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Jail Discussion
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brian Matthews, County Manager’s Office, County Manager, 704-292-2597
ACTION REQUESTED:
A) Provide staff direction on the bed count and core size for the new jail;
B) Provide staff direction on the funding strategy for completing design and construction of the new jail; and
C) To move forward with the Existing Jail Adaptive Reuse Study, authorize the County Manager to 1) negotiate and execute a contract agreement with Little Diversified Architectural Consulting substantially consistent with this agenda item, 2) exercise any renewal or extension term options set forth in the Agreement, and 3) terminate the Agreement if deemed in the best interest of the County, each in the County Manager's discretion.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
1) December 4, 2023, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item # 23-819 - Approved Construction Manager at Risk Delivery Method
2) August 12, 2024, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item # 24-564 - Approved Design Contract for Architectural Services to Complete UC Jail Study
3) February 3, 2025, Regular Meetings, Agenda Item # 25-055 - Received update on Jail Study.
4) February 12, 2025, Work Session, Agenda Item # 25-082 - Received information regarding jail size scenarios and cost estimates.
5) February 18, 2025, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item # 25-095 - Received information regarding population estimates and jail size comparisons.
6) March 3, 2025, Regular Meeting, Agenda Item # 25-113 - Approved Option 2 (500 bed/600 core) to complete the consultant’s work for the jail study, which includes operational modeling and staffing costs. Requested the same information for a 400 bed/600 core.
7) May 19, 2025, Regular Meeting Agenda Item # 25-294 - Received information on construction costs, operational modeling, and staffing costs for 400 bed/600 core and 500 bed/600 core options.
BACKGROUND:
At the request of the Board of County Commissioners, the County began an independent Jail Study to determine bed count and core size recommendations. The County selected Little Diversified Architecture, teamed with Justice Planners and Hemphill Randel Associates, to begin work on a study to determine bed count and core size options. On February 3, 2025, the design team, led by Justice Planners, shared information about the study process, key data used in their analysis, some high-level bed count options and next steps.
During the Board retreat on February 12, 2025, staff presented additional information on high level costing data for several options based on the study data. During the regular meeting of February 18, 2025, staff provided additional information related to county population estimates and other county jail sizes.
On March 3, 2025, the Board approved Option 2 (500 bed/600 core) to complete the consultant’s work for the jail study, which includes operational modeling and staffing costs. Additionally, the Board requested the same information for a 400 bed/600 core option.
On May 19, 2025, the Board received information from the jail consultant on construction costs, operational modeling, and staffing costs based on a 400 bed/600 core option and a 500 bed/600 core option.
Staff requests direction from the Board on the selection of the bed count and core size and the financing mechanism for completing design and construction of the new jail. In addition, staff is requesting approval of a contract amendment to the Jail Study design contract to serve as the next phase in the jail study to ensure that advanced planning work continues as the Board determines the appropriate financing mechanism for completing design and construction of the new jail. This phase will focus on a high-level assessment of the existing Jail and Old Sheriff’s Administration building to determine the feasibility of adaptive reuse options and conceptual site planning for a new Jail. Site planning will be necessary to evaluate any adaptive reuse options and any operational impacts.
The high-level assessment will include findings of conditions of systems including architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical and fire protection. It will also include a code analysis related to reusing existing facilities. It is anticipated there may be 8-10 reuse options that will be evaluated and narrowed to feasible options including operational and logistical impacts.
The conceptual site planning is necessary as the location and proximity of the new Jail and South Piedmont Regional Autopsy Center in the overall campus plan directly affects the feasibility of any potential adaptive reuse options. Several site concept studies will be determined based on reuse options and pros and cons developed for consideration.
Other scope items in the request will be a site survey and high-level cost estimates for any feasible options. A report and presentation to the Board of the study’s findings are also included.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost of the contract amendment for architectural services for the UC Jail Study is $86,500. There are sufficient funds in the UC Jail Alternatives for Expansion and Design capital account, 40080188, to cover this expense.