Agenda

Back to Calendar Return

Regular Agenda Item 3. C.

Regular BOS Meeting

Meeting Date:	03/19/2019
Submitted For:	Steve Lessard
Submitted By:	Sylvia Hernandez, Chief Administrative Officer
Department:	Superior Court	Division:	Probation
Fiscal Year:	FY 2020	Budgeted?:	No
Contract Dates Begin & End:	July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020	Grant?:	No
Matching Requirement?:	No	Fund?:	New

Information

Request/Subject

Approval to purchase a building at 112 W. Cedar Lane in Payson for dual use as Probation Division offices and a teen center.

Background Information

The Probation Division has outgrown the current office space and is doubling up in offices due to lack of space and treatment groups are being run out of a conference and jury room in the building. Moving the Probation Division to an off-site space with probation offices, group treatment rooms, individual treatment rooms, a juvenile respite center, and teen center will fulfill the current needs in the Probation Division. In addition, law enforcement will have a place to take kids for a “cooling off” period when they are not eligible for detention.

The 112 W. Cedar Lane facility has the “bones” for combined use as offices for the Probation Division and a youth center requiring very little demolition and remodeling. Half of the facility is already equipped with offices and the other half open space can be utilized for a teen center. The facility can be purchased with budgeted General Fund Capital Improvements money.

Requested renovation and remodel are estimated to be $140,000. County General Fund Capital Improvements can be used to purchase paint and new flooring at a cost not to exceed $30,000. The remaining renovation cost, if necessary, will be paid from Probation Division Special Revenue Funds. Community service probationers can be utilized to do some of the work, such as painting.

Evaluation

This would be a multi-use facility:

Probation Division offices
Group treatment rooms
Individual treatment offices
Teen Hope Center (activity center with WiFi accessible computers for students, learning and education center with volunteer tutors, movie room for family nights and other group activities, air hockey, video games, music room, ping pong, pool, respite center)
The Learning Center will be in collaboration with the Gila County Library District with computer work stations with WiFi access.
Ground zero for the "School of Hope" in collaboration with Arizona State University and Kids at Hope to benefit the Payson Unified School District.
Funding assistance from the Arizona Supreme Court for the Teen Hope Center to include furniture, games, televisions, music equipment, etc.
Teen Hope Center and group rooms accessible for community events and meetings.

Teens in the greater Payson area have few pro-social activities to engage in outside of school. This center fills a need in the community. The LOFT (Teen Center in Apache County) saw a 55% reduction in law enforcement referrals since opening the LOFT.

This facility frees up much needed space for other County departments to use as directed by the Board of Supervisors.

Conclusion

Allowing the purchase of 112 W. Cedar Lane would create permanent space for adult, juvenile and detention staff to run a fully functioning office alongside a Teen Hope Center for youth in the greater Payson community.

Recommendation

The Gila County Chief Probation Officer and Presiding Judge in agreement with County Finance and the County Manager recommend the purchase of 112 W. Cedar Lane for the purpose of moving the Probation Division and creating Payson’s first Teen Hope Center.

Suggested Motion

Information/Discussion/Action to purchase a building at 112 W. Cedar Lane in Payson for the purpose of moving the Probation Division at a cost of approximately $289,000 plus fees and closing costs. (Steven Lessard)

Attachments
No file(s) attached.