Sonoma County lays out $1.8B five‑year CIP and advances County Government Center design

The County's five‑year capital plan, reviewed during Tuesday's workshop, catalogs major projects across Public Infrastructure, Regional Parks and Sonoma Water with an estimated total near $1.8 billion. Travis Schenk of the CEO's office told the Board the CIP includes 293 projects spanning county facilities, bridges, flood protection, water transmission and park access projects.

Highlighted projects included the County Government Center (a proposed new 235,000 square‑foot office building with an estimated construction cost of $320 million), the public health lab and coroner's office (under construction, estimated $47 million), and major Regional Parks trail and marina investments. The plan also identifies a set of four projects recommended for a $4.0 million waterfall from prior year year‑end savings; the waterfall was set aside last year to fund critical repairs requested during budget hearings.

Staff asked the Board for early guidance on priorities—particularly what should be funded from one‑time pots (waterfall, modernization fund) versus deferred to future budgets—and noted that several large projects remain without full funding plans. The County Government Center is in design and the Board will consider a construction‑manager‑at‑risk contract in May, with financial analyses to accompany that contract.

Next steps: staff will return with the CMAR contract and updated financial analysis on the CGC and will present waterfall deliberation options during budget hearings.