{"id":10696,"date":"2010-03-26T12:51:49","date_gmt":"2010-03-26T16:51:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=10696"},"modified":"2020-12-25T17:26:21","modified_gmt":"2020-12-25T22:26:21","slug":"joint-building-task-force-notes-20100326","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2010\/03\/26\/joint-building-task-force-notes-20100326\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint Building Task Force notes – 3\/26\/2010"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"North<\/a><\/p>\n

Notes from today’s Joint Building Task Force meeting.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Fort Wayne Police Chief Rusty York is before the Task Force. \u00c2\u00a0His choice would be to have his department here, in the City-County Building as it’s already designed for public safety. \u00c2\u00a0Allen County Sheriff Fries is saying that he has no comment about where they (FWPD) would be located. \u00c2\u00a0He would also rather be moved into the City-County Building.<\/p>\n

Commissioner Nelson Peters is asking if there would be any detriment to co-locating with City Police. \u00c2\u00a0He is responding that after 9-11, a concern is concentrating all the eggs in one basket. \u00c2\u00a0He’s also concerned about costs to tax payers. \u00c2\u00a0Commissioner Peters is reminding everyone that only about 15 people are going to be moved and, this wouldn’t really be putting all the eggs in one basket.<\/p>\n

Fort Wayne \u00c2\u00a0City Councilman Tom Smith is asking about the up to a $1 million Mayor Tom Henry offered for a state-of-the-art crime lab. \u00c2\u00a0Is it really necessary? \u00c2\u00a0How are we treating crime lab work now? \u00c2\u00a0Sheriff Fries is responding it’s not necessary. They’ve never had an issue with the State Police Lab. \u00c2\u00a0Chief York is clarifying the state-of-the-art term. \u00c2\u00a0They already have state-of-the-art in some areas. \u00c2\u00a0It wasn’t initially meant for things like DNA analyis. \u00c2\u00a0They currently do some marijuana and fingerprint analysis, but the\u00c2\u00a0ventilation\u00c2\u00a0system is inadequate. \u00c2\u00a0He is also stating it would not be duplication of \u00c2\u00a0what the State does. \u00c2\u00a0It does need an upgrade. \u00c2\u00a0Firearms analysis is also included.<\/p>\n

Commissioner Bill Brown is talking about the\u00c2\u00a0satellite locations throughout Allen County. \u00c2\u00a0Allen County Councilman Roy Buskirk feels he hasn’t heard about these satellite locations. \u00c2\u00a0Brown and Bloom are responding it has been talked about for quite a while.<\/p>\n

Commissioner Linda Bloom is talking about the ability of citizens throughout the County to interact with officers rather than having to come downtown.<\/p>\n

Fort Wayne City Councilman Tim Pape asked for a round of applause over the recently completed communications consolidation.<\/p>\n

Allen County Councilman Roy Buskirk \u00c2\u00a0is asking if the FWPD transports prisoners. \u00c2\u00a0Chief York is responding no, only for questioning. \u00c2\u00a0They do transport to and from the Allen County lockup.<\/p>\n

Allen County Councilman Paul Moss is asking if Chief York feels he has been adequately engaged in this process. \u00c2\u00a0He is responding that he hasn’t been asked directly about the impact. \u00c2\u00a0He feels it would be beneficial to have the investigative divisions in close proximity. \u00c2\u00a0He feels the daily interaction would be beneficial. \u00c2\u00a0No matter where they go, a suite of interview facilities would be needed. \u00c2\u00a0For six rooms, the total cost \u00c2\u00a0including audio and video, would cost $60,000.<\/p>\n

Fort Wayne City Councilman Mitch Harper is talking about the need for evidence storage. \u00c2\u00a0Storage would depend on the type of system. \u00c2\u00a0There is some shelving they would be interested in. \u00c2\u00a0Should be refrigerated storage. \u00c2\u00a0Both currently have all the storage space needed, although it will eventually run out. \u00c2\u00a0They need it to be secure. \u00c2\u00a0Harper is asking for clarification whether they would forsee needing additional space in the future. \u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0Chief York is saying they’re looking, in consideration of these plans, 20 years out. \u00c2\u00a0Vehicles could not be housed in either location.<\/p>\n

Commissioner Brown is talking about group dynamics. \u00c2\u00a0Will working side by side make them stronger? \u00c2\u00a0Sheriff Fries is responding he does not know if it would. \u00c2\u00a0Chief York is talking about the posts they have away from downtown. \u00c2\u00a0He doesn’t see a negative.<\/p>\n

Councilman Harper is talking about continually having to look 20 years out in public safety. \u00c2\u00a0He’s asking about consolidation of departments. \u00c2\u00a0Sheriff Fries and Chief York feel there haven’t been a lot of positives coming out of Indianapolis.<\/p>\n

Councilman Pape is asking if two places for gun permits and vehicle storage are needed? \u00c2\u00a0York is responding they have to be issued in the\u00c2\u00a0jurisdiction\u00c2\u00a0they reside, so the County could take it over. \u00c2\u00a0SWAT utilitzes some of the vehichles, so it would have to be centralized.<\/p>\n

Commissioner Brown is stating the crime rate is going down in Allen County.<\/p>\n

Ron Dick, Design Collaborative, and Cory Miller, SchenkelShultz are presenting. \u00c2\u00a0Their presentation will be posted later on the City website. \u00c2\u00a0As soon as it’s available, I’ll post a link here.<\/p>\n

Process outline:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Due\u00c2\u00a0diligence\u00c2\u00a0including tours, interviews,\u00c2\u00a0questionnaires<\/li>\n
  2. New Layout Plans for Scheme A and B<\/li>\n
  3. Cost estimates<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Cory Miller is talking about the costs estimates. \u00c2\u00a0Scheme A which would put the public safety into CCB would cost approximately $12.1 million as \u00c2\u00a0a base price. \u00c2\u00a0Recommended add-ons would bring the total to $14.6 million (can hardly see the numbers). \u00c2\u00a0Scheme B base price is $11.6 million while the Recommended add-ons would bring it to $14.0 million.<\/p>\n

    Scheme A is the public safety functions annd tax-related functions into the CCB. \u00c2\u00a0Management team, Internal Service Team Development-related functions, and City Utilities into Renaissance Square.<\/p>\n

    Commissioner Brown is asking about parking needs. \u00c2\u00a0Ron Dick responded it’s not been part of their study. \u00c2\u00a0Moderator John Stafford is responding parking is adequate. \u00c2\u00a0Mayor Henry is responding maximum walking distance for employees would be two weeks.<\/p>\n

    Mayor Henry is clarifying the base price is the cost. \u00c2\u00a0Can the additional add-ons be phased in over two or three years. \u00c2\u00a0Ron Dick is responding yes. \u00c2\u00a0However, it would be cheaper and easier to do the work before move in to the Renaissance Square. \u00c2\u00a0Mayor Henry is again stating it could be spread out.<\/p>\n

    Commissioner Peters is asking about the estimates and if they were based on the Renaissance Square being empty now, renovations completed, then move and so forth.<\/p>\n

    Commissioner Bloom is asking if departments could be expanded if necessary. \u00c2\u00a0Response is yes. \u00c2\u00a0She is asking if the plans are locked in, or if things could be moved around. \u00c2\u00a0Response is no, things could be moved if necessary.<\/p>\n

    Commissioner Nelson Peters is asking under scheme B, how much of the storage space would be duplicated. \u00c2\u00a0Cory Miller is responding storage space would be separate, no duplication. \u00c2\u00a0Peters is now asking about balance in buildings. \u00c2\u00a0Under Scheme B, 45,211 square footage would remain empty in Renaissance square while a little over 1,200 square footage in the CCB would remain empty.<\/p>\n

    Allen County Councilwoman Paula Hughes is stating she would now like to talk about the impact \u00c2\u00a0of changes on staff, public perceptions and needs, etc.<\/p>\n

    Allen County Councilman Paul Moss \u00c2\u00a0is asking about vending areas. \u00c2\u00a0Larger area in Renaissance Square, smaller in CCB. \u00c2\u00a0Adult Probation was excluded from this study. \u00c2\u00a0The working group had stated it was not appropriate to put Adult Probation in either building. \u00c2\u00a0It would be around 8,500 square feet. \u00c2\u00a0The schemes do not include furniture or moving costs as this was not part of the study. \u00c2\u00a0Moss is stating he doesn’t care if public safety is co-located.<\/p>\n

    Councilman Pape is asking under Scheme where Neighborhood Code would be? \u00c2\u00a0With the rest of the development team in Renaissance Square. \u00c2\u00a0Pape is asking why the tax team would remain separate. \u00c2\u00a0Ron Dick is responding it’s always been that way. \u00c2\u00a0 \u00c2\u00a0Pape is saying there would be room in Renaissance Square could be put in Renaissance Square. \u00c2\u00a0Commissioner Peters is joking that some people aren’t happy with their tax bills.<\/p>\n

    Councilman Harper is talking about voter registration and elections board being away from the need for security to not harm the process. \u00c2\u00a0Commissioner Bloom is stating when the Keystone building was redone, elections departments were brought here.<\/p>\n

    Mayor Tom Henry is thanking John Stafford and members of the task force for their time. \u00c2\u00a0Part of his original invitation was to sit down and look at a plan which would best suit both buildings. \u00c2\u00a0He feels a plan has been put forth that will put both public safety departments here. \u00c2\u00a0Scheme A will be a full co-location plan. \u00c2\u00a0He is thanking Councilman Moss for putting forth his plan. \u00c2\u00a0But Scheme A validates the co-location idea which is in the best interest. \u00c2\u00a0The contribution approved by the City-Council, amount pledged by the County Council make it possible to move forward with the co-location plan. \u00c2\u00a0Let’s move forward. \u00c2\u00a0He is asking for a motion for Scheme A to be adapted.<\/p>\n

    Commissioner Peters is stating he would second the motion, but doesn’t know if any definite promises have been made, regarding who will pay for what and where. \u00c2\u00a0Mayor Henry is responding that the various bodies have pledged and approved monies.<\/p>\n

    Councilwoman Hughes is suggesting each branch fund their own furniture requirements. \u00c2\u00a0The motion was so ammended.<\/p>\n

    Mayor Henry has called the question. \u00c2\u00a0The vote:<\/p>\n