YOUTH SHELTER
1. Update on New
Building Costs for
FEMA
February 10
Dave Martin has been contracted to develop costs for a new
Youth Shelter on the existing site. Relocation is not a
recoverable cost by FEMA because the existing site is not in the
100 year flood plain. Travis has sent the costs to FEMA, but
there are many questions about the increased square footage.
Fagerbakke stated the additional space is required in order to
meet code, such as including an elevator, wider halls for proper
egress, etc. Martin has submitted an accurate repair cost
estimate of $439,014 (58%) of the cost ($973,370) of a new
building.
February 17
Travis is working with FEMA regarding questions on cost
estimates.
February 24
Travis said hopefully the repair cost estimate will meet the 50%
requirement, otherwise FEMA will cover only the cost of
repairs, not a new structure. Since the building has to be a two
story structure to fit on the existing lot, it is more costly than a
one story structure. FEMA would pay for land at a different
location if land and building costs combined are less than
constructing on the existing site. Jarvis said if the County is
denied a new structure, it will need to make a decision whether
or not to keep the Youth Shelter program.
March 3
The County now has a preliminary PW for $991,303. Estenson
will get it to FEMA this week to prepare the final PW.
Jon Betrus wants the demolition plans ready when FEMA
obligates the PW. Fagerbakke and Dave Martin are meeting
with demolition contractors for quoting on March 16. Once a
contractor is chosen, it will be placed on the Board agenda for
approval.
The final PW is ready for signing and to be sent to FEMA. It
should take approximately a month for funds to be obligated.
2. Location
April 7
Approximately $1 million will be obligated soon; 80% of that
could go toward an alternate project if the County eliminates the
Youth Shelter program. There are to be discussions with the
Board soon regarding the program.
February 10
Temporary space for the Youth Shelter has been located,
however, the cost is $13,000 a month for 6,000 square feet. The
space is fully furnished. Travis is gathering information on the
lease to discuss with FEMA to see if it will be covered.
February 17
Hutchins said the Youth Shelter program could move into the
Horizons facility without buildout; it’s fully furnished and
Linn County Disaster Recovery Team
Meeting Notes
Youth Shelter
Page 2 of 6
includes utilities and licensing. Travis said he will turn it in to
FEMA, letting them know this type of facility can’t go just
anywhere; this is about the only option available to the Youth
Shelter.
Hutchins asked if the Youth Shelter clients could go to other
counties. Jarvis responded yes, at no cost to Linn County.
Tucker said it doesn’t make financial sense to keep the program;
resources are taken from other programs to fund the Youth
Shelter. Fagerbakke calculated it would cost close to $150,000
a year to lease space for the shelter.
The Committee decided to have the Board of Supervisors
provide direction on whether to lease the Horizons facility.
Options staff, most likely John Brandt, will be asked to be
involved in presenting the pros and cons to the Board on leasing
the space. Hutchins to work with John Brandt on developing
pros and cons.
February 24
Hutchins said Horizons is refiguring the cost of the lease, which
had included utilities. A revised lease will be offered within 2
weeks. The Team agreed the lease should not be signed if the
cost doesn’t come down. Hutchins, along with Jeff Lindeman,
have been instructed to provide the Board with pros and cons of
the Youth Shelter temporarily located at the Juvenile Detention
Center vs. at a different location, such as Horizons.
It was suggested relocating the Youth Shelter to the Abbe after
the Sheriff’s Office has moved back to its own facility. The
Juvenile Courts could be located there also.
March 3
Britt is to hear back this week from Horizons regarding the
ongoing negotiations.
March 10
The lease offer has been reduced to $12,000 a month = $25 a
square foot + utilities. 6 month automatic renewals with a 60day notice policy. Fagerbakke asked for the cost of the past
year’s gas and electric bills. Jarvis asked why move the Youth
Shelter considering Detention is basically empty? This will be
on the Board’s agenda for March 16. The Team is in agreement
to recommend not leasing the Horizons facility.
March 17
Asbestos survey needs to be done prior to demotion.
Demolition estimates and contracts in a couple weeks. May
coincide with FEMA obligating PW. Once obligated, tear down
the building immediately. Emergency shoring is in place for
removing contents, which could possibly be stored at O’Brien.
The Board may be asked to take action if windows, doors,
cabinets, etc., could be removed for Habitat for Humanity.
Linn County Disaster Recovery Team
Meeting Notes
Youth Shelter
Page 3 of 6
FEMA could seek reimbursement for the cost of leasing
temporary space (Horizons) if later the program is terminated.
The subject of whether the County will be keeping the Youth
Shelter program will be discussed along with the lease of
Horizons. Since Detention counts have been going down since
August ’08, permanently locating there could possibly be an
option. 81% of the $1 million from FEMA could then be used
for an alternate project.
March 20
E-mail communication from Britt Hutchins: Horizons contact
Jeff Lindeman stated that Horizons has decided to close the
facility that we were looking at leasing. They might still be
willing to lease to us but this brings up several issues.
1) If they decide to sell the building, this could be a
problem for us.
2) If they decide to lease the remaining part of the building
for a use not compatible with our program, like a rehab
program for sex offenders (Jeff’s concern), that would
cause problems.
3) The lease amount will likely change.
They are working on something to present to Jeff. I will pass on
the information when we get it.
March 24
Search for temporary location currently on hold. The committee
remains with the recommendation of the Detention Facility as
the temporary location.
There is pressure from the state regarding the temporary location
of the Youth Shelter, due to possible interfacing with youth in
Detention. The County needs to give the state a plan and
projected date for a permanent location for the Youth Shelter. It
was suggested having Les Beck check into the usability of the
piece of property next to Fillmore.
April 14
Bill Micheel with Planning & Development has contacted the
City of Cedar Rapids regarding land near Fillmore as a possible
site for a new Youth Shelter facility. The City is currently
reviewing its Land Use table to determine whether a shelter is or
isn’t a permitted use on the property. Micheel will provide the
committee with that information.
April 21
Micheel had reported the property near Fillmore does not allow
a youth shelter. An amendment to the city’s Land Use Policy
would need to be applied for and approved in order to site a
shelter on the property.
The Board will have a roundtable discussion on April 27 with
Linn County Disaster Recovery Team
Meeting Notes
Youth Shelter
Page 4 of 6
parties involved with the Youth Shelter. If the Board should
choose to terminate the program, FEMA will only reimburse
80% of the cost to rebuild the existing structure.
April 28
There is more in-home shelter activity occurring rather than
placing youth at the Shelter. As a result, the Youth Shelter
program could possibly be discontinued. The Youth Shelter
building could then possibly be an alternate project.
May 5
Word just came that $964,000 has been obligated by FEMA for
a replacement. The County will apply for an extension for
temporary facilities for the Youth Shelter.
May 19
Due to the “403 Program”, demolition of the Youth Shelter
structure must be publicly advertised. Quotes have been
solicited. The deadline for extension is June 26. Can indicate to
FEMA this will be an alternate project, however, that decision
can be changed with no penalty.
May 26
A decision by the Board must be made soon in order to meet the
extension request deadline of June 26. Contracts could be
negotiated between Foundation II, Four Oaks and the County for
Youth Shelter beds. The Detention Center could be remodeled
to accommodate Youth Shelter beds as well; however, there
could possibly be an issue with state licensing. Also, the
distance to the Detention Center is a hardship for the majority of
those traveling there. An agreement with LIFTS could be
entered into, providing tokens for transportation. It was also
suggested Youth Shelter beds could be made available at the
Abbe Center once the Sheriff’s Office moves out.
May 27
E-Mail from Bill Micheel, Planning & Development -- Here is
the latest on the Youth Shelter Relocation/City of Cedar Rapids
zoning code amendment. I attended the City of Cedar Rapids
City Planning Commission meeting yesterday afternoon, and the
Commission passed a motion to recommend to the City Council
that, “Emergency Residential Shelter” be added to the “Public
Use District” as a permitted use.
City staff indicted to me that this issue will most likely appear
on the agenda of the next regular session of the City Council on
June 10th. During this meeting the Council will make a motion
to set a public meeting to hear the issue and will hear the first
reading of the ordinance amendment. The 2nd and 3rd readings
of the amendment will be heard during the Council’s regular
session on June 24th. If the amendment passes, the location will
then be a viable option as a relocation site.
Linn County Disaster Recovery Team
Meeting Notes
Youth Shelter
Page 5 of 6
I am currently working with the City of Cedar Rapids Code
Enforcement division to ensure that there are no other
unforeseen sections of the code that will impact the County’s
ability to relocate the shelter to the proposed location. There are
two sections of code that I am checking on, but it does not
appear that either will limit our ability to use this location.
However, if one did become an issue, we could ask the Board of
Adjustment for a variance. These issues are:
1. There is a separation distance of ¼ mile between
other emergency residential shelters (there does not
appear to be one within ¼ mile).
2. The C.R. zoning code limits the number of staff that
can be working at the Emergency Residential
Shelter, I’m checking into that, but given the size of
the shelter, I don’t think that it will be an issue.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions or would
like additional information.
6-15-09
E-Mail communication to Jeff Clark from Fagerbakke -- If we
wanted to sell the existing youth shelter building with all of its
problems as is with out doing demolition. Can we protect
ourselves legally in the sale of the property from future claims?
To Fagerbakke from Jeff Clark -- As long as we make full
disclosure of every known problem and then get a waiver from
the buyer for any future problems. We would probably want
any deed to reflect “flood damaged property” and “as is”.
6-23-09
The lowest bid to demolish the Youth Shelter is $17,000. The
County could potentially make money if the property and
structure were sold “as is”. The Committee discussed whether
to have a realtor handle the advertising and sale. It was also
suggested to advertise and take sealed bids. Potential buyers
would need to contact the County for full disclosure.
Fagerbakke confirmed the structure is safe to enter to view.
Betrus said the salvage value may possibly be deducted from the
settlement from FEMA and suggested checking into the salvage
value of the structure; Estenson will follow up with FEMA
regarding that.
Regardless of demolition or sale of the property, the County
would like to get rid of the property before winter – the gas has
been turned off and if the electricity fails, the pumps that are
Linn County Disaster Recovery Team
Meeting Notes
Youth Shelter
Page 6 of 6
running 24-7 will fail, resulting in flooded interior, making
demolition or sale even more difficult.
Estenson has checked with FEMA officials regarding demolition
vs. selling as is. FEMA suggests not selling as is; there will be a
salvage value deducted from FEMA reimbursement. Officials
recommend demolishing the structure and then selling the
vacant lot; money from that will not go against any
reimbursement.