The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved more than $1.3 billion to be spent on improving facilities and building new ones over the next five years, including libraries and government administration buildings, a fire station, sheriff's sub-station, new crime lab and residential crisis center.
The vote was unanimous after the board watched a brief presentation by staff on what projects had already been completed, which ones were already in the planning and construction phases and still others that were recommended for approval.
"You will notice there are a lot of things that are not on there," Chief Administrative Officer Helen Robbins-Meyer said. "The Chargers' new stadium is not on there."
The so-called Capital Improvement Needs Assessment that was presented by the County's Community Services Group also did not mention what to do about the board chamber where the supervisors' public meetings are held.
Chairman Ron Roberts and Vice Chairwoman Dianne Jacob both asked that the aging facility be considered in the future. Both said the chamber, with 100 seats for the public, is too small to serve a county of more than 3.2 million residents.
Recently completed projects under the current plan include the Las Colinas Women's Detention and Reentry Facility expansion in Santee, a new county fire station in Boulevard and a new sheriff substation in Lakeside.
"This is a great document for how we are going to be serving our constituents for years to come," Supervisor Dave Roberts said.
Projects that have been funded and are moving forward include new libraries in Alpine and Imperial Beach, the North Inland Crisis Residential Facility in Escondido, improvements to the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas, construction of a new sheriff's crime lab, redevelopment at the County Operations Center in Kearny Mesa and upgrades to the regional communications system.
Some of the major capital projects that were recommended by staff, but have not begun, include a South County animal shelter, new libraries in Lakeside and Casa de Oro, and land acquisition for parks throughout the county.
Projects were evaluated and approved based on criteria including critical need, how it affects the quality of life for county residents, how it impacts the county's operating and maintenance budgets, whether it's a state or federally mandated project, and its benefit to customer service.
The board referred the plan to the chief administrative officer to determine the timing of implementing the individual projects and how to fund them.
