Minutes 11/12/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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November 12, 2019 Background:  The Department of Behavioral Healthcare Services (BHS) provides a variety of services that focus on mental health, substance abuse, and temporary and supportive housing services at its Safe Haven building, located at 1925 High Street.  BHS and the Department of Engineering determined that it is advisable to make repairs to the building. The building itself is a converted funeral home; as such, it needs both renovations and reconfigurations to be fully utilized by BHS staff and clients. Discussion:  The Safe Haven Building needs to be renovated to provide adequate shelter and services to BHS clients.  In addition, renovations of this building will allow BHS to consolidate services located at the Court Street Location into the Safe Haven Building.  Engineering staff has evaluated the necessary repairs and rehabilitation and has estimated the project cost to be $2,000,000.  BHS and Finance staff have determined that the BHS fund balance has a level of funding sufficient to fund this project.  BHS is governed by a “Community Services Performance Contract.” This document is signed by representatives from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, the City Manager and City Attorney, and the Portsmouth Community Services Board. This contract outlines all budgeted funding, including any planned uses of “unspent” funds and will be updated to reflect the $2,000,000 expenditure. Financial Impact:  Behavioral Health Services Fund Balance will be reduced by $2,000,000, and the FY 2020 Operating Budget will increase by that amount. This funding will be transferred to the CIP Fund for the Safe Haven Building Rehabilitation Capital Project budget. Recommended Action:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  Signatories to the Performance Contract, which regulates BHS spending, will update the said document to reflect the Safe Haven Building Renovation.  The Finance Department will make the necessary amendments and adjustments to the FY 2020-24 CIP.  The Engineering Department will have oversight of the project. 1. Donna Sayegh, 3104 Garland Drive, spoke in opposition to this item. Motion by Mr. Moody, and seconded by Ms. Psimas, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE: (1) ESTABLISHING A NEW PROJECT IN THE FY 2020 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND ENTITLED “SAFE HAVEN BUILDING RENOVATION”; (2) APPROPRIATING THE SUM OF $2,000,000 FROM THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES FUND BALANCE TO THE FY 2020 BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE SERVICES FUND BUDGET; AND (3) TRANSFERRING THE SAID $2,000,000 TO THE SAFE HAVEN BUILDING RENOVATION PROJECT.” Ayes: Battle, Clark, Glover, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Rowe Nays: None 19 - 410 - Adoption of an ordinance appropriating the sum of $475,000 in interest savings from the Debt Service Fund Balance to the FY 2020 Debt Service Fund and transferring said amount to the Rental of Land, Police Facilities line item of the FY 2020 General Fund Budget.