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Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) of $4,900,000 to fund Phase 1 of the Downtown Justice Campus Security Improvements Project, funded by the General Fund and Capital Renewal Reserve (4/5 vote required); and Delegate authority to the County Administrator, or designee, to execute a construction agreement and any necessary amendments for the Downtown Justice Campus Security Improvements - Phase 1 project, with County Counsel concurrence, and within the approved project budget
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of General Services recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) of $4,900,000 to fund Phase 1 of the Downtown Justice Campus Security Improvements Project (BU 1981), funded by the General Fund and Capital Renewal Reserve (4/5 vote required); and
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator, or designee, to execute a construction agreement and any necessary amendments for the Downtown Justice Campus Security Improvements - Phase 1 Project, with County Counsel concurrence, and within the approved project budget
SUMMARY:
The Downtown Justice Campus Security Improvements Project addresses identified security vulnerabilities surrounding critical County operations located on the east side of the Justice Campus in Fairfield. The project will establish a controlled security perimeter around operational areas of the campus, including staff parking areas, operational support buildings, and the Justice Center Detention Facility.
The project will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 includes underground utility relocation required to remove conflicting utility easements and support the abandonment of the Clay Street right-of-way. Phase 2 will include installation of above-ground security improvements such as fencing, gates, and controlled access points. Engineering design for the Phase 1 underground improvements is complete and construction pricing was obtained through competitively bid alternates included in a related County construction project. The bid results are currently under review.
Staff is requesting approval of a $4.9 million ATR to fund Phase 1 construction. Completion of Phase 1 will allow the County to remove conflicting utility easements (Attachment A) and support implementation of the proposed security perimeter (Attachment B). Funding for Phase 2 improvements will be requested at a later date.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
An initial project budget of $1,192,470 from the Capital Renewal Reserve Fund was previously appropriated in Budget Unit 1981 to support engineering and project management for the Downtown Justice Campus Security Improvements Project, including preparation of engineering plans for both Phase 1 underground utility relocation and the Phase 2 security perimeter improvements.
Approval of the requested $4.9 million ATR will fund construction of the Phase 1 underground work. The project will be funded by the use of $4,127,688 in one-time General Fund resources derived from reimbursement of eligible project and related costs previously incurred by the County General Fund in connection with a completed bridge construction project and a draw of $772,312 from the County’s Capital Renewal Reserve. The reimbursed funds represent recovery of prior County project expenditures rather than new or discretionary revenue and are being reallocated to support this capital project. A summary of the project budget is provided in Attachment C. Project funding for Phase 2 above-ground security improvements is currently estimated at approximately $6.8 million and will be requested at a future date.
The costs associated with preparing this agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION
The Downtown Justice Campus Security Improvements Project is intended to enhance security and operational control for the east side of the Justice Campus in Fairfield. The campus contains several critical County functions, including the Sheriff’s Office, Courts, the Justice Center Detention Facility, Office of Emergency Services, Radio Communications, Facilities Operations, and the County cogeneration plant. Portions of the campus currently lack controlled access, leaving staff parking areas and operational facilities exposed to unrestricted vehicle and pedestrian access. Incidents involving vandalism, unauthorized individuals, and vehicle circulation through operational areas have highlighted the need for improved access control. Establishing a controlled perimeter will help protect County staff, visitors, and facilities while improving access management within the campus.
Engineering design for the proposed above-ground security perimeter was previously completed under earlier project efforts. A key component of the project includes extending the secured campus boundary to Clay Street. However, abandonment of the Clay Street right-of-way by the City of Fairfield is required before the security perimeter can be implemented. As a condition of that abandonment, existing sewer infrastructure and utility easements crossing Justice Campus property must be relocated.
On January 27, 2026, the Board approved an Improvement Agreement with the City of Fairfield and the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District to facilitate the offsite sewer relocation required to remove these utility easements. The presence of these easements currently constrains implementation of the proposed security improvements and may also affect future development identified in the 2017 Downtown Justice Campus Master Plan.
On June 24, 2025, the Board approved a professional services agreement with Kjeldsen, Sinnock & Neudeck, Inc. to prepare engineering plans for the Phase 1 utility work. Phase 1 engineering is now complete. Construction pricing for the Phase 1 underground improvements was obtained through competitively bid alternates included in a related County construction project. General Services is currently reviewing the bid results and coordinating construction scheduling with nearby County construction activities to minimize operational impacts to Justice Campus operations.
Staff is requesting approval of the $4.9 million ATR to fund Phase 1 construction and delegation of authority to the County Administrator to execute the construction agreement and any necessary amendments, with County Counsel concurrence, and within the approved project budget.
Completion of Phase 1 underground work will remove conflicting easements and support future implementation of the proposed security perimeter. However, Phase 2 above-ground security improvements, including installation of fencing, gates, and controlled access points, will require separate funding and future Board approval.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve the ATR or delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute the construction agreement and necessary amendments. This is not recommended because engineering design is complete, and the project is ready to proceed. Delaying construction would likely increase future project costs and postpone improvements needed to address existing security vulnerabilities.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Sheriff’s Office, Resource Management Department, the local courts, City of Fairfield Public Works Department, Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, and PG&E have been consulted on, or have assisted in, the development of the proposed Security Plan and/or utility relocation concepts.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION