HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommittee of the Whole June 8 1989WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
June 8, 1989
The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by Council Chairman Donald Hansey
with members Dan Warner, Marvin Van derpol and Will RoehI present. Minutes were
compiled from the tape.
DISCUSSION OF LOCATION FOR JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES, AND THE RELATED
CONCOMITANT RESOLUTION AND INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT
The Executive was asked to give a report on the study of the location south of
the Courthouse.
Van Zanten stated that this is not a new issue but this effort has been going
on since 1984 although discussion on a juvenile detention probably goes back
twenty years.
In reviewing the request from the Council to develop a plan it was necessary to
determine what the goals of the Council were: it should be located downtown and
preferably where the parking lot is now or on the street that will be vacated;
project should be designed for future County administrative offices and take care
of the growing problem of parking. The Executive stated that there was a great
need for additional office and parking space now and it will be greater in the
future. Van Zanten and the staff have studied this site and it is "do- able ";
it may not be ideal, there may have to be compromises and there will be costs
connected with this. She stated that they recommend a multi - storied building
that would accommodate expansion of juvenile and have room for administrative
offices. [Tape acting up.] Van Zanten said they would try to design the
building so that it would require the minimum number of staff to supervise the
juvenile detention facilities, and they hope to tap into some of the utilities
of the main jai I .
Van Zanten stated that the cost estimate for 17,000 .sq /ft would be $7 per sq /ft
site preparation. First floor will be $30 sq /ft shell'only, second floor will
be $90 sq /f t, third floor will be $120 sq /ft. Total $4,499,120. at today Is rate.
She explained the items iisted on her attached memo. Van Zanten proposed a
parking plan that would increase the numbers a great deal but is concerned about
parking during the construction phase. We currently have $1 million in reserve
so that leaves approximately 3 and a half mil lion that would have to be financed.
Hansey suggested that it might be wiser to have an added floor so that all but
Law and Justice could be moved eventually. Van Zanten agreed that this would
be considered in their future planning. Good planning at this time will save
money in the future since construction costs will continue to rise.
Vanderpol asked how much it would increase our costs by putting parking
underneath. Tyler stated that it was much cheaper to utilize ground parking
under the building than buying other land and developing it.
Committee of the Whole, 6- 08 -89, Page 2
Warner asked where the outdoor recreation area would be. Van Zanten stated that
it would be on the same level as the Juvenile Detention facilities which would
be the top floor. Security would be easier to maintain on the top floor with
a secure elevator only to get off the floor.
Vanderpol thanked the Executive and the Public Works staff for the efforts they
had put forth to develop the report.
Warner agreed to draft a resolution for presentation at the June 15 Council
meeting.
The meeting was adjourned at 9 p.m.
arbara Maher, erk