San Anselmo to seek bids for fire station renovation

San Anselmo is preparing to embark on a $3.6 million renovation of Ross Valley Fire Station 20 on Butterfield Road.

The Town Council voted unanimously on Oct. 22 to authorize staff to seek proposals and execute a contract. The station, which was built over Sleepy Hollow Creek in 1959, is considered in need of repairs and upgrades for windows, siding and the roof.

Town staff has estimated construction costs at nearly $3.17 million. Bids may include an additional $190,000 for a storage room, generator and rolling gate. The project also includes the construction of a temporary living space at a cost of $163,000.

The Sleepy Hollow Fire Protection Authority has committed $1.5 million. The town also will use $1.65 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and $250,000 from the town building maintenance fund.

The San Anselmo station will need to accommodate additional staff. The Ross Valley Fire Department is changing its fire engine staffing model from two people to three, and its fire station in Ross is set to close by 2025.

Erica Freeman, a town building official, said the site is being prepared for the installation of temporary housing.

“We are coordinating everything in the next two weeks,” she said.

Construction work that does not effect Sleepy Hollow Creek is scheduled to begin in January. Most of the renovation work will commence on June 15, 2025.

The station has two dorm bedrooms, a bathroom, an office, a kitchen and a living room. A fire truck bay is adjacent to the living area and also used as a gym.

Fire Chief Dan Mahoney said the renovation is essential for providing living and work space for when firefighters are reassigned from the Ross station.

“Our membership is very excited that this is a possibility,” he said. “It’s become more of a reality.”

Mahoney assured the council that construction is not expected to affect service.

“We did not want this construction project to get in the way of any of our response times,” he said.

The renovation will adhere to town municipal code requirements on flood protection, mandating that the living space be 2 feet higher than a potential flood elevation for Sleepy Hollow Creek.

The new fire station living area will be approximately 2,400 square feet. The renovation will lift the floor and roof, widen rooms and provide modern amenities.

The renovation coincides with plans by Fairfax to pursue a $1.5 million upgrade of Ross Valley Fire Station 21 at 10 Park Road. The station, built in 1974, is also considered outdated.