Agenda - 12-10-2002-1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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30 M 3: Seo ember 4 20 .1 BOCC m eetlna k Hilisborouah Judicial Facilities ExDanston Planning Process The Board considered approving a planning process to be used in the design/construction of the justice facilities expansion project. John Link said that he is asking County Commissioners to approve the next phase of the justice facility expansion. A Jail expansion and a new courtroom were added in 1998. However,there are additional needs for justice facilities. Pam Jones said that a task force was appointed in 1994 to develop a needs assessment for the court needs. As an interim measure beds were added to the jail to bring the capacity up to 128. In July 2001 the average daily population was 125. The Federal Marshal's Office stills uses our jails for federal prisoners. A year ago, a master plan was developed by architects to determine how much could be built on the judicial facilities site. They laid out two options for that site. Each project would be built in four phases and each would have specific parking options. One of the options is to have a six-level parking deck,which would be in the location of the Sheriff's office. The other option had the parking incorporated in the building and would be built in phase two. The scope of the master plan is Stilihouse Creek to Margaret Lane to Churton Street to the edge of the courthouse parking lot. A long-term study of County space needs was conducted recently through the Space Needs task force. One of the recommendations is to add to the Government Services Center on Cameron Street. It seems prudent at this point to look at the entire site as a whole. The staff has requested that the Board of County Commissioners approve an expansion of the master plan. She would propose to ask Freeman White to update the previous master plan,then move forward with the planning process. Pam Jones then spoke to the planning process. Knowing that there will be an impact on downtown Hillsborough,the process has three components. The first is the selection of the architect and designer of the building and River Park The second is a programming group that would look at the exterior of the building to make sure that it does not overpower the downtown Hillsborough area. The third is a programming group that would focus on the interior of the building. These are limited to judicial officials, County staff,and County Commissioners that would be operating within the building. Other users could also give input. Commissioner Carey asked about the Sheriffs office and Pam Jones said that it could be torn down to make room for needed parking. There are other options, but this is the best plan. Commissioner Brown confirmed that the first phase would be a building adjacent to the present courthouse. Commissioner Jacobs asked to have visuals for the citizens present when information is presented. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to the Sheriff's building and said that the building should be left intact if possible. He said that it was nice to have to presupposition that we will use what we have. He suggested inviting Freeman White to the work session on space studies. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Carey to endorse the assumptions as listed on page three adding Commissioner Jacobs' words about being prudent for the Sheriff's office and respecting the space needs study recommendation as stated by Pam Jones as follows: "The expanded master plan would consider and leave intact the recommendation for potential expansion of the FYnanriPCi Master Plan Work session on 4-30-02.max