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Legislature directs architects to design downtown "center of government" concept; board of elections relocation and parking concerns raised
Summary
The legislature approved an amended resolution directing Holt Architects to continue design work for a downtown center-of-government building (approx. 45,000 sq ft planning footprint), shifting some departments and proposing relocation options for the Board of Elections; members raised accessibility and parking concerns before the unanimous vote.
Members debated and approved a resolution (with an incorporated amendment) to advance planning for a downtown center-of-government building. The amended plan reduces an earlier 55,000 square-foot estimate to an approximate 45,000-square-foot planning footprint by relocating some departments (for example, workforce development to the old jail) and by moving Board of Elections staff and election-machine storage to the Human Services Annex or "a location to be determined adequate to the needs of the department." The amendment was introduced to preserve flexibility for future redevelopment of the Human Services Annex.
Several legislators, including Randy Brown, emphasized public-access concerns: in committee the design had not yet built in parking for constituents on the county property. "Why are we gonna do this if it's not gonna be accessible to the public?" Brown asked, urging that the design consider parking and short-term drop-off spaces. Committee chairs and administration said discussions with the city about limited short-term parking and site access will continue. Holt Architects were given direction to proceed with design work; the amended resolution passed unanimously.
