AGENDA DATE: 7/20/2022
TITLE:
Title
Public Safety Operations Center Lease
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Authorize the County Executive to Execute a Lease of 1639 East Rio Road for a Public Safety Operations Center
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Henry, Hudson, Herrick, Stewart
PRESENTER (S): Stewart (Lead), Eggleston, Reeves
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The administrative and operational functions of the Albemarle County Fire-Rescue Department (ACFR) and Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD) have grown substantially over recent decades. In addition to an expansion in service area, ACFR has expanded its support of volunteer companies, assumed responsibility for EMS training and maintenance of all fire and rescue equipment, and created new programs. ACPD’s needs for secure storage of specialty equipment and vehicles, for seized property, and for evidence processing have exceeded available space for many years.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure Investment - Prioritize, plan, and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs.
Quality Government Operations - Ensure County government’s capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities.
DISCUSSION: In 2021, staff began seeking opportunities to purchase or lease property suitable to meet the operational needs of the County’s public safety functions, either in separate locations or in a single location. Preliminary discussions with Seminole Trail Properties, LLC, were initiated to explore the suitability of the property located at 1639 East Rio Road, which is is the site of the former J.C. Penney’s store at Fashion Square Mall. This retail store included approximately 33,000 square feet of “back of the house” functions, including a large warehouse with loading dock, former tire shop, and office space for employees. The proposed lease would allow the County to renovate and occupy these areas to meet the operational needs of ACPD and ACFR. If approved, the relocation of these functions would allow vacated ACPD and ACFR space in the 5th Street County Office Building to be repurposed to help meet those departments’ administrative space needs.
Terms of the proposed lease include:
- designation of a large parking area for secure storage of specialty equipment and vehicles;
- initial lease term of 10 years; with additional lease term renewals options in increments of 5 years each; and
- County option to expand with the building to meet future space needs.
BUDGET IMPACT: The estimated cost of capital improvements is $3,100,000, and the cost of lease and operational overhead in Fiscal Year 2023 is estimated at $558,000. The funding for the capital improvements would be appropriated from the Capital Fund balance. Operating funds were appropriated in the Space Reserve as part of the Fiscal Year 2023 budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached resolution (Attachment A) approving a lease from Seminole Trail Properties, LLC of a portion of the property located at 1639 East Rio Road, and authorizing the County Executive to execute a lease in a form acceptable to the County Attorney.
ATTACHMENTS:
A -Proposed Resolution