Title
Resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement between Lake County and the City of Waukegan regarding Lake County's Court Expansion Project.
Staff Summary
· The County owns several parcels of property located on the southwest corner of Washington and County Streets in the City of Waukegan that have been determined by the County to be the site of the Lake County Court Expansion Project (LCCEP).
· The agreement allows the County to remove metered parking along the north and south side of Washington Street and the west side of County Street adjacent to the LCCEP for streetscape and pedestrian improvements for which the County will be responsible for construction and maintenance costs.
· The agreement identifies a permit fee payment from the County to the City in the fixed total amount of $1,175,000 payable in full by the County at the issuance of the first permit for the LCCEP.
· The agreement allows the County to construct a tunnel across the City's Washington Street right of way as part of the LCCEP.
· The City of Waukegan requested, Lake County staff supports, and agreement requires additional project scope to include refinishing the exterior of the elevated pedestrian walkway over Washington Street. Staff has estimated the cost to be $1.1 million and recommends waiting to accurately determine what additional monies are necessary to fund this increased scope and cost until more information is known on actual cost for the LCCEP.
· The agreement requires the County to prepare and file an easement agreement for all County improvements in the City right of way.
· The agreement requires the County to resurface Washington Street and County Street adjacent to the LCCEP in the section impacted by the project.
· The agreement obligates the County to participate with the City and other downtown stakeholders in the planning of a way finding strategy for the downtown area.
· This resolution authorizes the agreement and also provides County Administration and the State's Attorney's Office the authority to finalize the specific language.
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5-1106 of the Counties Code the County Board is to provide proper rooms and offices for the accommodation of the circuit court and such rooms and offices should meet reasonable minimum standards prescribed by the Supreme Court of Illinois (55 ILCS 5/5-1106); and
WHEREAS, the County has completed a facility needs study and has determined that to provide sufficient space for the accommodation of the Circuit Court it is in need of constructing additional judicial facilities in Waukegan; and
WHEREAS, the County has undertaken a planning process for such facilities and has finalized plans for a court expansion identified as the Lake County Court Expansion Project ("LCCEP") which generally includes a connecting Tunnel under Washington Street, a new nine-story Court Tower of approximately 215,000 square feet of the partial remodeling of the Babcox Justice Center including approximately 45,000 square feet of remodeling and the exterior façade remodeling of the existing elevated pedestrian walkway over Washington Street; and
WHEREAS, the LCCEP will be constructed on several parcels of land the County owns in Waukegan on the southwest corner of Washington and South County Streets; and
WHEREAS, as some of the County's buildings occupy portions of different lots, the County has filed a plat of consolidation with the City so that it can have its structures occupy one lot and that it can meet certain City building and zoning requirements; and
WHEREAS, to meet safety and security standards for judicial facilities and to propose a design that is the most efficient use of space, the County has requested variances from off-street parking and front- and side-yard setback standards from the City; and
WHEREAS, to provide a safe and secure method of transporting inmates and meet safety and security standards for judicial facilities, the City has agreed to allow the County to install a tunnel under Washington Street; and
WHEREAS, the City of Waukegan requested as part of this project and Lake County staff supports additional project scope to include refinishing the exterior of the walkway over Washington Street; and
WHEREAS, preliminary estimates indicate this is expected to cost approximately $1.1 million dollars and this additional project work and cost were not included in the original budget; and
WHEREAS, the permit fee from the City of Waukegan is also $175,000 higher than budgeted; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends waiting to accurately determine what additional monies are necessary to fund this increased scope and cost until more information is known on actual cost for the project; and
WHEREAS, the County and the City have determined it to be mutually beneficial to enter into this Agreement to address certain concerns and issues that are not otherwise addressed in the permitting process of the LCCEP; and
WHEREAS, the Parties have the authority to enter into this Agreement pursuant to the Illinois Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, 5 ILCS 220/1 et seq.;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, be it resolved that the County Administrator and the SAO are authorized to finalize language within the IGA; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the Chairman of the County Board be hereby authorized and directed to execute the intergovernmental agreement between City of Waukegan and Lake County, Illinois in substantially the attached form, with such final revisions as may be necessary.
DATED at Waukegan, Lake County, Illinois, on March 11, 2014.