SUBJECT
Title
GENERAL SERVICES - APPROVAL OF NEW LEASE AGREEMENT FOR THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, 124 W. MAIN STREET, EL CAJON, AND NOTICE OF EXEMPTION (DISTRICT: 2)
Body
OVERVIEW
Effective Fiscal Year 2022-23, the Public Defender added 90 staff, increasing staffing numbers in all Public Defender branches, including East County. The existing East County office for the Public Defender is located at the East County Regional Center (ECRC) and is occupied by both the Primary Public Defender (PPD) and Alternate Public Defender (APD) divisions. The East County office cannot accommodate additional staff, and there is no opportunity to expand the offices at the ECRC. On January 27, 2022, the Public Safety Group approved, in principle, a new lease for the Public Defender in East County. The office space needs to be within close proximity to the East County Superior Court.
Staff from the Department of General Services have negotiated a new lease agreement for 10,486 square feet of office space located at 124 W. Main Street in El Cajon. Approving a new lease agreement at 124 W. Main Street will allow APD staff, as well as the Public Defender’s Holistic Services unit consisting of substance abuse assessors, housing navigators, and mental health clinicians, to relocate. This move will allow PPD staff to expand in existing branch locations vacated by APD and the Holistic Services unit. If approved, Public Defender estimates 34 total staff members will be assigned to the new facility within the next year. Today’s request is for Board of Supervisors approval of the lease agreement.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
1. Find that the proposed lease is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines section 15301.
2. Approve and authorize the Director, Department of General Services, to execute the lease for space located at 124 W. Main Street, El Cajon.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
It is anticipated that the proposed lease for the Public Defender will have a positive impact on the community by providing opportunities for representation in traditionally underserved communities.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
Implementing effective sustainability objectives is crucial to ensuring safe and healthy communities and contributing to the overall success of the region. The approval of the lease is appropriate as it supports the County’s Strategic Initiative of Sustainability to ensure the capability to respond to immediate needs for individuals, families, and the region.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds for this request are included in the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Operational Plan and Fiscal Year 2023-24 CAO Recommended Operational Plan in the Public Defender. If approved, this request will result in costs and revenue of approximately $28,837 in Fiscal Year 2022-23 based on an estimated lease commencement date of June 1, 2023, and costs and revenue of $346,038 in Fiscal Year 2023-24. The funding source is existing General Purpose Revenue. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
THIS ITEM HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN AT THE REQUEST OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
N/A
BACKGROUND
The East County branch of the Public Defender is located at the East County Regional Center (ECRC) at 250 E. Main Street in El Cajon. The Public Defender occupies office space on the sixth and eighth floors of the building and there are no opportunities to expand within the ECRC.
Due to population growth, demographics and changes in legislation, Public Defender has experienced an increase in case load and has added staff to accommodate this increase. Effective July 1, 2022, the Public Defender added 90 staff . The existing East County office is currently occupied by both the Primary Public Defender (PPD) and Alternate Public Defender (APD) divisions and cannot accommodate additional staff. Given the sensitive nature of the work and the need to be accessible to the public, teleworking is not a viable option for most staff, and additional office space is needed.
Staff from the Department of General Services have negotiated a new lease agreement for 10,486 square feet of office space located at 124 W. Main in El Cajon. The space is located within close proximity to East County Superior Court. The rental rate is within fair market value for a full-service lease in east county. If approved, the new leased premises will be occupied by the East County APD and the Holistic Services unit, which includes substance abuse assessors, housing navigators, and licensed mental health clinicians. Relocating these staff to 124 W. Main will allow other existing branch locations to accommodate its share of the newly added positions.
Details of the proposed lease are as follows:
|
LEASE PROVISION |
PROPOSED LEASE |
|
LESSOR |
Priest Development Corporation |
|
PREMISES |
10,486 square feet located at 124 W. Main Street, El Cajon |
|
TERM |
5 years |
|
OPTIONS TO EXTEND TERM |
Two five-year options to extend |
|
RENT ADJUSTMENTS |
3% annual adjustment |
|
EARLY TERMINATION |
None |
|
UTILITIES |
Lessor pays |
|
MAINTENANCE |
Lessor pays |
|
CUSTODIAL |
Lessor pays |
|
MONTHLY OCCUPANCY COST Rent Utilities Custodial Maintenance Parking TOTAL OCCUPANCY COST PER MONTH |
$28,837 ($2.75/SF) $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $28,837 ($2.75/SF) |
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
The proposed lease amendment is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines because it involves the lease of an existing building with minor interior alterations, involving negligible or no expansion of the existing use.
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s proposed action to approve the lease for the Public Defender supports the Justice initiative in the County of San Diego’s 2023-2028 Strategic Plan by providing inclusive opportunities for justice involved individuals.
Respectfully submitted,
HELEN N. ROBBINS-MEYER
Interim Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A: Notice of Exemption