John Gaccione

Date: 11/12/2022
Subject: Jim Watt’s Plan
From: The Ad hoc Design Committee

What level of design services would you think $5,000 buys from an architectural firm?

LCA Architects is a 30-person East Bay planning and design services firm. Jim Watt directed the firm to look at the existing architectural/structural construction documents for the Public Safety building remodel and determine if they can fit the Police and Fire Departments into theremodel. Jim apparently used his own money to pay for the study.

Those of us who have experience with architectural retrofitting and upgrading of existing structures are aware of the amount of time and money these projects require. Experience tells me that for $5,000 you will not get a set of “plans” as so many of the SKF folks keep repeating. Most likely it will be a package of exploratory schematic sketches, preliminary programing
layouts and basic space locations. Miles away from a construction document package.

My understanding of how LCA Architects got both the Police and Fire Departments to fit into the PSB remodel is by excluding space for the administration staff and decontamination equipment for the fire fighters. The admin staff would have to go somewhere else. It is not clear to me how the decontamination problem is to be resolved. I guess that will be someone
else’s problem.

Since the winning SKF slate of Kensington Fire protection District Board candidates have wholeheartedly embraced Jim Watt’s scheme, it now remains to be seen how they intend to implement Jim’s plan. Which brings up another interesting consideration for the KFPD Board.

Julie Stein won the most votes, which traditionally means she would become the president once again of the KFPD Board. As president she would be responsible for presiding over the board meetings, managing the agendas along with the general manger and assigning members to committees. Julie has served as president of the board in prior years so folks are familiar with
her strengths and weaknesses.

Hopefully her background in mechanical engineering will serve her well, while her inclination to get lost deep in the weeds of arcane factoids may slow things down a bit. The biggest problem area for her is in her four years as president she has gone through two general managers. To add to her problems, the current GM has also resigned. Not good signs for the future.

We wish for her the wisdom of Solomon and the patience of Job. Can I get an affirmation?

“Time Changes Everything.” (Bob Wills/Tommy Duncan)

Note: Satire alert: Contents have not been approved by the SKF’s “Thought Leaders”.