Okaloosa County BOCC — August 6, 2013 — Agenda — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: April 2, 2013 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Don Turner SUBJECT: Crestview Courthouse Task Force DEPARTMENT: Facility Maintenance BCC DISTRICT: All STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Request BCC direction regarding two recommendations from the Crestview Courthouse Task Force regarding the future development of the Crestview Courthouse. BACKGROUND: More than a year ago, the BCC authorized the formation of the Crestview Courthouse Task Force to be made up of representatives from the current occupants of the courthouse and certain other stakeholders in the future development of the facility. When it was originally built in 1953, the courthouse was the center of county government activity for Okaloosa County. The 1962-63 expansion added two new sections to the building, one at each end. Over the years, court activity has required more and more space forcing the county to relocate some of the non-judicial functions out of the courthouse. The only two remaining non-judicial units still occupying space in the courthouse are the Property Appraiser and the BCC chambers. With the growth in population in the north end of the county coupled with the expected future growth, court and court related functions need more space for their work. The Task Force members met for the first time on Friday, February 22, 2013. The voting members were advised of the requirements with respect to the Sunshine Law. The second meeting was held on Friday, March 22, 2013, out of which two recommendations were passed unanimously by all the voting members present to be brought before the BCC. RECOMMENDATION #1: The Crestview Courthouse Task Force recommends that, to facilitate future growth, the Board of County Commissioners commit conceptually to a goal that all non-judicial functions should be removed from the Crestview Courthouse as a part of a future plan for the courthouse. When complete, only court and court related operations will remain in the courthouse. This would entail relocating the Property Appraiser's operations and the BCC chambers out of the Crestview courthouse and into some other facility, to be determined. RECOMMENDATION #2: The Crestview Courthouse Task Force recommends that the Board of County Commissioners authorize putting out an RFQ for firms qualified to provide space planning, blocking, and other necessary services during the pre design phase for the space planning of the Crestview Courthouse. RECOMMENDATIONS: Request BCC direction regarding two recommendations from the Crestview Courthouse Task Force regarding the future development of the Crestview courthouse. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: Ernie Padgett, County Administrator