Minutes 02-05-2019 Regular Meeting

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39 She said the Carrboro library will need funding and the schools need capital investment, etc. She said she supports option 2 and keep the sallyport, but is open to the majority's wishes. Commissioner Marcoplos said there is no way to know how much construction will cost in 4-6 years, but he feels the BOCC must do the right thing by not paying those costs then. He said he is persuaded that the sallyport should be the entryway, and he supports option 3a. He said the debt service can be helped by a 1/8 or '/4 cent tax increase. Commissioner Price said she would like to see a bigger push for the diversionary programming, and she agreed with Commissioner Dorosin. She said she is in favor of the brick sallyport and the hearing room. Commissioner McKee said, at first blush, he would support option 2. He said he understands the cost of the EAC and such will be higher. He said he would not want any future board to question if this Board overbuilt this facility, but given the influx in the population in the Triangle, he said the natural flow will tend towards Orange County, and he also does not want a future board to question why this Board underbuilt the facility. He said he supports the 144-bed option because it gives room for expansion as needed, reducing the federal population as needed. He said if the Board does not support option 2, then he would support option 3a. Commissioner Greene said she strongly believes all of these buildings need to be built at once, and she supports option 3b. She said she is the least certain about the bed number, since she was not involved in the original discussion. She asked if the cells are single bed cells, with the capacity for two beds. Sheriff Blackwood said no beds are scheduled to be double. Commissioner Greene asked if they could be doubled. Blair Bordeaux said yes. Sheriff Blackwood said he would not want to do that. Blair Bordeaux said the current 144-bed facility includes 8 pods, one of which is single occupancy and could be converted to double, as could the ADA cells. Commissioner Greene said doubling up where possible could substantially increase the number of beds. Blair Bordeaux said that would only be possible in one pod, and the majority of the cells are already double occupancy to get to the 144 capacity. Commissioner Greene said she heard all of the arguments, and can see logic in all. She said she would provisionally go with option 3b, and she does not feel strongly about the 144 beds, but does feels strongly about the EAC. Chair Rich said she supports option 3b, but would be happy with anything between 3-3b. She said the Board is building a facility for the next 50 years. Commissioner Dorosin said the Board told the community that it would build a campus, not just a detention center. He said the campus is meant to be vibrant and bring people to the area. Commissioner Dorosin said he appreciates building for the future, but he does not find the argument persuasive. He said the budget for 144 beds is too much, and the Board should commit to the values of diversionary programming and keeping people out of jail. He said he would rather think of the best-case scenario, as opposed to the worst-case scenario. Commissioner Greene said she would want to sell the old jail property, but she is not in favor of selling the EAC and would rather keep it for affordable housing. Commissioner Price said the sale of any currently County-owned properties is not included in the PowerPoint. She said she does want the entire campus built, but supports a reduction in the number of beds. She said she does is not ready to equate a growing population to growing crime. Chair Rich said building a 144-bed jail does not have a negative effect on their diversionary programs. Commissioner Marcoplos said he is now in support of option 3b.