If PG&E doesn’t install a critical electrical transformer by the end of October, Piedmont’s Community Pool project is at risk for further delays said project manager George Sanen at Monday’s City Council meeting. The pool complex is scheduled to be complete in February, but a delay by PG&E would push that timeline out and complicate the testing and commissioning phase of the project (chemistry balancing, electrical, plumbing and mechanical test and balancing, final LEED certification, staff move-in and fit-out, and final agency approvals). “Everything hinges on how fast we get that transformer,” Sanen said. “If we get it in October or November we can start testing immediately.”
Sanen said the transformer request to PGE was made in early July, and that an initial response from PG&E indicated they would set a schedule date by August 21. That date has come and gone with no further information, despite attempts by the city and the project team to get answers. “They have the transformer, it’s just a matter of getting on their schedule. It is that simple.” he said. The facility needs to be powered up by Oct. 28 or else it becomes a day-to-day delay and added expense for the city.
“Because of their status as a public entity .. and because they don’t have constituents, they are historically always slow,” the city attorney said when asked by Councilmember Betsy Andersen if there was any recourse for the city if it incurs costs due to PG&E’s delay. “There is no recourse.” The city said it is working all angles to get PG&E to schedule the installation.
According to the city, as of August 30 the project is estimated at 76% complete, but the remaining to-dos are all “critical path” activities, which means a problem with any one of them could set the project back.
The city says approximately 86% of the amended contingency has been used as part of approved change order requests to address various unforeseen conditions, as well as clarification of design issues. The project continues to be within the revised budget, the city said.
Keeping tabs on Mountain View pool project to inform Piedmont’s
Mountain View began construction on its own all-electric pool facility in May 2022 and that community is still waiting for it to open. Piedmont has been tracking that project’s progress and has been learning from their experience. The complexity of operating the state-of-the-art complex — one that relies on stringing together multiple heat pumps and having them operate in tandem with valves and pressure gauges and controls — has set that project back by almost one year. Sanen has said that while the projects are not exactly the same, they are similar enough to serve as a guide for Piedmont. Connectivity of all the systems is a challenge for Mountain View, Sanen said, and they were working on a regular basis to learn about and anticipate any issues with regard to testing and inspections and conditioning. (You can read the Mountain View Voice’s latest reporting on that project HERE.)
Sanen said he doesn’t expect weather to create any project delays and that closing up the facility’s main building will enable the crews to work on interior projects through the winter season. Rain might impact the digging out of the smaller pool, he said, if the soil gets too saturated.
Councilmembers said they would like to see more risk management documentation, and to better understand how the delays with Mountain View relate to Piedmont. City Manager Rosanna Bayon Moore said they would include risk management documentation in their next update and report to council.
Construction progress to date
In its report to Council, the city said the following tasks have been completed this last quarter:
• Shotcrete of competition swimming pool.
• Installation of firewater and domestic water pipelines
• Installation of building insulation
• Installation of Dens glass at all building facades
• Installation of electrical conduits, panels and electrical room equipment
• Roof coverage on deck and ramp
• Rough grading of competition pool deck and terrace
In the upcoming quarter, the following tasks are anticipated to be underway:
• Offsite sidewalk and curb and gutter.
• EBMUD water service installation
• Paving of roadway
• Solar panel installation
• Building exterior finishes
• Installation of swimming pool tile
• Installation of insulation, drywall, tile in building exterior
• Completion of bioswale area
• Installation of PG&E transformer
Introduction of new aquatics supervisor
Piedmont’s Recreation Director Chelle Putzer announced the hiring of Paula Cooper-Tipton as the city’s new aquatics supervisor. Cooper-Tipton previously served as the recreation program coordinator for the city of Richmond, overseeing the Richmond Plunge and the city’s Swim Center for eight years. She also worked in a variety of roles for the YMCA of the East Bay and started her aquatics career as a camp lifeguard. Cooper-Tipton started work on Aug. 12.
