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Board approves Family Justice Center plans for advertisement after debate over $2M funding plan
Summary
Board approved final plans and specifications for the MAPS Family Justice Center to be advertised; discussion focused on a proposed $2 million temporary funding/loan arrangement tied to MAPS investment/endowment funds and a list of alternates excluded from the base bid.
The MAPS for Citizen Advisory Board approved final plans and specifications Feb. 6 to advertise the Family Justice Center project, after a detailed presentation of the building program and a lengthy discussion about funding and alternates.
Dan Hayes presented a multi‑story design for a roughly 73,000‑square‑foot Family Justice Center in Midtown, sited opposite the existing Palomar building near Hudson, Eleventh Street and Park Place. Hayes described client intake rooms with access to a landscaped courtyard, a children’s sanctuary, forensic medical space with a separate entrance, partner offices (including a medical partner), a public coffee shop and community hall, and partner/staff circulation that separates clients and staff. Hayes said the Third Floor fit‑out and selected items are being treated as alternates in the base bid because of budget constraints.
On budget, Hayes and staff reported the original project budget was about $26,000,000; current estimates sit at about $27,900,000. To bridge escalation, staff proposed using $2,000,000 from an endowment/investment trust to increase the budget to just over $28,000,000. The board discussed the mechanics: staff described a plan to temporarily draw $2,000,000 from MAPS investment funds (pledging that endowment funds held by the Palomar operator would remain intact) with the intent to reimburse that amount from future excess MAPS collections or investment returns when they are available. Several board members expressed concern about precedent, the risk of using pooled funds, and how alternates would affect Palomar’s operations.
Hayes listed alternates excluded from the base build, totaling roughly $5.3–$5.4 million, including Third Floor fit‑out, coffee shop fit‑out, certain security items (security film and bullet‑resistant glazing), playground equipment and technical/IT items. Staff noted the police department may cover some security costs and the police will provide their own furniture.
Board members approved final plans and specs to go to council and to advertise the project in accordance with the funding plan presented. The transcript records a motion and subsequent approval; a roll‑call tally was not recorded in the transcript.
