In the middle of February, an invitation dropped into my mailbox
for St. Patrick’s Day. It wasn’t for the normal type of St. Paddy’s
Day party, it was a building dedication. I was invited to the
dedication of our new police station, which we now all know as the
C.J. Laizure Building.
In the middle of February, an invitation dropped into my mailbox for St. Patrick’s Day. It wasn’t for the normal type of St. Paddy’s Day party, it was a building dedication. I was invited to the dedication of our new police station, which we now all know as the C.J. Laizure Building.
It was a fun day, with speeches, Cavalry Cops, bagpipes, and even a prayer or two (eek!). After the festivities, tours of the new building were given. I made it a point to seek out Assistant Chief Lanny Brown and offer my congratulations, because I know how hard he worked on everything about the new building. His efforts began in 1996, and 11 years later, it finally opened.
I was touched when Lanny led me to the dedication plaque at the building’s entrance, as he had seen fit to include my name, as well as my colleague Charlie Morales’, as councilmembers from 2001-2005.
It’s amazing how much controversy can be generated for a simple work of brick, stone and concrete. After several years of agonizing, revamping, changing direction and making many decisions to construct the building, it was approved.
It now appears, what with the negotiations with the general contractor, S.J. Amoroso, the final ticket will come in at a bit higher than $30 million. Several cost overruns are still under dispute as to who will pay. Let’s hope it doesn’t go to litigation, but I wouldn’t bet against that.
Now, looking back, I have some thoughts.
It was my motion from the dais to approve construction, which passed 7-0 without additional debate; the project was debated for many years. We all knew it was going to happen, and everything that was going to be said had been said.
Occasionally, when I see something reported in this paper about city business in which I played a part, I remember what my vote was and wish I had it back to do again. The new police station is such a vote.
The estimates for the building started out about $18 to $19 million, for a much more substantial, two-story building. The architect’s estimate ballooned to $23 million when some features were added, and that estimate was followed by the general contractor’s estimate of $26 million.
There was intense artillery fire from many, including this paper, over that amount. This was justified, of course, because council was, after all, spending everybody’s money. So, we sent it back for a revamp, and one story was taken out.
If I had this vote to cast again, in retrospect, I would have voted to go ahead with the original plan at the $26 million figure. Why? Well, we all know how construction costs get out of hand in our personal lives, whether we’re remodeling a kitchen or building a new house. It just does; it’s the way of the world.
And during the revamping for economy, we were blindsided by a large increase in construction materials, primarily concrete and steel. The new building, as a glance will tell, uses these in plenitude. Also, the city’s costs for labor are bound up to the federal “prevailing wage” legislation, and labor certainly never gets any cheaper.
Ergo, due to waffling, and I certainly was a party to that, now to my regret, we wound up with a lot less building for a lot more money. I suppose that, considering the superheated building and real estate markets in this area, I should have anticipated that, and I didn’t. It’s a lesson learned on going ahead with what you think is right despite the criticism of others.
On a related issue, I am deeply saddened that CALPERS regulations, apparently as Byzantine as the IRS code, do not allow former Assistant Chief Lanny Brown to continue to shepherd the transition from the old police station to the new.
Brown may not work on the transition for 60 days, even as a volunteer. I am hesitant to use the word “obsession” about Lanny’s work (grin), but if it places his pension in jeopardy, who really expects him to do that? Knowing Lanny as I have for many years, I am firmly convinced that, absent these confusing and conflicting regulations, he’d be there with sleeves rolled up to make it happen, paycheck or not. And it is entirely to our city’s detriment that he cannot do so.
So, the C.J. Laizure building is done, except for the move-in. Someone predicted that it would stand for 50 years. I thought, sure looks like it.
Let’s hope so, and let’s also hope that we retain the institutional memory of what delays and proposed revamps can do to good intentions.
