Brief #2

Planned vs. Actual: four public-safety buildings

By J Gonzales. Records last checked: Wed, Oct 14, 2026.

San José is building fire stations and a police training center with Measure T, the 2018 public-safety bond. Here's what the City first planned for four of them, and where each one stands today, in the City's own words.

How to read this. The City's 2019-20 Adopted Budget in Brief (p. 11) listed each project among "Major Projects to be Completed Over the Next Five Years," by fiscal year. Those were planning targets, not contract dates. A City fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30.

Fire Station 8 (601 E. Santa Clara St.)

Fire Station 32 (1138 Olinder Ct.)

  • First planning target: first listed among "Major Projects to be Completed Over the Next Five Years" in FY 2023-24. (Budget in Brief, p. 11)
  • Date changes: Measure T reports moved the expected completion date later three times: fall 2024 (May 2022) to spring 2026 (Mar 2025), to July 2026 (Mar 2026), to September 2026 (Sept 8, 2026, file 26-1002). The March 2026 report cited a delay in getting the generator.
  • Separate milestone: the Fire Department says the station has reached substantial completion, with punch-list items and the vehicle gate left. It expects the temporary occupancy certificate in October 2026. (Fire Dept memo, PSFSS Committee Oct 15, 2026, item (d)3)
  • Opening: the 2026-27 budget deferred activating the station for two years, to 2028-29, to help close a General Fund shortfall. The City says it will reconsider that in next year's budget. The Annual Report on the Oct 20 Council agenda proposes a partial activation in October 2026, to address building security and run the new mechanical and electrical systems. (Sept 8, 2026 report, file 26-1002 | Annual Report, file 26-1076)
  • Money: $17.0 million in the City's initial 2019-20 Measure T budget; $22.09 million in the FY 2024-25 table. (file 26-185) The March 2025 report says the construction contract went to Gonsalves & Stronck on June 18, 2024, for $12,867,777. (Mar 3, 2025 report, file 25-282)

Fire Station 36 (Capitol Expwy. & Tuers Rd.)

  • First planning target: first listed among "Major Projects to be Completed Over the Next Five Years" in FY 2023-24. (Budget in Brief, p. 11)
  • Design hold: in 2023 the City put the station's design on hold "as staff focuses on progressing other public safety projects." The same report said the station was fully funded, but staff worried there might not be enough money to finish it as cost estimates for the remaining projects rose "due to construction price escalation." (Sept 25, 2023 report, file 23-1379)
  • Today: the station is still in design. Two September 2026 City memos describe two different milestones:
  • Money: $17.0 million in the City's initial 2019-20 Measure T budget; $18.04 million in the FY 2024-25 table. (file 26-185)
  • Added site work: City staff estimate $4.5 million in added site work (fill, a retaining wall, moving trail and vehicle paths, and environmental mitigation). The Annual Report recommends $1.0 million now and the rest in a later capital budget or the construction award. Council has not acted on it yet. It is part of the City Manager's Annual Report, item 3.3 (file 26-1076) on the Oct 20 Council agenda. (Annual Report, file 26-1076)

Police Training and Academy Facility (300 Enzo Dr.)

  • First planning target: "Police Training Center Relocation" was first listed among "Major Projects to be Completed Over the Next Five Years" in FY 2022-23. (Budget in Brief, p. 11)
  • First staff estimate: a June 2021 status report expected completion at the end of 2023. The 2023 contract award memo later expected fall 2025. (June 2, 2021 report, file 21-1392 | Nov 13, 2023 memo, file 23-1660)
  • Today: still under construction. The City now expects it to be ready for City use (beneficial use) in December 2026, citing "unforeseen conditions encountered during construction." (Sept 8, 2026 report, file 26-1002) The 2026-27 budget also deferred activating the training center for two years, until 2028-29, to be reconsidered next year. The Annual Report proposes a partial activation in January 2027, for building security and to run the new systems. (Sept 8, 2026 report | file 26-1076)
  • Money: $45.0 million in the City's initial 2019-20 Measure T budget; $59.04 million in the FY 2024-25 table. (file 26-185) Other City reports use different bases: a September 2023 report said about $68.3 million was allocated for the project after a $9.8 million increase to match the engineer's estimate for the full build-out. (Sept 25, 2023 report, file 23-1379)

At a glance

Project First target Latest target or status Budget, 2019-20 → FY 2024-25
Fire Station 8 FY 2022-23 Done: occupancy certificate July 21, 2026 $16.5M → $20.39M
Fire Station 32 FY 2023-24 Beneficial use Sept 2026 (Public Works); occupancy certificate Oct 2026 (Fire Dept) $17.0M → $22.09M
Fire Station 36 FY 2023-24 Construction completion early 2029 (Public Works); substantial completion winter 2028 (Fire Dept) $17.0M → $18.04M
Police Training Center FY 2022-23 Beneficial use Dec 2026 $45.0M → $59.04M

Sources for the table: 2019-20 Adopted Budget in Brief, p. 11; Measure T status report, Sept 8, 2026 (file 26-1002); Measure T oversight committee report, Feb 9, 2026 (file 26-185); Fire Dept memo, PSFSS Committee Oct 15, 2026, item (d)3.

About the money. Budget figures are from the oversight committee's FY 2024-25 table. Other City reports use different bases. Costs grew as scope expanded and construction prices rose. For example, Station 32 was expanded from a one-company to a two-company station, which took an extra $3 million, and the training center moved to a full build-out. (Mar 3, 2025 report, file 25-282 | Sept 25, 2023 report, file 23-1379)

Spot an error? Reply or leave a comment. I'll fix it and note the correction at the top.

— J Gonzales

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