Meetings Steering Committee(Folders 1-2)

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7.0 Net Space Requirements Projectioas The department staff projections, and the resulting space requirements as calculated in Appendix r A, appear to follow a maximum estimated growth pattern for the first ten projecbon years (through 2003), then raper off to the mid-point of the projection range by 2013 at a rate slightly ` lower than that of the general population. The planning consultant believes this projection to be a realistic estimate in the long term; however, slightly optimistic in the shorter term. For ~ facility planning purposes, Projection A is an appropriate "target" for space requirements. The projecaon range of 64,490 net square feet (between Projection B and Projection D in 2013) provides a sufficiently broad "band" between minimum and maximum requirements to effectively plan altemate facility plans contingent upon actual future growth levels. In summary, Projection A is recommended as the most likely estimate; Projection B is a recommended "minimum growth" projection, and; Projection D is recommended as a"maximum growth" projection. A summary of the Projection A net space requirements is provided in Exhibit 10. These totals correspond the database in Appendix A for each department and division. The required net square footage listed in the five right-most columns is compared with the current space occupied per 1993 County Building Maintenance calculations. The depanments presendy occupy a total of 221,928 net square feet; however, a total oC 270,098 net squaze feet is required given the currznt operational needs. _The departments' space needs increase to 335,060 NSF in 2003 and to 368,752 NSF by 2013. . The current space "shortfal!" of 48,170 NSF is a result of two factors. First, several facilities requirements are reported in the 1993 required space that currendy do not exist. These include such spaces as: a larger capacity public hearing room for the Board of Commissioners; increased County archive storage space; additional conference and meeting space (generally in short supply throughout the County); a maintenance equipment garage for the Housing Authority; and a laroer Law Library. Second, the current space shortfall represents a net space deficiency in sorne existing County offices. Most noably, Risk Manageinent, Building Inspection and all components of the Health Department are overcrowded; some (Public Health especially) are so short of space as to significanQy hinder staff's ability to perform the duties of their jobs. This is not true for all County departments - for example, the Assessor, Housing and General Services Administration occupy more space than necessary given the potential for efficient space planning. It is important to note that some spaces (including that of the Assessor's office), is inherenfly inefficient due to limitaaons of the existing space layout. For example, floor-loading capacity within the Fiscal Services Department in the Senator Building restricts the placement of filing cabinets within the office area -- resulting in an very inefficient layout of the office floor. The overcrowding of space mostly occurs at the Health Department site on Center Street. Although a dispariry of space allocation occurs between departments in downtown Salem, the total space required in downtown, excluding the additional courts, is slighdy more than is presendy occupied. This suggests that a) a more efficient distribution of space among the downtown departments would be most beneficial; and b) the development of new facilities in downtown Salem replace aging and inefficient (from a maintenance perspective) small office building spaces such as the Senator Building and downtown leased spaces. Page 17