Agenda - 01-30-2007-2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 Further, following a preliminary assessment of the facility, I believe the longer term needs of Health and DSS will best be met by dedicating the Whitted Building exclusively to these two departments. To further that goal, I propose to relocate the Housing and Community Development offices to the county campus office building (2008) and ultimately pursue alternative arrangements for the mental health agency that occupies a significantly sized suite of offices in the building (timeline to be determined). Should this plan be implemented, approximately 20,000 square feet of additional space would be available to meet Health and DSS departmental needs within the Whiffed Building. While this expansion may not be sufficient to address the twenty-year space planning window for Health and DSS, it should provide significant relief from the current over- crowded conditions for a reasonable period of time. As noted in the attached memorandum, the Health Department staff will be studying future service delivery options for- recommendation to the Board of Health. This plan will affect the type and amount of space needed for their operations and will provide valuable guidance as we develop a long-term solution for operational space. Long-term - recommendations regarding this facility will be brought forward for Board consideration as information becomes available and analysis is completed. Old Orange Enterprises Building (OE)-DSS Program Space To further address the needs of DSS, I recommend the Board entertain a proposal from the DSS Director regarding the use of the old Orange Enterprises (OE) facility located on Valley Forge Road, Hillsborough. As you mayl remember, the County facilitated the purchase of a new building on Elizabeth Brady Road for ownership by OE in 2005. The County agreed to appropriate $100,000 each year for three years to allow Orange Enterprises to purchase the new building. That obligation is fulfilled with the appropriation of funds in FY 2007-2008. The attached proposal outlines a variety of uses by DSS that would allow them to provide additional space to both operations at the Whitted and Southern Human Services Center. Further, it would provide a more adequate level of meeting space for their departmental functions, as well as providing some flexibility in general County meeting space, since it could be scheduled for training or other uses by County departments. The study presented on November 9 outlined several options that had been discussed as uses for the OE building. However, in my opinion, using the facility to address the overcrowded conditions for DSS at both the Whitted and Southern Human Services Center appears to be the best use of the facility at this time. It is further noted DSS can draw down matching funds for improvements that are made to the space to make it acceptable for DSS use. If the Board is amenable to utilization of the building in this manner, staff will proceed to develop project costs to be presented for consideration during the upcoming Capital Investment process. It is notable that the increase in operational costs for this facility would be minimal, since the County paid operating and maintenance costs of the building during the period it was occupied by OE. 2