Issue | Background | Findings | Conclusions | Recommendations | Responses | Attachments Summary of Tower Road Property

Initiate a Master Planning process to establish a long-term strategy for the Tower Road property as a whole as well as for individual parcels. The Master Plan should include the elements described in Appendix A. The Grand Jury acknowledges that budget considerations and the timing of future property development could affect the pace or phasing of the implementation of a Master Plan. Response: Concur. The Department of Public Works, in conjunction with the Office of Economic Development/Real Property Services, is in the process of developing a strategy for addressing the County’s short- and long-term space needs through a comprehensive space needs analysis accompanied by updated or master plans for all County properties, including the Tower Road property. This strategy includes performing an inventory of all County-owned and leased space, determining current and projected future space needs, evaluating current master plans for County campuses, updating the master plans where appropriate, and developing new master plans where necessary. Tower Road will be one of many County campuses to be evaluated and master-planned. The intent is to develop a long-range plan for addressing facilities needs through future capital improvement projects. The Grand Jury guidance provided in its Appendices A and B provide a framework for the accomplishment of this plan. As part of its FY 2008-09 budget request, the Department of Public Works will develop a capital project request that includes beginning the space needs analysis by December 31, 2007.

Prepare a Property Strategic Plan (see Appendix B) in conjunction with the above Master Plan, to guide decisions as facility needs arise and to ensure optimal use of San Mateo County’s entire real estate portfolio. Response: Concur. As explained in the response to Recommendation 1, a comprehensive plan and review process is being developed to address all of the County’s capital projects, infrastructure, real estate assets, and future needs. The guidelines provided by the Grand Jury for both Master and Strategic Plan development will be incorporated into this process.

Undertake efforts immediately to ensure the proposed Receiving Home is developed and constructed in accordance with sound planning principles. Response: Concur. This recommendation has been implemented in accordance with sound construction planning principles. The Receiving Home design has been fully completed. The architect retained for this purpose was selected through a Request for Proposals process and has significant experience designing this type of facility. A construction contractor will be selected through a competitive bidding process to be conducted in strict compliance with the Public Contract Code. Oversight of the project and construction inspection will be done directly by the construction management staff in the Department of the Public Works’ Capital Projects Section.

Adopt standards for the regular maintenance of the Tower Road property and require all users of such property to contribute adequate funding toward maintenance. The Public Works Department should be made responsible for overall property maintenance and a senior official of that department should be tasked with maintenance responsibility. The County Manager should make periodic visits to the property to ensure it is properly maintained. Response: Concur. The current County-owned rent schedule for the facilities located at the Tower Road campus includes funding for property maintenance immediately external to the individual buildings, including parking lots. As noted in response to Recommendation 5, an assessment will be made by the end of August 2007 regarding the cost and staffing needed to expand these services to the entire Tower Road property. This assessment, including options for service expansion and impact on facility rental charges, will be submitted to the County Manager's Office for consideration. The Public Works Facility Maintenance section is responsible for ensuring the Tower Road property is properly maintained.

Improve the appearance of the Tower Road property by: • disposing of, or justifying the presence of, all unused vehicles and other items stored at the property • removing weeds and other plant matter that constitute a fire hazard • removing all debris from the property including that related to the recent construction of the Youth Services Center and Gateway School • completing construction of the Gateway School infrastructure • executing a contract for demolition of the old Hillcrest youth facility. Response: Concur. The County Manager’s Office and the Department of Public Works agree that the Tower Road property needs to be improved and properly maintained. Planned activities are as follows: (1) disposal and/or relocation of all unused vehicles and other large equipment currently stored at the property will begin with a current site assessment to be conducted by August 31, 2007; (2) expand and/or extend landscaping services to Tower Road property not covered by current rental agreements; (3) first-time implementation of the demolition and deconstruction policy recently adopted by the Board of Supervisors at the Hillcrest facility, including maximum feasible recycling of construction materials. The Gateway School is now completed and occupied. There are materials left over from construction that have been reserved for the garden, which have been temporarily moved and stacked so not immediately visible to the public.