COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Probation Department

DATE:

1/15/02

BOARD MEETING DATE:

2/5/02

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Loren Buddress, Chief Probation Officer

SUBJECT:

Resolution Authorizing the Submission of an Application for Juvenile Detention Facility Construction Grant Funds.

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the State of California Board of Corrections for Juvenile Detention Facility Construction Grant Funds, and authorizing the County Manager's Office to act as Construction Administrator, Financial Officer, Project Contact, and to sign Federal Nondiscrimination Compliance and Drug Free Workplace assurances.

Background

On November 15, 2001, the State Board of Corrections issued a Request for Proposals that made $48,868,904 in Federal Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act Funds available for juvenile detention facility construction. The County and the Probation Department have recognized for some time that the juvenile hall needed to be replaced due to its antiquated design, crowded population, and deteriorating infrastructure. In May 1998, the County commissioned an evaluation of juvenile services in the County and the condition of the juvenile hall to determine the extent to which the current juvenile hall was unable to support the needs of the juvenile justice system and meet current California Code of Regulation standards. The report stated:

The existing Hillcrest Juvenile Hall is hindered by its physical organization, does not support modern security practices, lacks sufficient and proper program spaces, and cannot support increasingly common detainees management strategies that are based on classification and segregation....A number of building systems have reached or exceeded their useful life and require replacement or intensive maintenance. When considering future expansion and/or the capital costs needed to modernize the facility, the conclusion is that Hillcrest Juvenile Hall should be replaced.

Since that report was issued, the Board and a wide array of interested parties, both County and public, have had numerous meetings and discussions deliberating the issues contained in a decision to build a facility that not only meets the needs of current users, but accurately reflects trends that will influence the future demands on that facility. We are now ready to move forward.

Discussion

Indicators from the State Board of Corrections and the current state of the economy seem to portend that future funds for juvenile detention facility construction will not be abundant, if available at all. Therefore, even though the process for fine tuning the design and estimated costs of the juvenile hall will continue until the due date for the proposal, 3/1/02, it is important to note that the conceptual thought is for a state of the art facility which incorporates "new generation" design, hard (concrete) cells only as necessary, soft (standard walls) construction for the majority of confinement spaces, and dormitories where possible. This will allow maximum flexibility in use in the future, both from a housing and program perspective. Both expansion and contraction can be more readily accomplished. This facility will replace the current juvenile hall, and will be designed to be a most cost-effective and efficient facility.

If we are granted funds, it is important to note that we will be required to make a 25% match, approximately 14% of which can be in-kind. The land value of the site, located adjacent to 21 Tower Road, San Mateo, is estimated by the Real Property Division at $1.2m per acre (based on a recent appraisal for the Sheriff's new crime lab, which is nearby), for a total of $25,000,000. This is more than enough to cover an in-kind match. Also, the facility must be completed by September 26, 2006 and fully staffed and operating with in 90 days of completion.

This grant represents the potential to acquire between fifteen and twenty million dollars for the construction of a new juvenile detention facility. This is an opportunity to meet the County's dire need for such a facility, and to offset some of the cost.

Fiscal Impact

There is no net County cost to submit an application for juvenile detention facility construction grant funds. The total cost of the facility is unknown at this time, however, should an award be granted, there is the 25% match as noted, plus any costs not covered by the grant funds. Any grant award, with firm County costs, will be brought to the Board for approval.