To help better plan for significant infrastructure improvements, Humboldt County is looking for public input on its draft Facilities Master Plan, which lays out a framework for new construction and improvements for county facilities.
The draft plan and accompanying survey is available on the county website. The survey will be open until August 6.
Over the last 18 months, staff worked with an outside firm to conduct an analysis of more than 150 county owned and leased facilities. The process resulted in the development of proposed renovation and new construction projects that meet current and future needs. The study found that many county facilities are in poor condition and the proposed projects are solutions that would bring together current county operations, improve services, reduce facility operations costs and have positive effects on the environment.
“The Facilities Master Plan is a great opportunity to work towards building facilities according to the needs and values of our citizens,” said 3rd District Supervisor Mike Wilson. “Well-planned projects like this can better and more efficiently serve our residents and businesses while also advancing community resiliency, creating environmentally friendly transpiration options and improving workforce retention. We want community to look at this draft plan, engage with it and tell us what they think.”
The foundation of the plan is to create county campuses, which would group similar county functions under one roof, regardless of the department that provides the service. This idea would make it easier for the public to get business done, reduce the amount of time spent traveling between departments, and improve energy efficiency of county facilities. Other goals of the Facilities Master Plan include:
- To prioritize solutions based on community and stakeholder input
- One-stop permitting and other combined services with an overall objective of greater co-location of county services
- Facility modernization and improved services for the public and employees
- Facility Master Plan identifies recommendations to improve conditions, operations, and facility management
- Construction of new major projects, renovation of existing public buildings, continuance with ADA compliance, investment in deferred maintenance and future planning considerations