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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/29/1984Thursday, March 29, 1984 The Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County, Florida, met in Special Session at the County Commission Chambers, 1840 25th Street, Vero Beach, Florida, on Thursday, March 29, 1984, at 10:00 o'clock A.M. in a Joint Meeting with the Jail Committee. Present were Don C. Scurlock, Jr., Chairman; Patrick B. Lyons, Vice Chairman; William C. Wodtke, Jr., and Richard N. Bird. Commissioner Margaret C. Bowman was absent due to illness. Also present were Michael J. Wright, County Administrator; Gary Brandenburg, Attorney to the Board of County Commissioners; and Barbara Bonnah, Deputy Clerk. Members of the Jail ' Committee present were: Public Works Director Jim Davis, Judge D. C. Smith, Joe Henry Earman, Sheriff Tim Dobeck, Art Scheeren, Capt. Bill Baird, and Merrill Barber. Gary Wheeler was absent due to illness. Chairman Scurlock called the Joint Meeting to order and Commissioner Lyons led the Pledge of Allegiance. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA Chairman Scurlock requested the addition of a brief discussion to today's Agenda regarding the scheduling of a joint workshop with the Planning & Zoning Commission on node concept. Attorney Brandenburg advised that additions to today's Agenda were not in order. However, the Commissioners agreed that the workshop will be held Wednesday, April 18, 1984, at 1:00 o'clock P.M. in the First Floor Conference Room. MAR 29 1984 BOCK 56 PAGE., 0 r MAR � 9 1984 Bam 56 Pic€ 501 Chairman Scurlock turned the meeting over to Commissioner Lyons, Chairman of the Jail Committee, who 0 introduced George Bail, President of Frizzell Architects; Tom Pinkerton, Principal Designer; and Ray Stroud, Project Architect from the Fort Myers office. Commissioner Lyons explained that after it was determined that the staffing requirements to secure the jail proposed in the most recent plans prepared by PDR were too high, he requested the architects to present another design. Mr. Bail expressed his pleasure in having the opportunity today to present an entirely new concept for the design of the jail, which is the most staff efficient that we have seen to date, and also the most compact and will cost less to build than the previous plan. Before presenting the new design, he reviewed the history of the County's jail design. The original octagonal jail complex was designed by Tom Pinkerton, Principal Designer, out of Frizzell's Winter Park office. The feasibility study and the primary report were prepared by Tom Pinkerton and Bob Buchanan, Jail Consultant. Subsequently, Mr. Pinkerton decided to go to work in Atlanta for personal reasons, but still remained on Frizzell's payroll as a consultant. In the meantime, Frizzell's office in Winter Park broke away from the parent firm and became Pierce, Dorsey, Rohrdanz/Architects, Inc. (PDR) Mr. Bail explained that part of their thinking was that it would be best for continuity if that office would continue managing those projects which they had been handling up to that point. In January, the Commission instructed the architects to cut back on the scope of the project to meet the County's possible financial arrangements, and PDR decided not to include Mr. Pinkerton in the preparation of the new schematics. That design proved to be inefficient from a 2 staffing standpoint. However, Mr. Pinkerton was in Atlanta working on a new jail design for Rockford, Georgia that could easily be adapted to fill Indian River County's needs for a less expensive jail to build and one that would require fewer employees. Mr. Bail stated that they are starting out fresh with a new team, and pointed out that there would be -no additional cost to the County for this change in concept. If the Board approves today the general approach they are following, they will return as quickly as possible with detailed schematics and cost estimates. There is some work to be done, particularly on the support facility for the housing unit. They are sure that it will be smaller in area and cost less to build, but they are not yet prepared to give a cost estimate. Mr. Bail explained that when Frizzell sold the Winter Park office, it was decided that PDR would continue to manage the project under Frizzell's overall direction What they are proposing today is that the Ft. Myers office will be managing it from here on out. He stated that he personally would take charge of the project. Commissioner Wodtke asked if Frizzell had sold the County's contract to PDR, and Mr. Bail stated they had not and pointed out that any proposed assignment of the contract would have required the approval of the client. Commissioner Wodtke then asked if they had advised the County of the transfer of management, and Mr. Bail replied that they had written a letter about what they were proposing to do and the County Attorney advised that they should have an assignment agreement. The agreement was drawn, but it was never executed by the County. Technically, Frizzell Architects was always responsible for the project. Attorney Brandenburg advised that the contract always has been with Frizzell and still is. 3 HIM The assignment Rai 5.6 .E r MAR 2 9 1984 � agreement was never executed because he felt that all financial and liability questions should be cleared up before that took place. Commissioner Bird asked if the Board would be putting the County into any kind of a liability situation with PDR if we decided we liked the plan that is being presented this morning and we gave consent to go ahead.' He felt that the County has had its share of litigation and wanted to avoid more. Attorney Brandenburg stated that in the event the arrangements are satisfactory today, the County will require a total release from PDR for any involvement they have with respect to this jail today. Mr. Bail saw no problem with that. Commissioner Lyons noted that the County has never paid a bill to PDR and has only recognized PDR as an agent of Frizzell Associates. Chairman Scurlock agreed that the County's contract has always been with Frizzell. Commissioner Lyons pointed out that the reasons the I. County chose Frizzell Architects was because of their reputation for standing behind their work and the fact that Mr. Pinkerton would be the principal designer. He was disturbed that Mr. Pinkerton was getting further and further away from the project, and expressed his pleasure to have Mr. Pinkerton back on the project. Mr. Merrill Barber asked if there was going to be any additional expense to the County because of the delay. Mr. Bail assured him there would not be any additional expense. Attorney Brandenburg reported that the County has paid Frizzell $52,000 to date, and felt that nothing is owed; in fact, the County should have something coming back. Chairman Scurlock was impressed that the Commission is moving cautiously on this matter and is not afraid to question the design and costs. He recalled that at the last W 4 meeting he had asked Mr. Dorsey of PDR if there was any other plan available or if anything could be taken out of that plan to reduce the costs, the answer had been "no." It disturbed him that PDR knew of a better plan at that time, but Mr. Bail explained that, in all fairness to Tom Dorsey, they did not know at that time of this new design. Commissioner Lyons stated that after Mr. Pinkerton has brought the detailed schematics back to the Jail Committee and the Board for approval, and if, indeed it is approved, he felt very strongly that he should return to Tallahassee ` and once more check with the Dept. of Corrections as to staffing requirements for the new design. Mr. Pinkerton addressed the Board and the Jail Committee and expressed his pleasure at being here today and . having the opportunity of presenting the proposed -new jail design. He felt that Indian River County and Frizzell Architects have come full circle. He reported that he had submitted his new plans to the State of Florida Department of Corrections for their review and all of the concepts that will be presented today were accepted in principle by Percy Folsom, the primary reviewer. Mr. Pinkerton explained the basic differences in the original plan*and the new plan he is presenting this morning. The original octagonal pod had a lot going for it; it was a simple construction type and space efficient. The problem, however, was that it only had 64 cells which was the result of a direct interpretation of 33-8, the ratio of staffing to cells. He explained that a greater number of cells can be created in the new design with just a slight increase in the amount of square feet. The cell block will be 18,000 sq. ft. and will have a total of 86 rooms, which can and will be doubled to the maximum extent of the law, which means that 30 cells must continue to be single cells and the balance of 56 cells could become double occupancy 5 MAR 2 9 1984 PS K 56 wz507 L____ -- aw - 56 n W cells. He is intentionally reducing the 86 potential cells to 78 cells, because that will allow more room for showers. There is a potential for 134 inmates in the cell block. Since the D.O.C. requires that female inmates must be guarded by a matron, he is proposing that the cell block house only male inmates, and that female inmates be housed in a secure section of the support building. Fewer employees could be hired by doubling the duty of those guards. Besides watching over women prisoners, the female guards would man the main control room in the support building, eliminating the need to hire five people to sit in the control room, three shifts a day, seven days a week. Instead of 54 staff which is actually more like 60 in the earlier design, they have reduced the total staffing to 39 or less, a reduction of approximately 20 personnel. Figuring that the life expectancy of the new jail is 25 years, each individual person will cost approximately $1.2 -million over a 20 -year period, and if you multiply that by 20 positions, there will be a savings of $25 -million, which is 6-8 times the initial construction cost of the jail. Mr. Earman noted that payroll savings would amount to $450,000 the first year alone. Mr. Pinkerton continued that they have also reduced the amount of square footage from 50,000 to 38,000 to lower construction costs. They are maintaining high quality construction and mechanical systems in the building. Instead of using heating and ventilating units, they are using central air conditioning and ventilating systems, which will reduce the long-term costs of maintenance. Basically, the new plan calls for one 18,000 sq. ft. cell block which can house 134 male inmates plus a support building which has all the normal support functions as well as housing for 18 female prisoners. 6 Mr. Pinkerton explained that what he is presenting today is not the final design, but it is a new concept which he hopes will be favorably received. It is basically the same octagonal pod that we had before, but drastically simplified. The Jail Committee and the Commissioners gathered around the model of the new design, while Mr. Pinkerton explained the functions in the support building, cell -block and connecting corridor. The cell block can have 46 rooms upstairs and 40 rooms downstairs and all rooms would be sized to accommodate two inmates so that the Jail Administrator and the Sheriff would have total discretion as to when and where to double the occupancy of those rooms. Thirty of these rooms must be maintained as single cells at all times, but the balance could be doubled, which results in a highly flexible building. Commissioner Bird asked what happens when the County needs more jail cells, and Mr. Pinkerton explained that another cell block (housing pod) could be added. Mr. Pinkerton expressed his appreciation to the Board and the Jail Committee for having pushed him toward working out this new design, which he feels is a substantially better plan than anyone else can offer. He advised that they could have detailed schematics to present to the Board in about two weeks. It was the feeling of the Jail Committee that they would like to see the full schematic on this new concept in two weeks as long as it wasn't costing the County any more money. Chairman Scurlock wanted to be assured that we are clean with PDR and suggested that staff be authorized to work with the architect in regard to what is owed, etc. Administrator Wright wanted time to work out the details and bring it back to the Board in a package at the 7 MAR 2 9 1984 56 RAu 50, 9 MAR 29 1994 ®!Oi( 56 D1.;E 51 next regular meeting to make sure that the Board understands where we are from a financial and liability standpoint. ON MOTION by Commissioner Lyons, SECONDED by Commissioner Bird, the Board unanimously (4-0, Commissioner Bowman being absent), authorized staff to make financial and contractual arrangements with Frizzell Architects and come back at the next meeting with the understanding that if satisfactory arrangements can be made, that we proceed as rapidly as possible to come up with a complete schematic. Commissioner Lyons thanked the architects for coming today and hoped they could work something out. He also thanked the Jail Committee for being here today and commended them on the fine job they have done so far. The Commissioners decided to adjourn without hearing Commissioner Wodtke's report on the NACO Legislative Conference at this time. There being no further business on Motion duly made, seconded and carried, the Board adjourned at 11:35 o'clock A. M. ATTEST: Clerk 8 Chairman