Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
The Board considered approving a planning process to be used in the designlcanstruction of <br />the justice facilities expansion project. <br />John Link said that he is asking County Commissioners to approve the next phase of the <br />justice facility expansion. A jail expansion and a new courtroom were added in 1998. However, there <br />are additional needs for justice facilities. <br />Pam Jones said that a task force was appointed in 1994 to develop a needs assessment for <br />the court needs. As an interim measure beds were added to the jail to bring the capacity up to 128. In <br />July 2001 the average daily population was 125. The Federal Marshal's Office stills uses our jails for <br />federal prisoners. A year ago, a master plan was developed by architects to determine haw much could <br />be built on the judicial facilities site. They laid out two options far that site. Each project would be built in <br />four phases and each would have specific parking options. One of the options is to have asix-level <br />parking deck, which would be in the location of the Sheriff's office. The other option had the parking <br />incorporated in the building and would be built in phase two. The scope of the master plan is Stillhouse <br />Creek to Margaret Lane to Churton Street to the edge of the courthouse parking lot. Along-term study of <br />County space needs was conducted recently through the Space Needs task force. One of the <br />recommendations is to add to the Government Services Center an Cameron Street. It seems prudent at <br />this point to look at the entire site as a whole. The staff has requested that the Board of County <br />Commissioners approve an expansion of the master plan. She would propose to ask Freeman White to <br />update the previous master plan, then move forward with the planning process. <br />Pam Jones then spoke to the planning process. Knowing that there will be an impact on <br />downtown Hillsborough, the process has three components. The first is the selection of the architect and <br />designer of the building and River Park. The second is a programming group that would look at the <br />exterior of the building to make sure that it does not overpower the downtown Hillsborough area. The <br />third is a programming group that would focus on the interior of the building. These are limited to judicial <br />officials, County staff, and County Commissioners that would be operating within the building. Other <br />users could also give input. <br />Commissioner Carey asked about the Sheriff's office and Pam Janes said that it could be torn <br />down to make room for needed parking. There are other options, but this is the best plan. <br />Commissioner Brown confirmed that the first phase would be a building adjacent to the <br />present courthouse. <br />Commissioner Jacobs asked to have visuals far the citizens present when information is <br />presented. <br />Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the Sheriff's building and said that the building <br />should be left intact if possible. He said that it was nice to have to presupposition that we will use what <br />we have. He suggested inviting Freeman White to the work session on space studies. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Carey to endorse <br />the assumptions as listed on page three adding Commissioner Jacobs' words about being prudent far <br />the Sheriff's office and respecting the space needs study recommendation as stated by Pam Jones as <br />follows: "The expanded master plan would consider and leave intact the recommendation for potential <br />expansion of the Government Services Center and Government Services Center Annex as proposed by <br />the Space Needs Task Farce in March 2001." <br />Commissioner Jacobs mentioned that he and Chair Halkiatis met with some people from <br />Hillsborough and one of their concerns was that they be able to see the River Park from Margaret Lane. <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br />c. Adoption of Band Qrders, Ballot Question and Referendum Date <br />Jahn Link said that the staff was asking that the Board consider adopting the bond orders, <br />formally set the ballot question language and referendum date, which is November 6, 2001. <br />Finance Director Ken Chavious explained the process after the adoption of the bond orders. <br />The questions on pages eight and nine are those that will appear on the ballot. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that she felt there were a couple of items left undone from the <br />August 30t" meeting. She needs some clarification an the action taken August 30t". She drafted a <br />"Resolution of I ntent to Provide Funding for Facility Planning for A New High School." She moved <br />approval of the motion as follows: <br />