To: Board of Supervisors
From: Esa Ehmen-Krause, County Probation Officer
Report Title: Budget Amendment Nos. BDA-26-00592 and BDA-26-00593 for Demolition of the Old Juvenile Hall
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE Budget Amendment No. BDA-26-00592 to appropriate fund balance in the amount $2,937,964 from the Juvenile Facilities Improvement Construction funds and $1,800,000 from the sale proceeds of the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility; and APPROVE Budget Amendment No. BDA-26-00593 to transfer appropriations across multiple funding streams in the amount of $2,711,231 from Probation Programs (0308) and $4,737,964 Probation Facilities (0309), for a total of $7,449,195 to Public Works (0111) for the demolition of the old juvenile hall.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total estimated cost for the demolition of the old juvenile hall is $7,449,195.
Budget Amendment No. BDA-26-00592 appropriates $4,737,964 toward the total project cost, consisting of:
• $2,937,964 (62%) from Juvenile Facilities Improvement Construction Funds
• $1,800,000 (38%) from proceeds from the sale of the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility
The remaining $2,711,231 of project costs will be funded through the Probation Department’s General Fund budget.
Budget Amendment No. BDA-26-00593 transfers the $2,711,231 from Probation Programs (0308) and $4,737,964 from Probation Facilities (0309) to Public Works (0111) Cost Center 4413-2289-WW1065 for a total appropriation of $7,449,195.
Overall project funding consists of 40% Juvenile Facilities Improvement Construction Funds, 24% Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility Sale Proceeds, and 36% General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
On November 28, 2023, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors directed Contra Costa County Public Works Department to take the actions necessary to initiate and complete the demolition of the Old Juvenile Hall.
Over the past several decades, the landscape of juvenile justice has evolved significantly. Advances in behavioral science, trauma-informed care, and rehabilitative programming have highlighted the need for facilities that reflect modern best practices in both design and function. The Old Juvenile Hall facility is outdated, undersized, and ill-equipped to support the comprehensive needs of today’s youth and the staff tasked with their care. The facility is a two-story building originally constructed in 1950 and expanded in 1975 and approximately 54,694 square-foot in total. The adjacent Juvenile Hall, constructed in 2000, has rendered the older facility obsolete and no longer necessary.
Hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead, and mold, have been identified within the Old Juvenile Hall. Contra Costa County Risk Management has restricted access to the building due to these conditions, and the facility is considered a health and safety hazard.
The demolition project will begin with the abatement and proper disposal of hazardous materials prior to structural demolition. The scope of work includes complete demolition and removal of the building and associated underground utilities. Temporary and permanent security fencing and enclosures will be installed, and the site will be graded, backfilled, hydroseeded, and equipped with a new irrigation system. A new emergency generator will also be installed.
To support this effort, funding has been identified from multiple sources, including the Juvenile Facilities Improvement Construction Fund, proceeds from the sale of the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility, and the Probation Department’s General Fund budget. These actions will appropriate and transfer the necessary project funding to allow construction activities to proceed.
The Public Works Department has completed the necessary planning and permitting activities. Demolition is expected to take approximately one year to complete.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If unapproved, appropriations will not be properly reflected in the FY 2025-26 budget and the Probation Department will be unable to complete the project.