Needs Assessment

Last Updated: July 26th, 2019 at 4:47 PM

Overview

On March 20, 2018 the Grand County Board of County Commissioners adopted a Strategic Plan called Grand Results. Out of the 14 different items, the Board identified the need to look at a public safety facility. As a result of that, the Manager's Office worked on a request for qualifications and publicly advertised it. After conducting interviews, RJA Architects was recommended to the Board of County Commissioners by staff for the scope of work. 

Reilly Johnson Architecture (RJA) has 37 years under their belt as an Architecture firm. The firm does justice and public sector architecture. In late September 2018, RJA presented the BOCC with a proposal that was accepted after the addition of reviewing independent facilities during Phase II.

RJA was contracted to assess the County’s current facilities because part of what the Board identified in the Strategic Plan was that there are several facilities with safety concerns affecting employees and the citizens who frequent those facilities. 

Public Opinion Survey and Comment Form

Public Safety Facility Briefing

May 22, 2018, Update (Full Presentation: Audio | Slides | Minutes Excerpt)

The strategies being considered:

• Needs Assessment
• Location
• Communications
• Financing
• Building

Needs Assessment Updates

January 15, 2019, Update Summary (Full Presentation: Audio | Slides | Minutes Excerpt)

On January 15, 2019, Bob Johnson of RJA presented the first of two updates to the BOCC on the findings regarding the Needs Assessment. The presentation addressed the firm's observations of the following facilities: Sheriff's Office, Public Health, Social Services, and EMS in both Granby and the Town of Fraser. 

• The space requirements are considered for future growth to 20 years.
• The recommendation is to build the facility for a minimum of 52. More likely it will be built to 60
• Mr. Johnson provided drawings of proposed locations for the Sheriff’s Office and Jail. One is to tear down the existing Sheriff’s facility and builds across the west half of Moffat Avenue and onto the west half of the parking lot to the south. This plan would require Dispatch and Detention to go somewhere else for the period to demolish and rebuild.
• One option would be to take the entire parking lot to the south of the Judicial Building. A tunnel could be built from the new Detention facility to the basement of the Judicial Building.

February 5, 2019, Update Summary (Full Presentation: Audio | Slides | Minutes Excerpt)

On February 5, 2019, Bob Johnson of RJA presented a second update to the BOCC on the findings regarding the Needs Assessment. The presentation addressed the firm's observations of the following facilities: Sheriff's Office, Public Health, Social Services, and EMS in both Granby and the Town of Fraser. 

• All the services that need to be considered for upgrade - law enforcement, dispatch, detention center, garage, animal shelter, EMS (Granby), EMS (Fraser), Social Services, and Public Health amount to 46,654 square feet needs to be twice as much square footage at 92,796. If services were to be co-located, the amount of square footage needed could be cut by almost 10 percent.
• Cost sharing is a big piece of co-located buildings. 
• Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin stated that the Sheriff’s Office was built in 1983. It houses the Sheriff’s Office and Jail. There have been a lot of issues in the building – safety and security. There has been human feces floating in the building when there was a jail back up. He spends $40,000 to $50,000 every time it happens. There have been fires in the building. The locks are failing, the cameras are failing, and doors are failing. They are also facing a mental health crisis in additional to the criminal acts. The size of the facility is not the only issue. There is a concern for the safety of the employees and the citizens of the County. 
• Sheriff Schroetlin stated that as Sheriff, he is responsible for responding to all law enforcement actions within Grand County, assisting the Towns, protection to the public, civil service, wildland fire, search and rescue to 1850 square miles. Over the past few years, 74 percent of the calls occurred from Highway 34/40 to the east while 26 percent of the calls from Highway 34/40 to the west (including Hot Sulphur Springs). The needs of the Sheriff are in a different direction.
• Winter Park Chief of Police Glen Trainor stated that he was the Undersheriff for twelve years. The jail did not meet the American Correctional Association standards when he started working for the Sheriff’s Office. Many issues have resulted as claims against the County.

February 12, 2019, Financial Strategy Summary (Full Presentation: Audio | Slides | Minutes Excerpt)

On February 12, the BOCC were presented with possible funding strategies for County infrastructure improvements. The presentation included the estimated cost of the facilities and priorities for County infrastructure funding.

February 19, 2019, Needs Assessment - Cont. Discussion (Full Presentation: Audio | Minutes Excerpt)

On February 19, the BOCC continued with a discussion about the Needs Assessment. Commissioner Cimino stated that he would like to find out:

1. Why RJA gave lower costs to a nearby County for a similar facility.
2. If the County could get a real estate analysis.
3. Get solid costs on transportation costs
4. The number of beds needed in the detention facility

February 26, 2019, Needs Assessment - Cont. Discussion (Full Presentation: Audio | Minutes Excerpt)

On February 26, the BOCC continued with a discussion about the Needs Assessment. Interim County Manager Ed Moyer stated that there needs to be prioritization of facilities.

March 5, 2019, Needs Assessment - Cont. Discussion (Full Presentation: Audio | Minutes Excerpt)

On March 5, the BOCC continued with a discussion about the Needs Assessment.

Mr. Moyer stated that the priorities are with the understanding that if there is an existing building that would suit the needs of Health and Human Services, the County would evaluate that with the caveat that a purchase would not limit the County’s ability to finance the public safety facility.

• Possible ballot item(s) for 2019 election
  • To fund Public Safety facility in HSS
  • To fund EMS facility in Granby area
  • To fund HHS facility – in HSS and look at available buildings rather than build.
• Design costs are 8% of facility - $2.6 million for jail
  • May need plans before vote
• Bond underwriters/Bond counsel/Financial Advisors/Political consultants need to be contacted to begin work
  • Do we send RFP’s out?
• Real Estate study to find potential sales/purchases for these facilities

March 12, 2019, East Grand School District Update (Full Presentation: Audio | Minutes Excerpt)

On March 12, the BOCC were presented with an update from East Grand School District about their interest in presenting a ballot question to the county. 

• Mr. Reeves stated that East Grand School District is looking at 2020 for a ballot question to fund one of the scenarios.
• Mr. Reeves believes that there will be a need for 3 to 4 mills for the next 20 years.
• Commissioner Cimino stated that the Board agreed to have RJA consider two buildings for the County. One is Granby Elementary and the other is a building in Hot Sulphur Springs owned by Kent Whitmer.

May 28, 2019, Fiscal Strategy, Project Scope, Properties (Full Presentation: Audio | Minutes Excerpt)

On May 28, the BOCC continued with a discussion about the Needs Assessment. 

• County Manager Kate McIntire stated that it has been identified that the Detention Facility and Sheriff’s Office is the first priority.
• Commissioner Cimino stated that he would like a financial ceiling for the Detention Facility and Sheriff’s Office. Commissioner Cimino would like the Sheriff, County Manager, and consultant to come up with a plan using a ceiling of $20 to $25 million.
• The Sheriff’s Office believes that the County needs a 62-bed Detention Facility.

July 22,2019, Facility Needs Assessment Programming