AGENDA DATE: 11/15/2023
TITLE:
Title
Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail (ACRJ) Renovation Project Interim Financing
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Approve the Jail Board Authority’s issuance of obligations for interim financing
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Rosenberg, Dimock, Sumner, Martin Kumer, Superintendent Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail
PRESENTER (S): Martin Kumer, Roland Kooch and Courtney Rogers, Davenport Financial
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: The Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail (ACRJ) Board Authority became aware of deficiencies in the regional jail facility, including Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) non-compliance, antiquated design, lack of special management unit and lack of proper visitation area, deferred building systems maintenance (HVAC and proper ventilation and air filtration system, plumbing and electrical) and other issues with the facilities infrastructure, and in 2021 engaged in a Community Based Corrections Plan (CBCP) to understand the long-term facility needs of the regional jail. A CBCP study is also required in order to request 25% reimbursement from the General Assembly for capital improvements.
The CBCP determined there was no need to increase the facilities operating capacity of 329 and provided a roadmap for meeting the programming needs for the facility. After meeting with jail staff, the community and stakeholders, a plan to address the above items was submitted to and approved by the Board Authority for final submission to the General Assembly for consideration of 25% reimbursement. The Board Authority was notified in September 2023 that the reimbursement request had been approved by the General Assembly.
At the Board of Supervisors’ February 15, 2023 meeting, Superintendent Martin Kumer and Davenport & Company, Financial Advisor to the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail Authority, presented the interim finance plan for the Jail renovation and the projected budgetary/cash flow impact to each Member Jurisdiction.
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.
DISCUSSION: Now that the General Assembly approved budget includes the 25% reimbursement as requested by the Jail Board Authority, it is timely to engage the ACRJ member jurisdictions to consider the interim financing strategy. The strategy was previously proposed by Davenport and Company, ACRJ’s financial advisors, at the January 23, 2023, Board of Supervisors meeting. The interim funding will be used to procure architecture and engineering services to develop a final design. If approved, the debt will be issued by the Jail Board Authority and debt service will be provided by each jurisdiction based on inmate share.
The selected architecture and engineering firm will engage with and seek input from all stakeholders to include the general public to determine final design. The Jail Board Authority will approve the final design. The approved design will be bid in order to determine the cost of the project. Once the total cost in known, the permanent financing strategy will be presented to all jurisdictions governing bodies for consideration.
BUDGET IMPACT: The County’s share of future costs are included in the supporting documentation and were included in the FY 24 budget. The Jail Board Authority’s FY 24 budget already includes the County’s projected interest share (Attachment A).
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
ACRJ recommends that the Board approve the Resolution (Attachment B).
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Schedule and Plan of Finance
B - Resolution