The District remains firmly committed to completing the State-mandated seismic retrofit of the Mendocino Coast Hospital by HCAI's January 1, 2030 compliance deadline, ensuring the facility remains fully licensed and operational for the community we serve. The planned coast hospital retrofit project addresses both non-structural (NPC) and structural (SPC) vulnerabilities across a projected $19.9 million budget through Fiscal Year 2031, with the timeline structured to preserve HCAI grant eligibility — including an estimated $2 million in reimbursements — while staggering construction phases to keep hospital operations uninterrupted throughout the project.

As of the Board's July 30, 2026 update from project architect Devenney Group, the retrofit is advancing on several parallel HCAI review tracks. The NPC5 package, covering the underground potable water and wastewater tanks, remains in secondary structural review, with comments received May 22, 2026 and resubmittal targeted before the November 18, 2026 deadline; an extension will be requested to accommodate the tank manufacturer's engagement and an updated geotechnical report. The NPC4 package is in backcheck, with comments received July 13, 2026 and resubmittal targeted by October 11. Separately, HCAI's April 26, 2026 comments on the geotechnical report identified a gap — the original study addressed only NPC requirements and must be amended to add SPC-4D analysis before the SPC package can move forward, with an add-service request for that amendment before the Board for approval tonight. The SPC-4D Material Testing & Condition Assessment (MTCAP) package is complete and in quality-control review, with submission to HCAI targeted for August 14, 2026.

Locally, the Design Review and Coastal Development Permit applications were submitted to the City of Fort Bragg on April 28, 2026; the City has confirmed the project is exempt from CEQA and is evaluating whether the applications can be processed administratively. Third-party intake comments received June 25 are being addressed for resubmittal within the next two weeks, though a Planning Commission hearing date has not yet been set. Also underway is development of a utility easement covering the site's water and sewer infrastructure, requiring a locator and surveyor to define easement boundaries. The District board approved a scope of services for that work.

Looking ahead, the project's most capital-intensive period arrives in Fiscal Year 2028, when NPC-4 non-structural bracing and NPC-5 utility construction converge, projected at roughly $10.8 million in combined spending — including $5.5 million for NPC-4 and $3.3 million for NPC-5 — bringing the hospital's critical water, power, and oxygen systems up to 2030 resiliency standards. Structural retrofit work under SPC-4D then follows from Fiscal Year 2029 through 2031, with spending stabilizing near $1.3 million and rising to $3.2 million as the building's structural frame is brought into full SPC-4D compliance. Successful execution across these remaining phases will secure the hospital's long-term licensure and its ability to continue serving the Mendocino Coast community for decades to come.

The district board currently has sufficient finances to fully fund the seismic retrofit project without any increase in current property tax assessments.

Files listed below pertain to seismic plans or drawings.

Carl Scheurerman, HCAI