TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Keith Stahley, City Manager
FROM: Josh Eggleston, Chief Financial Officer
SUBJECT:
title
Transfer of appropriations within the City’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget to fund improvements to five fire station bays exhaust systems.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance; Safe and Healthy Community; Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure.
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SUMMARY:
summary
The Facilities Division of the Enterprise Services Department identified a needed upgrade to five fire station bays to improve exhaust diesel fume removal. Although some modifications were made to existing HVAC systems to prevent fumes entering living quarters, these attempts have been unsuccessful. In December, staff proposed to the Bond Oversight Steering Committee use of Salem Safety and Livability bond dollars to install fresh air intake and exhaust system improvements to mediate the fumes. The Committee instead recommended use of General Fund contingency dollars for this improvement.
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council adopt Resolution No. 2025-2 creating a mid-year project and authorizing a transfer of $130,000 in appropriations within the City’s FY 2025 budget for unanticipated expenses?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2025-2 creating a mid-year project and authorizing a transfer of $130,000 in appropriations within the City’s FY 2025 budget for unanticipated expenses.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
FOR: Transfer of authority for Facilities Division to perform capital improvements for fire station bays
FROM: General Fund, Non Departmental, Contingencies, 101-60961000-61110, $130,000
TO: General Fund, Non Departmental, Transfers, 101-60961000-62110, $130,000
ADD: Capital Improvements Fund, Constr-Facilities Projects, Interfund transfers-Gen fund money, 255-60902000-39105, $130,000
ADD: Capital Improvements Fund, Constr-Facilities Projects, Other professional services, 255-60902000-52670, $130,000
Half of the City’s ten fire stations (Stations 2, 3, 4, 6, and 9) have no mechanical means for exhausting carcinogen-containing diesel fumes from the fire apparatus bays. The insufficient exhausting results in diesel fumes entering dorm and living quarters at these locations. Modifications were made to the living quarters’ HVAC systems to create positive pressure to prevent fumes from going inside but these efforts have been unsuccessful.
Remediation includes installing fresh air intake / exhaust systems controlled by CO2 sensors and adding timers to the bays at each location. After installation, Facilities staff would perform positive pressure testing to confirm no residual exhaust fumes are being brought into the living quarters. 3rd party air quality testing would also occur. The estimated total for installation at these five locations is $130,000.
The other five fire station locations (Stations 1, 5, 7, 10, and 11) were either built with sufficient systems or have already been upgraded with systems providing better air flow.
In December 2024, staff initially requested permission from the Bond Oversight Steering Committee to use Safety and Livability bond funding on this project as there are current savings from the Fire equipment purchases and it is an eligible use of bond dollars. However, as future bond project expenses are less certain further out in the spend down plan, the Committee felt it appropriate to reserve those dollars for outlined bond projects and use General Fund contingency for this project instead.
Approval of this action will result in the creation of the project and the financial action to transfer General Fund contingency budget authority and dollars into the Capital Improvements Fund (construction) to perform the work.
BACKGROUND:
Oregon State budget law allows the City Council to approve a transfer of appropriations from General Fund contingency to another fund when a specific need is identified.
Kelli Blechschmidt
Management Analyst II
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 2025-2