Councilmembers discussed the presentation with the presenters and other
speakers.
Buchanan stated the Rapid Resource Center is a disappointment and the
second courtroom is a big disappointment. When he was working with
stakeholders, that was a through-line with all the stakeholders because it
does not just help one component of the system, it helps the entire system.
He is hoping they can figure out how they can get things onto the buyback
list.
Satpal Sidhu, County Executive, stated the Rapid Resource facility is not
part of the jail but is actually a separate place. The footprint at the Hannegan
site is much bigger so a lot of things are possible. One thought is that it can
be added any time. The courtroom is different, however, because it is part
of the jail. They are aware of these needs being very important and will keep
the Council informed as things develop by August or September.
Schott-Bresler answered what the current thinking is about the jail work
center and if that building could be used for something out-of-custody like
the reentry program or other services. She stated they have not concluded
discussions about what will happen to the work center in the future. She
spoke about prioritizing buy-backs and that some, such as a second
courtroom, are more difficult and expensive to achieve than others.
Scanlon stated Judge Freeman brought up the second courtroom as a
concern, but he would also like to hear from the criminal justice side about
how it might impact their operations. He asked if there is any potential for
state funding for that courtroom space.
Schott-Bresler stated they have not been overly optimistic about state
funding for parts of the facility that would be the jail facility and have
tended to focus their state legislative asks on things connected to behavioral
health services.
Caleb Erickson, Sheriff's Office, answered if the detox medical unit
includes DUI, and stated it is intended to give medical care for people who
are detoxing and other critical medical needs and is not purpose-built for
DUI, although some people who are in custody for DUI may have a
crossover and may have a need that could be met in that space.
Johnson answered when they will start to see the programming and design
for the Behavioral Care Center (since the decisions that will be made about
debt authorization include both facilities), and stated they will be at the
same point they will be with the jail in July or August by November or
December for the BCC.
