Agenda - 11-18-2010 - 3 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 Based on the consultant's findings and plans for the site, the Board may also wish to consider pursuing Special Use modifications that would allow the County to carry out site development prior to the time facilities were actually constructed. Recommendations: Retain services of a space planning consultant who can: • Determine/confirm departmental long-term needs; and • Produce master plan of Southern Orange Campus, reflecting available building sites, taking into account on-site natural protected areas and Chapel Hill regulations affecting site development; and • Provide cost analysis for site development recommended by concept plan; and • Provide cost analysis to support the recommendations of the master plan; • Consider the merits of preparation of building sites identified in the study prior to actual construction. Court Support Offices The County must also provide office space for court support offices. The most compelling unmet need at this time is for Hillsborough office space. The lease expiration at Carr Mill Mall on June 30, 2011 will necessitate the relocation of the Public Defender's Office, ideally to Hillsborough. The 16+ staff members of Public Defender's Office currently occupy approximately 2,700 square feet or 52% of the leased Carr Mill Mall suite. In addition, the County Manager has requested that Probation and Parole and Juvenile Services consolidate their offices to Hillsborough by June 30, 2011, at which time the lease for the Moody building in Carrboro will expire saving approximately $65,000 annually. While both Probation and Parole and Juvenile Services have agreed to consolidate their operations, both have also indicated a continuing need for space to meet clients in southern Orange on an appointment basis. Further, the Guardian ad Litem program, which operates only from the Chapel Hill court location, must also be accommodated. Recommendations: 129 East King Street: Authorize use of the building at 129 East King Street for use as court support offices. The building is currently being offered for sale; however, interest has been sparse. Should this facility not remain in the County's inventory, an alternative, possibly leased, space would need to be found to house the court support offices. It is likely the Public Defender's Offices would be the best match for the facility, leaving the Court Street Annex to house the Juvenile Services and Probation/Parole functions. However, it is requested the Manager be given the discretion to make adjustments in those assignments as may be necessary. 501 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill: To provide space for the Guardian ad Litem program and to provide "visiting office" space for Probation/Parole and Juvenile Services, staff is recommending use of the suite at 501 W. Franklin Street previously occupied by the Human Rights and Relations Department. Some upfit will be required to accommodate the new use, but the cost should be minimal. Use of this space will allow the County to terminate the lease for the Moody Building while still providing the mandated space for court operations that is reasonably convenient to the clients.