Logo courtesy of the City of Dixon

DIXON, CA (MPG) - At the Oct. 20 meeting, the Dixon City Council considered a continued contract with Rachel Ancheta as human resources director. 

Assistant City Manager Kate Zawadzki said Ancheta “has done good work for the city. She’s established a professionalism in the human resources department that has allowed us to move forward with a lot of our recruitments. Things have increased in speed substantially since Ms. Ancheta has been with us.”

Based on a salary market study, Zawadzki proposed a three-year contract for Ancheta, with an annual salary aligned with the market median at $211,803 and a 3 percent increase in September 2027 and another in 2028. 

The council voted unanimously to approve the contract. 

The council then considered a construction contract with Broward Builders, Inc. for the construction of Fire Station 82, which will be located at 653 Pitt School Road. 

Dixon Fire Chief Randy Shafer said this project has been in the works for many years, but it was delayed due to economic challenges. Now, after a re-design, the project is finally ready to move forward. 

Chief Shafer said the location was selected to maximize response time within the community – particularly to the southwest side of Dixon, which has seen continued development and expansion.

The new 7,504-square-feet facility will feature two drive-through apparatus bays, staff dormitory rooms, offices, a fitness room, a kitchen and dining area, day room and additional operational support spaces. 

Contractors were vetted through a prequalification process before they could submit project bids. Staff identified Broward Builders, Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with a construction contract totaling $7,914,578, plus a 10 percent contingency of $791,45. 

Other project costs will include $576,595 to Cartwright Nor Cal for project management, construction management and inspection; $364,040 to Lionakis for construction phase design support; $75,000 to PG&E for new electric service; $115,000 for furniture for the station; $30,000 for administrative, legal, and other fees; and $110,000 for a special inspector. 

The project will be funded primarily through the city’s development impact fees.  

Vice Mayor Jim Ernest was excited to finally be moving forward with the project: “This is a really important day.” 

The council voted unanimously to approve the construction contract. Construction on the fire station will start in November, with expected completion in April 2028. 

Chief Shafer said this project has been a huge priority for the fire department, and “it’s going to greatly improve our service delivery to the community.” He appreciated the council’s support throughout the process. 

Finally, staff asked for approval to advertise a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for contractor services for tile and plaster repairs at the Pat Granucci Aquatic Center.

The pool’s existing plaster has reached the end of its useful life and is beginning to deteriorate, cracking and separating from the pool surface. Delaying the repair could jeopardize swimmer safety and damage the underlying pool structure. 

The repair project is already included in the budget for this fiscal year and can be coordinated with repairs to the pool deck, drains, and concrete that are already underway. Both projects require the pool to be fully drained, so coordinating the timing will be most efficient. 

The council voted unanimously to approve RFQ, and staff will bring the recommended contract award to council in December for consideration. 

The next meeting of the Dixon City Council is scheduled for Nov. 3.