Oakland CARES Act: Facility Resilience

The Department of Public Works / Bureau of Maintenance and Internal Services (BMIS) administered $2 million in federal CARES act funding. The funds were utilized to upgrade facility HVAC systems, relocate City offices, purchase equipment and supplies to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 and other associated or related viruses.

The Facility Resilience Program included physical assessments of City Facilities, modifications of work space and facilities to provide safe access to customers and safe and healthy work space for employees. CARES Act funding was utilized for HVAC system upgrades and replacements at critical facilities including; the Main Library, Dimond Branch Library, the MSC Building, OPD’s 911 Dispatch Center and the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

These improvements enabled better filtration, operation and system control to meet the recommended HVAC filtration and air exchange rates found to be effective in combatting the spread of COVID-19

Oakland Public Works completed the installation of sneeze barriers, foot traffic/ visitor control measures and equipment, purchased freestanding temperature and facial covering screening stations. The Cares Act funding was also used for the purchase of enhanced and specialized cleaning products, equipment and the implementation of enhanced decontamination and sanitizing procedures.

The program included the remodel of Hearing Room 2 in City Hall, which provides additional space for people attending Council and Committee meetings and the relocation of the Parking Citation Assistance Center suite from the 6^th floor to the ground floor street level of the 250 Dalziel Building eliminating the need to go into the 6th floor of the main building to pay a parking ticket .

A portion of the CARES Act funding was used to purchase hand sanitizing dispensers, sneeze barriers, self check free-standing temperature scanners, specialized cleaning and sanitizing equipment, i.e., electrostatic sprayers, UV sanitizers, bottle filler water dispensers. These funds were also used to purchase social distancing signage, stanchions, and furniture to ensure safe and healthy work space for employees

The Facility Resilience Program included the remodel of Hearing Room 2 in City Hall, this included the installation of a new dais and seating for audience and meeting attendees. The remodeled space allows for adequate social distancing in the building additional meeting and training space and overflow for participants of City Council and Commission Meetings held in City Hall.

CARES Act Funds were also utilized to relocate the Parking Citation Assistance Center from the 6^th floor to the ground floor level of the 250 Dalziel Building eliminating the need for customers to go inside of the 250 office building to the 6th floor to pay or dispute a parking ticket. The new suite was set up with a street level walk-in lobby, a waiting area, two payment windows, and two escalation windows to assist customers.

A self-help payment kiosk is also being installed on the exterior plaza side of the new Parking Citation Assistance Center to allow customers to pay their parking tickets without entering the building, or the need to interact or come in contact with anyone else.