Minutes 03-02-2021 Virtual Business Meeting

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38 Commissioner McKee said he supports building the parking spaces and having a final building constructed, rather than a shell building. He said he wants to wait until the guaranteed maximum price is available, and look at the building with the other budget and CIP issues. He said a delay at this point is not significant, given the length of time the project has been discussed. John Roberts said if a decision is not reached, both parties could walk away without any penalties, and just responsible for their own costs. He said if neither party wants to walk away, then there are fewer liability concerns. Commissioner Greene said there is no desire to walk away from the project, and the County entered into a development agreement. She said she feels the generator for the court system is important, but it was added at the request of the new Clerk of Court, and she feels it could be removed from the list. She referred to the conservation easements, and said she would like to soften the blow by reducing the contingency fee. She referred to the windows, and would be interested in option 2, knowing that windows can be replaced at a later time. She said this option would bring the conservation easement down by a few hundred thousand dollars. She said everyone wants to support this project, and, in general, this has been a good partnership, and she wants the County to come to the table. Commissioner Fowler said the rental income for the parking spaces would take 130 years to make up for the costs of the parking spaces, and this is an expensive way to increase economic development. She said she would take funding from the conservation easements, as well as the justice center generator, plus Option 1-rows 3, 4, and 5, which would leave $300,000 to be financed by debt. She said if the BOCC must make a decision tonight, she wants to minimize the debt financing. She said this is a nice project, and something the County would very much like to do, but the County has obligations, such as school construction. She said she would like to reduce the amount of parking, in an effort to reduce the amount of cars, in favor of public transportation and biking. Commissioner McKee said a reduction of 20 parking stalls in Option 1, in addition to Commissioner Fowler's suggestions would provide enough money to make up the difference in costs. Chair Price said she wanted to move forward on the project, as the library is an essential community resource for families and for providing equity. She said the location is a good home for the skills development center. She said the BOCC has to move forward and cannot stagnate, despite the pandemic. She said any changes made are budget amendments to this year's budget. She said she is interested in options 1 and 5. She said the windows could be removed and existing furniture can be reused, but she wants to keep the parking spaces. She said she would be willing to delay the conservation easements, and forego the court generator. Commissioner Dorosin asked if, in the future, funds could be moved around again, if revenue projections change. Bonnie Hammersley said yes, funding is only adopted for 1 year, and changes can be made to the plan at a later date. She said power outages typically do not happen at the justice center, as the court usually shuts down when there is bad weather. A motion was made by Commissioner Dorosin to transfer the FFE in Option 1, reduce the construction contingency, reduce the STC rating for window glazing to 36%, remove the justice center generator and delay the conservation easements. Commissioner Bedford asked if changing the windows affects energy efficiency. Steve Arndt of Asset Management Services said the energy efficiency remains intact. Commissioner Fowler seconded Commissioner Dorosin's motion.