Ector County Courthouse Needs Assessment Study

Status Report

Brinkley Sargent Architects

Greg Read

Gina Irwin

January 12, 2015

2

Goals of Study Analyze current departments and determine future space

needs in order to accommodate future growth. Establish condition and constraints of existing

Courthouse building and site and determine ways to satisfy future space needs.

Determine the acreage needed to accommodate the future building and parking needs.

Establish Viable development options with total project budgets and project schedules.

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NEEDS ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY

Gather Facts Develop research forms for staff to complete Review current and future organization charts Review current building / site plans

Conduct Meetings Meetings with key staff from each department Identify department procedures w/future flexibility

Determine Space Needs Identify staff and work spaces Determine appropriate size for support spaces Establish Total Square Footage needs

Develop Options and Pricing With needs established and site and existing building

reviewed, develop options for satisfying needs and

project budget

Population and other factors

Org Charts and Comparable Data

Departmental Space Needs

Total Square Footage (all facilities in study)

Development Options and Budgets

Conduct On-Site Staff Meetings

4

Study Basis Study based upon County resident population at 2034

Source A – County provided dataSource B – based on Texas State Data Center 0.5 migration methodSource C - based on Texas State Data Center 1.0 migration method

2000 2010 2014 2020 2024 2030 2034 2040

Source A 121,123 137,130 149,378

Source B 121,123 137,130 145,164 156,957 164,912 177,157 185,612 198,446

Source C 121,123 137,130 145,960 159,433 169,021 184,168 194,484 209,829

Average 121,123 137,130 146,834 158,195 166,967 180,663 190,048 204,138

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

Ector Co. Population

200,000 used for 2034 - County consensus

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Needs Assessment Have met with staff 3 times and reviewed projected

space needs for 10 and 20 years. Departments involved in the study:

County Court @ Law District Court

County Clerk District Clerk

County Attorney District Attorney

Justice of the Peace Law Library

Adult Probation Compliance

Child Protective Services CASA

Post Sentence Monitoring Court Security/Sheriff

6

Staffing Analysis

New staff to service projected needs

7

Comparable County StaffEctor County Total Staff Projections*Brazos Comal Comal Midland

Year 2014 2024 2034 2015 2022 2032 2104Population 149,378 166,967 200,000 215,143 163,200 210,000 152,000

Current Total Total 3 D/2 CCL 4 D/ 2 CCL 5D/ 3 CCL 5 D/2 CCL

County Judge 3 3 3 3.5 3 3 370th District Court 3 4 4 5 4 4 4161st District Court 3 4 4 4.5 4 4 4244th District Court 3 4 4 5 4 4 4358th District Court 3 4 4 4 4 4Future District Court 0 4 4 4 4Adult Probation 32 40 47 60 43 50

Attorney General Judge (Title IV-D) 2 2 2 5Child Protective Services 2 3 3 2.1Compliance Department 5 7 8County Attorney 24 34 39 32.5 4County Clerk 19.5 22.5 25.5 18 20 28 26County Court at Law #1 3 3 3 5 5 7.5 4County Court at Law #2 3 3 3 5 5 7.5 4Courthouse Security 5 8 8 5 18 21 12District Attorney 25 44 58 35.9 62 69 47District Clerk 25 28 28 18.5 19 22 29Justice of the Peace 13

Precinct 1 4 4 4 5 4 4

Precinct 2 2 2 4 8 4 4

Precinct 3 3 4 4 5 4 4

Precinct 4 3 4 4 4 4 4

Law Library 1.5 1.5 1.5 4 1 1 1Post Sentence Monitor 4 7 15 16CASA 5 7 11 0Jury Pool 1 1

Other 8 18Total 183 248 292 255 208 245 181

Comparable Counties

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Court Statistics – District Court

71,7

14

30,4

00

37,3

45

40,0

00

40,8

00

42,0

00

3

5

4

5

4

5

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

Brazos 2015 Midland 2014 Ector 2014 Ector 2034 Comal 2022 Comal 2032

Statistical Comparison - No. of District Courts to Population

Population Pop/DC # Dist. Courts

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Court Statistics – County Court

107,

572

76,0

00

49,7

93

66,6

67

81,6

00

70,0

00

2 2

3 3

2

3

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

Brazos 2015 Midland 2014 Ector 2014 Ector 2034 Comal 2022 Comal 2032

Statistical Comparison - No. of County Courts to Population

Population Pop/CCL # CCL

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Space Standards Space sizes are defined by function

Workstation or private office? Right-sizing for function by position Sketched specialty spaces to determine proper size by

use

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Additional Right Sizing Addressed handicap accessibility requirements Security

Increased capacity at security checkpoint for public Added security checkpoint for staff

Separation of flows through building – distinct movement of public, staff, and detainees

Creating defined public circulation, waiting and court conference spaces to accommodate future needs

Jury Pool size to meet future court demands

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Space Saving Measures Taken Shared holding between two District Courts Standardized all court audience sizes, except

CPS court Shared break and work areas between two

District Court Admins, typical Adjusted current filing methods to provide more

efficient, condensed filing footprint Future staff workspaces in some departments

will be short-term file storage space; allows for departments to convert to digital files over time

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Building NeedsCourtrooms for 2034District Court – 5 (at present, 4 are required)

Attorney General Court – 1County Court at Law – 3Child Protective Services Court – 1TOTAL = 10*

Status of Square Footage NeedsProjected 2024 Courthouse SF = 168,503 SFProjected 2034 Courthouse SF = 183,383 SF *Total does not include 2 shared Justice of the Peace Courtrooms

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Building Needs – Possible Reductions JPs are moved to respective districts Reduction of conference/meeting spaces at District

Attorneys Office No off-site storage brought to courthouse Utilize roof top mechanical systems

Status of Reductions 2024 Courthouse SF = 152,488 SF (-15,663 SF) 2034 Courthouse SF = 168,328 SF (-16,093 SF)

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Current Building Ector County Courthouse

Original Structure built in 1938 Additions in 1964 and 1985 Total Square Footage of facility = 138,180 sf Due to structural inefficiencies (estimate 8% loss), useable area of the

existing facility = 127,125 sf

Existing Parking = 212 spaces Assigned Parking = 37 + 4 = 41 Approximate Public Parking in Lot = 171

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Current Building - Basement

17

Current Building – Level 1

18

Current Building – Levels 2 and 3

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Current Building Analysis

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Building Analysis – Primary Issues Lack of compliance with current codes if renovation is

undertaken Building Codes Texas Accessibility Standards / ADA Texas State Energy Code

All mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems have met or exceeded anticipated service life

Current layout not conducive to select demolition or partial renovation – all internal space needed to accommodate projected growth and resolve security issues

21Security/Circulation

22Security/Circulation

23Security/Circulation

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Building Analysis – Primary Issues Lack of compliance with current codes if renovation is

undertaken Building Codes Texas Accessibility Standards / ADA Texas State Energy Code

All mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems have met or exceeded anticipated service life

Current layout not conducive to select demolition or partial renovation – all internal space needed to accommodate projected growth and resolve security issues

Current value remaining in building limited to structure and exterior screening walls

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Renovation Considerations Single Phase Renovation

Temporary Court Space Costs Finish Out Tele/Data Rent

Moving Costs (twice) Environmental remediation of

existing building

Multi Phase Renovation Extended Construction Time Temporary Court Space Costs

Finish Out Tele/Data Rent

Moving Costs Environmental remediation of existing building

General Renovation Considerations Impact to public needing to conduct business in construction zone Impact to staff operating in construction zone Potential lost County revenue due to departments being shut down for

periods of time for construction issues or moves

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Current Useable

Area

Projected Needs

With Possible

Reductions

*Balance/ Deficit

2024 Needs 127,125 168,503 152,488 (25,363)

2034 Needs 127,125 183,383 168,328 (41,203)

* Balance is current useable area minus possible reductions square footage

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Capacity of Existing Site Adds required square

footage Maintains current on-

site assigned parking, but does not secure parking

Does not address other parking needs

Existing Court

Facility

Addition

Basement First Second Third

28County Courthouse Parking

Zoning (if not in CBD)

District Clerk 1 23Passport 2

County Clerk 1 25District Attorney 2 56

Investigator Vehicles 10Grand Jury

County Attorney 2 31Investigator Vehicles 8Environmental (take home) 6

Law Library 1Public

Jury Pool 1District Courts and AG Court

Judges 6Staff 18Courtrooms (6)

County CourtsJudges 2Staff 8Courtrooms (3)

County Judge 2 3CPS Court 1 2

CourtroomCASA 11

Adult Probation 2 45 10Compliance 7Monitoring 1 14 4Security 10

Subtotal 20 263 32

Factor 1 0.92 1

Total 20 242 32 294

Parking

Department Enclosed/Secure

Secure (County)

Secure (Staff)

Established Parking Needs In a typical day, each type of parking area

was reviewed to accommodate the entire facility: Enclosed/Secure Staff Secure Staff Secure County Vehicles

Take-Home Shifting

Total calculated spaces = 294

29County Courthouse Parking

Zoning (if not in CBD)

District Clerk 1 23Passport 2

County Clerk 1 25District Attorney 2 56

Investigator Vehicles 10Grand Jury

County Attorney 2 31Investigator Vehicles 8Environmental (take home) 6

Law Library 1Public

Jury Pool 1District Courts and AG Court

Judges 6Staff 18Courtrooms (6)

County CourtsJudges 2Staff 8Courtrooms (3)

County Judge 2 3CPS Court 1 2

CourtroomCASA 11

Adult Probation 2 45 10Compliance 7Monitoring 1 14 4Security 10

Subtotal 20 263 32

Factor 1 0.92 1

Total 20 242 32 294

Parking

Department Enclosed/Secure

Secure (County)

Secure (Staff)

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Parking City Zoning has no required parking in Central

Business District; however, if calculated for a non-CBD site, expected parking = 561 spaces.

Zoning Count 561

Staff Count -294

Needed to cover Zoning/Public 267

Existing Public Parking is 171, so the deficit in public spaces is:

267 – 171 = 96 spaces

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Next Steps Public Meeting(s) Review Renovation Options Analyze Potential New Site(s) Create Budgets for Options Present Findings Finalize Report

THANK YOU