COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Manager’s Office

 

DATE:

March 7, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 11, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

John L. Maltbie, County Manager

 

Greg Munks, Sheriff

   

SUBJECT:

AB 900 The Corrections Standards Authority Jail Funding Program

 

RECOMMENDATION:

Approve resolution authorizing submission of 2007 Local Jail Construction Funding Program Proposal to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Corrections Standards Authority.

 

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment No. 7 - Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.

Commitment No. 8 - Help vulnerable people, the aged, disabled, mentally ill, at-risk youth and others achieve a better quality of life.

Commitment No. 20 - Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

 

BACKGROUND:

Your Board has been engaged in a series of discussions relative to crowded conditions in our jail facilities and the need to both replace and expand the Women’s Correction Center on Maple Street in particular. Recently, on February 5, 2008, the Sheriff presented a series of interrelated topics, including a preliminary recommendation that the Board favorably consider making an application for State funding to offset a significant portion of the capital cost associated with building a new County jail facility. In order to meet the March 18th deadline for the first round of funding, your Board is requested to approve the attached Resolution authorizing such an application.

Under the Public Safety and Offender Rehabilitation Services Act of 2007 (AB 900), the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation can enter into contracts with counties to construct local jail facilities. Counties will be selected on a competitive basis with funding preferences for those counties willing to cooperate in the placement of a prison reentry facility within the County and/or for providing community mental health services for the parolee population. In its application, San Mateo County does not commit to siting either a reentry facility or a mental health day treatment and crisis care service facility, and thus would not be eligible for these preference points.

 

If the County is selected, the County could be awarded up to $100 million towards the construction costs of a new County jail, with a 25% funding match by the County. The County will be competing against both large and mid-size counties from around the State. Therefore, the likelihood of our County receiving an award cannot be assured.

 

DISCUSSION:

The attached application contemplates a new jail facility of 648 total beds to be constructed in the current location of County correctional facilities on Maple Street. The Sheriff has committed to continue efforts directed toward minimizing the future jail population by aggressively pursuing alternatives to incarceration. As a result, the plan is to open approximately 548 beds for men and women upon project completion, with the balance either left in an unfinished state for possible future expansion or leased long-term to State and/or Federal agencies. The projected cost of the proposed facility is $140 million dollars. This amount does not include preconstruction costs, such as demolition of the Women’s Correctional Center facility, because the County cannot use AB 900 funds for preconstruction costs. The $140 million dollar projected cost is calculated based upon and represents a cost reduction from a 776 bed jail facility analyzed in the DMJM Needs Assessment, and also reflects input from the Department of Public Works as required by AB900. The new jail facility will likely consist of 5 floors, at a height of approximately 90 feet. The top three floors will be used for inmate housing and programs, with the remaining two floors for facility support and administrative functions.

 

The County is seeking the maximum $100,000,000 towards the construction of a facility to be located at 1590 Maple Street, Redwood City. Of the remaining construction costs, approximately $30,944,517 would be borne by the County in a direct cash commitment and $8,951,000 would be an in-kind over match. A portion of the County’s in-kind match is the value of 1590 Maple Street, which has been estimated to be $5,525,000, by the County Manager’s Real Property Division. A real estate appraisal will be conducted once the Intent to Award has been completed.

 

The Corrections Standards Authority will not increase funding amounts after a conditional award notification, or approve a reduction in the proposed and accepted scope of work. If the construction costs are higher than expected, the County would be responsible for all costs above the Corrections Standards Authority funding award. If the County’s costs for construction are less than anticipated, the County will be required to return any excess funding to the State.

 

PROJECT TIMETABLE

 
 

Completion Dates

Schematic Design with Operation Program Statement

2/1/08

Design Development

1/1/09

Staffing/Operating Cost Analysis

9/1/08

Construction Documents

4/1/09

Construction Bids

7/1/09

Notice to Proceed

8/1/09

Construction Completion

10/11/11

Occupancy

11/11/11

 

Jail construction funds will be administered by the State Public Works Board (SPWB) from the issuance of lease-revenue bonds. This financing mechanism requires the SPWB to hold ownership interest in the County’s jail facility subject to the bonds being sold and paid off (approximately 25 to 30 years). The SPWB will lease the jail facilities to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, which will sublease the jail facility to the County for use and operation. Once the bonds are paid in full, it is expected that facility ownership will then transfer to the County.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no direct fiscal impact or irrevocable commitment in applying for AB 900 funding. The fiscal impact would occur at the time of actual construction, in terms of the County’s matching share for one time project funding; and, eventually, the ongoing operating costs of the new facility. The attached application outlines a $140 million project including a $39.9 million local match, but the ultimate fiscal impact depends on the level of funding awarded, facility design, construction contract award and other factors. If funding is awarded to the County, a detailed fiscal impact analysis will be prepared and provided at the time that the contract with the State is presented to the Board for approval.