By E. Isaac Lee
The ongoing construction at La Palma City Hall will be facing delays due to Covid-19 and construction complications, according to Community Services Director and head of the project Mike Belknap. He believes the project will be completed in June or early July
Since Feb 1, 2021, the La Palma City Hall has been temporarily relocated to the Community Center at 7821 Walker Street. This is because the city decided to conduct improvement projects on the building’s interior. The project has multiple aims: updating the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, electrical system upgrades, and refurbishment of the public and employee restrooms to meet ADA compliance. Contact information has remained unchanged, and city services are still available in-person at the Community Center.
Belknap stated that the construction has been delayed due to “unanticipated complications” that emerged when opening up the 60-year-old building’s infrastructure.
“The as-built plans were not completely accurate, so we had to update our restrooms to meet requirements,” Belknap said. “We need to make new fixes even though they weren’t a part of the [original] project.”
These include extra electrical and plumbing upgrades. As of late April, none of the projects, neither the HVAC system, the restrooms, nor necessary finish work on the wallpaper and flooring, were completed.
Belknap also stated that the Covid-19 pandemic affected the initial stages of construction. Ceiling tiles and doors have taken extra time to install, either due to transport delays or supply shortages.
“In the end, we’ve been able to get everything, but we’ve maybe had to switch the original products out for an alternative,” he stated.
This improvement project has been planned for at least five years now. Belknap stated it will be completed by early July at the latest. With vaccination rates continuing to rise in California, the building’s re-opening may coincide with a broader re-opening of the state.
“I anticipate the city council will be meeting with the public and in-person once the facility opens up,” Belknap said.
