and vendors necessary to assess, remediate, and repair the damage. Even though there is no formal bid process required in emergency projects, the City Manager will make reasonable efforts to obtain competitive pricing where feasible and consistent with the urgency of the emergency. All contracts entered into pursuant to the Resolution shall be subject to applicable prevailing wage requirements. Staff will provide the City Council with regular updates on expenditures incurred pursuant to the Resolution at each regularly scheduled meeting.
While the total costs of the emergency repair work are unknown at this time, the City anticipates a significant portion to be covered by the City’s property insurance policies with the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority subject to the City’s coverage limits. At a minimum, the City expects to be responsible for the insurance policy’s deductible of $15,000. Expenses not covered by insurance will be paid for out of the City’s General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance (Reserves).
As of the date of this report, in addition to a few miscellaneous expenses, two invoices for work completed are the responsibility of the City and require budget appropriation to pay. The two invoices for mold abatement work from Blue Sky Restoration and plumbing repairs from Control Fire & Security are included as attachments to this report.
Staff recommend a FY 2026-27 budget adjustment of $100,000 to Account No. 394-34-4600-1004-Fire Station Improvements account and a budget adjustment of $100,000 to Account No. 103-34-4206-0000. This account requires a Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget adjustment appropriation of $100,000 to cover the two invoices and few miscellaneous expenses.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved as to form.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council receive the report of repair/remediation actions undertaken to date and extend the emergency by a 4/5 vote to facilitate expeditious restoration of Fire Station 91 and approve the necessary budget adjustments. If the City Council concurs with staff’s recommendation, an appropriate motion would be:
"I move to 1) receive and file the report of repair/remediation actions undertaken to date; 2) approve the FY 2026-27 budget adjustments needed; and 3) to extend the emergency action approved in Resolution No. R-26-08 to facilitate the expeditious restoration of Fire Station 91."
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution No. R-26-08
2. Blue Sky Restoration Mold Abatement Invoice
3. Control Fire & Security Plumbing Work Invoice