1995-11-06 - Laserfiche WebLink

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266 Responding to a request for more information about the multi-purpose space proposed to be built at the Complex, Mr. David Puckett, architect for the project, said 14,000 square feet of program space will be provided for improved medical, counseling, classroom, and multi-purpose training space, the design of wlfich will be decided by the community in the next year. Responding to a request from Mr. Vandever, Mr. Mitchell Neuman, Chairman of the Jail Board, said that an RFP for a study on alternatives to incarceration was developed and one response was received at a cost of $15,000. Mr. Neuman said the Jail Board is exploring funding options for the study. Responding to questions from Mr. Toscano, Mr. Neuman said the rated full capacity for the jail is 200, the actual full capacity is 300, and 225 prisoners are currently housed at the facility; prisoners are broken down into approximately one-third minimum security, one-third medium security, and one-third maximum security; and federal prisoners are housed on a space available basis at a rate of $35 per day as compared to $14 per day for state prisoners.. Mr. Toscano noted that the initial projections for the jail expansion indicated that the facility would not fill immediately, but federal prisoners would help make up the cost of expansion. Responding to a question from Mr. Vandever about the number of federal prisoners housed, Mr. Neuman said that the facility usually houses between 18 and 25 federal prisoners, but approximately 32 are housed at the present time. Mr. Neuman noted that both the Council and the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors will need to approve the Jail Authority bonds. Ms. Daugherty made a motion to approve the resolution approving the agreement for jail expansion project and establishing the Regional Jail Authority and Ms~ Slaughter seconded the motion. Mr. Vandever said that his opposition to the establishment of the Jail Authority is rooted in his opposition to the jail expansion which he thinks is ill-advised. Ms. Slaughter said she thinks there is a need for the jail expansion, but she also thinks the alternative to incarceration study is very important. Ms. Slaughter said she feels the expansion will improve the quality of life in jail and make a substantial difference in prisoners' lives through rehabilitation. Mr. Toscano said he feels the federal prisoners are germane to the long-term costs to the city. Mr. Toscano said he favors expanding the jail and finding alternatives to incarceration to free up space for prisoners who pay more to be housed. The resolution approving the agreement for the jail expansion project and establishing the regional jail authority was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Ms. Daugherty, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Toscano. Noes: Rev. Edwards and Mr. Vandever. BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, that the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute on behalf of the City, in form approved by the City Attorney, an agreement between the City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle creating a Regional Jail Authority. Said agreement was presented at this Council meeting on November 6, 1995, and a copy shall be kept on file in the Office of the City Attorney. ORDINANCE: HYPERION TELECO~CATIONS FRANCHISE (2nd reading) Mr. Goutdman said that the language in the ordinance on undergrounding has been strengthened, and starts with the premise that all of the new cable will go underground and makes it clear that the subjectivity of the feasibility ofundergrounding leans toward undergrounding.