‘Fibrary’ contracts worth $8M come before Newport council

The new combination fire station-library in Corona del Mar, an off-and-on project for more than two years, could be on again this spring.

The Newport Beach City Council will consider awarding various contracts totaling about $8 million for the fire-library complex when it meets Tuesday.

City staff recommends Orange-based TELACU Construction Management Inc. receive the $6.7 million construction contract. Construction management, design and other support services contracts, plus contingency and agreements for the temporary fire station to serve the area while building is underway, are expected to total $8.3 million.

The Corona del Mar Branch Library and fire station were built separately but adjacent about 60 years ago at East Coast Highway and Marigold Avenue.

The fire station’s crew operates from a permanent single-wide trailer on site because the building doesn’t meet current code. Deferred maintenance including termite eradication and painting along with a lack of air conditioning show the library’s age, although the city has attempted some stopgap repairs.

The City Council approved a conceptual design for a new complex in 2015 and had planned to demolish and rebuild the facilities in 2017. But city leaders said early last year that with unfunded pension liabilities straining the city budget, the project could be postponed for five years.

An anticipated influx of developer fees reignited the project. Work could begin in April and take about a year.

The temporary station would be erected in a parking lot at the Oasis Senior Center, about a quarter-mile away.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the council will consider chipping in $363,000 for a new playfield at Newport Elementary School.

The project would be in partnership with Newport-Mesa Unified School District. The oceanfront field behind the school, 1327 W. Balboa Blvd., is a city park when school is not in session.

City staff recommends GMC Engineering Inc. of Tustin for the construction contract.

The new field is necessary as windblown “nuisance sand” chokes grass growth and creates uneven berms, according to a city staff report. The new field will be regraded and planted with sand-tolerant sod.

NMUSD will contribute $250,000 for the field, bringing the total cost to $613,000.

Tuesday’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Civic Center Drive.

hillary.davis@latimes.com

Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD