Commission approves fire stations, BMX improvements

The Sarasota County Commission gave the go-ahead for two projects at today’s workshop.

Fire Stations

The fire station program to build two new stations and rebuild two old ones has been in the works since 2009; however the budget restraints of the economic recession put the project on hold for several years. However, the project was allowed to continue this year; the new fire station at Twin Lakes broke ground in June.

The program’s initial budget approval in 2009 to actual implementation now, however, did not account for increased construction costs. All four stations will cost more than their original budgets, and staff recommended approval of the additional costs needed to make the stations efficient and functional.

The original projected budget for all four stations was $18.8 million when 2009 construction costs were used. Staff identified a 13% increase in costs, which brought the budget up to $21.3 million.

“Budgets are decided on years before a shovel hits the ground,” said Isaac Brownman, Public Works director.

Commissioner Nora Patterson said she understood that projects end up costing more than originally projected.

“Are you making sure the stations aren’t twice as elaborate as necessary?” she said.

Brownman told her that one reason the stations were expensive is because the design is chosen with a 50-year lifespan in mind, which is costly at the start but means less maintenance later.

The board unanimously approved the budget amendment of $2.47 million, and the contract amendment for Station 17 at University Park for a guaranteed maximum price of $4.39 million.

“We need to get these built,” Commissioner Joe Barbetta said. “It’s a public safety issue.”

BMX Facility Improvements

According to county staff, the BMX track on 17th Street and Tuttle Avenue doesn’t meet the standards for a higher level of BMX competition.

Currently the budget for the facility is $1.7 million. Staff recommended approval of $2.45 million budget, which would bring the track up to international and Olympic standards with an 8-meter ramp, electronic starting gates and other improvements. The opening of the track to international events would create a projected $41.6 million in economic impact.

Two funding sources for the increased costs would come from an $800,000 loan from the Tourist Development Tax for Beach Renourishment and $708,295 from the North Sarasota Parks Impact Fee fund which is a source of money the county Parks and Recreation department can use when parks expand capacity.

Chairman Charles Hines expressed his support for the facility itself; however he didn’t think the facilities around the track, both parking and park amenities like bathrooms, were ready to support an international event.

“I don’t want international people coming here and not being able to have a place to park,” Hines said. “I want it to work, I want it to be a prize and jewel of Sarasota County, but it’s not there yet.”

Nicole Rissler, director of sports for the Sarasota County Sports Commission, said that a nearby parking lot used for the baseball fields could be used; however, staff had not laid out an official plan for event parking.

The $2.5 million option was approved by the board, with the contingencies that staff would come back to the board with a better plan for parking and a definitive answer that the funding sources were eligible to be allocated to the project.

“This is an expanding tent,” Patterson said. She said she didn’t think the commission should spend any more than the $2.45 million on the facility.