COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE – R. ESPINOSA 

Approve legislative letter for budget priorities to include but not limit it to Parks, Homelessness, and County Facilities proposed projects for the 2022-2023 State Budget Consideration.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 119

Our lobbyist Michelle Rubalcava, of Nielsen Merksamer Parrinello Gross & Leoni, LLP, has met separately with the County Board of Supervisors, Various Department Heads, and County Administrative Officer to identify San Benito County budgetary needs. With this information, she will be submitting a letter on behalf of San Benito County to request funding for the following priorities identified by our Board members, Department Heads, and CAO in order of importance; Parks, Homelessness, and County Facilities.

Our total request from the state will be $182,669,320. We want the approval of the Board of Supervisors to show support for the priorities listed in the letter. Please see the letter attached. 

The letter will request the following:

1.  Total Parks request is $14,646,420:  which includes $10,000,000 for Parks of which $9,000,000 will go to the Riverview Regional park, $1,000,000 to the Southside Park, 3,381,420 For Veterans Park, and $ 1,265,000 million for San Benito County Historical Park
2. The total Homelessness request is $14,579,900 to which includes costs for the San Benito Tiny Home Project and Transitional Housing
3.  The total County facilities request is $153,443,000:, including $10,000,000 for the Library Project, $1,700,000 for San Benito County Facilities Security, $3,000,000 for improvements to the Hall of Records building, $2,500,000 for the demolition of the old Jail and old Health and Human Services Building, and $136,243,000 for a new government campus.

Parks Information (Concept maps attached):

Riverview Regional Park has shown to be of high interest to the residents of San Benito County. We request additional funding to complete the full build-out in the following construction cycle. A multi-use facility, this Park will feature amenities such as bicycle facilities, sports facilities, the ultimate playground, and fitness facilities for our residents. Combined with the natural beauty of the location and an accessible trail, a system that doubles as the region's first official cross-country facility, Riverview Regional park can attract out-of-county visitors. Designed to accommodate all cultures, Riverview Regional Park will be the first Park in the County to include bilingual signage for the convenience of our Spanish-speaking visitors. Several features, the planned "food court" area and the remote control race track, offer our constituents private/public partnerships and local employment opportunities. The concept plan has been developed and approved by the Board of Supervisors and the County Parks Commission along with our local partners, the San Benito County High School District, the San Benito County Health Foundation, and REACH. The Plan is approved, we are standing by for the remaining funding of $9M to complete the Park.

Sunnyside Park, the first waypoint on the future river trail, Sunnyside Park creates an excellent opportunity to connect neighborhoods. Sunnyside Park is located on both sides of Hospital Road and is currently under design. Currently, the County has secured $800K for the Park's construction. This first phase will offer some sports opportunities and multiple playgrounds and trails. An additional $1 million would fund the ultimate design to restore the dog park component and expand the picnic facilities. Future phases will create a pedestrian tunnel under Hospital Road, providing grade-separated pedestrian access to both sides of the facility.

Veterans Memorial Park is located in the heart of the City of Hollister and is heavily used by our youth and many recreational leagues. The community maintains the fields, and the County supports other functions in the Park; the existing restrooms are outdated and on a septic system; To replace the bathroom and demolish the current system, adding the required plumbing, water, and design would cost them $3,381,420

million.  

Historical Park serves as a recreational and educational gem in San Benito County, located at 8300 Highway 25, one mile south of Tres Pinos. Set on 35 acres of bucolic, shade-tree-dotted countryside next to Tres Pinos Creek, with six acres of county historical exhibits, the Park is the perfect place for a family reunion, a picnic lunch, or a stroll around the grounds. The historical village, a San Benito County Historical Society project sets the time to visit an old schoolhouse, a dance hall, a firehouse, a bar, a livery stable, and barn, and a view of just about every antique farm implement known to humanity. An indoor model train track is currently under construction that includes a replica of the Hollister-Tres Pinos line, used to haul hay from the southern end of San Benito County into the "big city." The restrooms are also in need of replacement which would cost $1,265,000 million. 

Homelessness:

The Tiny Village targets homeless individuals and families with permanent supportive housing and transitional housing coupled with case management and supportive services. Although emergency shelter and encampments are a critical need, without other permanent housing options, Homelessness will never be reduced. Even though there was a decrease in the homeless population (according to the 2019 Homeless Census), we are far from solving the homeless problem. A Tiny Village model has been discussed for years. An example of a Tiny Village project in Eugene, Oregon (see attachment). Individuals housed in permanent supportive housing will also receive case management and supportive services to increase their probability of housing retention by addressing their personal needs. This project will follow the Housing First Model which, in essence, clients are provided housing regardless of their ongoing issues such as mental health, drug addictions, lack of employment, etc. The Tiny Village Project consists of 50, 300-250 square feet units as permanent housing, 2,000-3,000 square feet office & Multi-purpose room, and infrastructure costs. In addition, funds can also be used to convert an existing building into temporary housing units for homeless families as transitional housing. Case Management, supportive services, housing navigation, job training, and housing placement will be provided while they participate in the transitional housing program. The goal is to reduce Homelessness by 50% in 5 years. To accomplish this, the low-income housing inventory and housing for homeless individuals and families must increase with more significant investments for permanent supportive housing.

San Benito County Facilities:

The total request to address immediate county facilities needs is $l7,200,000. The County Library needs assessments have identified the library needing to expand to keep up with current demands; $ 10,000,000 is the project request. San Benito County Facilities Master Plan identifies safety and security components at the County's owned buildings facilities that need to be addressed. The assessments and analyses of existing conditions provide a snapshot of the current safety and security measures at County facilities identified the $1,700,000 required to address deficiencies. Hall of Records was built in the early 1900s; the second story in the 1960s has changed functions over the past decade. Many projects need to begin the Hall of Records building totaling $3,000,000, including but not limited to adding an elevator, implementing American Disability Act (ADA) improvements, fire suppression, abatement project, signage, and departmental improvements. The final request of $2,500,000 is to demolish two old facilities that are currently not occupied and share the lot with other County facilities. As the building ages, the materials and foundation are slowly deteriorating.

To address improvements to the downtown campus. A new government campus would be constructed and include building two new buildings to house various departments. The plan involves demolishing and replacing most existing facilities except the Administration Building. The current administrations building would be repurposed to house other departments. The total estimated cost is $136,243,000.