DATE:
May 23, 2023
13
TO:
Board of Supervisors
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 IMPAC...
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