To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Departmental
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Ferndale Fairgrounds Grandstands
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Hear an update from Public Works and Humboldt County Fair personnel regarding current status of the Ferndale Fairgrounds grandstands, and
2. Take appropriate action as required.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Unknown
DISCUSSION:
On Dec. 20, 2022, a large earthquake centered near Rio Dell caused damage to various structures and roads within the county. At the request of the Humboldt County Fair Association, Humboldt County personnel inspected the grandstand at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds in Ferndale. Based on the initial inspection of this facility and others, the county authorized the funding to retain a structural engineering firm, KPFF, to perform in-depth analysis of structures including the grandstands on April 18, 2023.
The structural engineering inspection determined that the building currently appears adequate to support vertical loads, but not lateral (seismic) loads of the type that need to be taken into account for occupant safety. Even though there is a limited window of time where the structure might be occupied, the risk of doing nothing and allowing occupation is not acceptable.
KPFF has produced a conceptual temporary shoring solution which may be able to be achieved by local contractors, if any are available to perform this work. If so, the county can put an agreement together with the contractor and have them work directly with KPFF to come up with a finalized plan. All of this work could be performed with an agreement signed under the emergency declaration. The goal for this work would be to stabilize the structure to an acceptable safety level for public occupancy with temporary shoring prior to the beginning of this year’s fair, which begins on Aug. 17, 2023, hence the need for this emergency meeting.
Additionally, other short-term options such as providing a protected safe zone around the facility and/or other methods to control and minimize any damage and the health and safety of the public if an earthquake should occur during the fair are still under examination. These options would not allow for public use of the structure during the fair but make areas closer to the grandstand available for use. Long-term recommendations regarding the facility have not yet been vetted.
Investigations and planning are ongoing but use of California’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) reimbursable funds to stabilize the structure may disallow reimbursement for future more permanent structural mitigation to the facility to bring it up to current code standards. Staff seeks general direction from the Board on which option to explore. This is a complex issue with many options available, and not all information is yet known.
As this earthquake damage far exceeds the Fair’s current available funding, funding options are also under exploration.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
To be eligible for future CalOES assistance in repair of these facilities in the event of future seismic damages, repair of damages documented to these buildings following the recent event will be required by the county. Rough estimate for temporary repair is estimated at $1 million. Rough estimates of the necessary repairs, without the benefit of full documentation put the full cost of repair at $2,327,150, with the 25% local share being $581,788. Due to the preliminary nature of these estimates, the values are likely to change once additional assessment and documentation occurs.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
None
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Framework.
Core Roles: Provide for and maintain infrastructure
New Initiatives: Facilitate public/private partnerships to solve problems
Strategic Plan: N/A
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Humboldt County Fair
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
N/A
ATTACHMENTS:
N/A
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: D-15
Meeting of: April 18, 2023
File No.: 23-483