Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a purchase resolution that would direct additional money toward the $4.1 million renovation of Fire Station No. 5 located along Commencement Bay.

Last year, city council awarded a $411,105 contract to Reid Middleton for design and permitting work on the project. According to documents prepared for the council meeting, the additional funds would pay for Reid Middleton services related to design, permitting, and bidding.

Approximately $20,000 will be used to pay for “‘Ground Improvement Design’ developing a compaction grouting program, including engineering analyses, incorporating the results in to the final report, developing construction plans and specifications. During the initial geotechnical analysis of the site it was discovered that the site is composed of fill material placed on top of tidal deposits. This creates a risk that during a seismic event the fill material will push offshore impacting the structures. To mitigate this compaction grouting will be used to densify the soils providing for better seismic performance of the structures.”

Approximately $26,000 will be used to pay for “mitigation and monitoring plans required for project permitting. The Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, the City of Tacoma, and the US Army Corps of Engineers have requested preparation of a mitigation plan to compensate for impacts from overwater structures. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service have requested preparation of a plan for acoustic monitoring and monitoring the presence of threatened engaged fish and wildlife species during construction activities.”

Finally, approximately $11,300 will be used to pay for “bidding services to support the competitive contractor selection process. Services will include attendance at pre-bid meeting, answering technical questions form contractors, and preparation of addendum.”

City council’s public safety and human services committee recommended approving the contract amendment last month. That recommendation was forwarded to the full city council for final approval.

The city is tentatively scheduled to advertise for competitive bids in July, award a construction contract in August, and begin construction in September. However, permitting and fish window requirements may require construction of the project to start in August 2013, according to city staff.

When the project is completed, the station, located on a crumbling, 32-year-old pier at 3301 Ruston Way, will include a joint police and fire maritime operations center, additional moorage for fire boats and other emergency vessels, a building with expanded space for law enforcement, and structural fixes. The renovation is being paid for by using $3 million in bonds issued by the city three years ago, and $1,088,000 from a federal port security grant awarded last year.

Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote on the resolution during its meeting on Tues., May 15 at 5 p.m. in City Council Chambers on the first floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building, located 747 Market Street. Meetings are streamed live online at http://www.tvtacoma.com and broadcast live on TV Tacoma. For more information, visit http://www.cityoftacoma.org/Page.aspx?nid=256 .

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