San Rafael, CA – By closing out a building lease in San Rafael and consolidating staff into a nearby County-owned building, Marin County taxpayers will save $710,000 annually starting next year.
The Marin County Board of Supervisors recently accepted a final report on Emergency Operations Facility (EOF) project, the new home to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office at 1600 Los Gamos Drive in Terra Linda, and congratulated staff involved in the building’s transformation. The EOF project was completed on time and on budget in June 2014 after more than $50 million in improvements were made to make the public safety headquarters more resistant to a large earthquake than the Sheriff’s previous home at the Marin County Civic Center.
County Administrator Matthew Hymel said the EOF project goals were to build a seismically safe home for emergency operations, move more County personnel into available space at 1600 Los Gamos, save money on lease payments at other locations and create a revenue stream by renting out additional space.
After receiving the report from the Department of Public Works (DPW), the Board of Supervisors unanimously authorized the funds for more tenant improvements at the EOF to allow staff members from DPW and Health and Human Services (HHS) to relocate to the building. “The transfer of funds is a big step in meeting our goal of moving out of leased space,” Hymel said.
About 30 County employees currently work at 899 Northgate Drive, a leased building also in Terra Linda. The lease expires at the end of May, and with the new Board approval the County will begin to vacate 899 Northgate and move its employees into various County-owned buildings, including the 1600 Los Gamos.
In addition, the County has leased out 22,000 square feet of EOF office space to private companies since it purchased the building in December 2011. The four leases will bring in revenues of $480,000 in fiscal year 2015-16 and there is a potential for more.
The County purchased the 41-year-old building for $28,425,000. Improvement costs included 911 call center radio equipment, a new emergency operations center, data centers and server technology, interior redesign, furniture, structural alterations and seismic upgrades.
In keeping with the Board of Supervisors’ sustainability goals, the building renovation earned Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification because of its widespread use of reclaimed water, a photovoltaic array on the roof and a diversion of more than 75 percent of construction waste away from landfills.
Photo: The County's Emergency Operations Facility at 1600 Los Gamos Drive in Terra Linda.