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Friday, August 9, 2013

Earthquake Safety & Emergency Response Bond - ESER 2

SFPD's Forensic Services Division and Traffic Company are looking for support for a $400M Earthquake Safety & Emergency Response Bond - ESER2 measure that would see the building at 1995 Evans Ave (at Toland) demolished and replaced with a new crime lab.  Many thanks to the Bayview SFPD for supplying the following information.

Property and Project Information
• Address: 1995 Evans Avenue
• Zoning: PDR would require conditional use
• 4 story building, 105,000 gsf
• 235 Employees (FSD-13; TC-104)
• 2 story Parking structure, 47,000 gsf
o 110 Motorcycles
o 89 Staff & City vehicles
o 25 evidence vehicle parking
ESER2 Bond Budget

Projects/Programs    Cost (million)
Auxiliary Water Supply System $70
Neighborhood Fire Stations $70
District Police Stations $30
Office of Chief Medical Examiner $65
Forensic Services Division & Traffic Company $165
Total $400

Forensic Services Division
• Forensic Laboratories
• Laboratory Support Spaces
• Crime Scene Investigation
• Storage
• Building Support
• Administration
Traffic Company
• Station Command
• Traffic Company
• Patrol Equipment & Security
• Building Support

FAQs:

Why do we need a Forensic Services Division (FSD) and Traffic Company (TC)?
The Forensic Services is a Division of the San Francisco Police Department’s Investigating Bureau (131 employees) with forensic testing laboratory (aka crime lab) that performs vital services to the community such as examination of the evidence, investigation of crime scenes, and providing expert testimony to support criminal cases in the court of law. Traffic Company (104 employees) provides traffic enforcement, accident investigation and education.

The functions of the FSD office encompass activities such as: crime scene investigation, finger printing, composite sketches, DNA analysis, analysis of firearms including ballistics, and other forms of evidence. It also provides identification work, acts as expert witnesses in court, and can contribute to public health by identifying early health risks, and responding efficiently during a large scale emergency.

The Traffic Company provides road traffic enforcement, accident investigation and education. Road traffic control involves directing vehicular and pedestrian traffic around construction zones, accidents or other road disruptions, thus ensuring the safety of emergency response teams, construction workers, and the general public.

How do these facilities function after an emergency?
The Forensic Services Division and Traffic Company each play major roles in the event of major disaster, such as a significant earthquake, or other major disruptive event. These facilities are where emergency response efforts are assembled, organized, and deployed.

For this critical function to reliably occur without compromise, a new FSD&TC is required to provide a seismically safe structure, and the appropriate work environments to support emergency response capability of the FSD and TC.

What are the benefits of relocating Forensic Services Division and Traffic Company to a new facility?

  • Provide continuous, reliable services
  • Capacity to efficiently enhance the processing of caseloads of the FSD laboratory to produce
  • timely results for victims of crimes and for the judicial system
  • Ensure that the work of the FSD meets needed national accreditation
  • A modern facility to accommodate evolving practices and technologies
  • Save money as we address needed repairs and upgrades before inflation make them more
  • expensive in the future
  • Expedite City recovery after a major disaster, returning San Francisco to normalcy as quickly
  • as possible


What will happen if we do not relocate Forensic Services Division and Traffic Company?
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) predicts that there is a 63% chance of a 6.7 or greater magnitude earthquake striking the Bay Area by the year 2036. Current facilities at the Hall of Justice and at the Hunters Point Shipyard are likely to have a major structural damage and become non- operational after a major earthquake.

How will the City pay for this and how much will it cost?
The City’s Capital Planning Committee is requesting the Mayor and Board of Supervisors to approve a $400 million General Obligation (GO) Bond Budget Bond measure, called Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond (ESER2), for submittal to the voters on the June 2014 ballot. The current total project cost estimate is $165 million.

GO Bond Budget
Projects/Programs                                              Cost (million)
Auxiliary Water Supply System                               $70
Neighborhood Fire Stations                                     $70
District Police Stations                                             $30
Office of Chief Medical Examiner                           $65
Forensic Services Division & Traffic Company      $165
Total                                                                        $400

If passed, when can I expect to see construction?
Design of the project will resume September 2014 and construction is estimated to start in 2016.

What are the accountability standards?
The Earthquake Safety and Emergency Response Bond (ESER2) will have accountability standards in place including:
  • Reports to the Citizens General Obligation Oversight Committee (CGOBOC) on a quarterly basis
  • Reports on a monthly basis in regard to budget, schedule and scope aspects, posted to the ESER website; additional transparency through other City reviews, audits, and reports
Where can I go for more information?
For more information please call Rachel Gordon at (415) 554-6045.

h/t R. Davis

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