By Pat Jenkins The Dispatch Plans for a $126.9 million office building for Pierce County government have been approved by the County Council, despite objections to the location and cost of the structure. The council voted 4-3 Feb. 17 to authorize the start of construction in March. Officials expect the nine-story building will be finished and fully occupied by November 2016. The project has opponents. They include Councilman Jim McCune, who wishes the south Pierce County area he represents had a stronger connection to the plans that emerged from three years of studies and preparations headed by County Executive Pat McCarthy. "My district knows nothing about this. Nothing,GÇ¥ McCune said, adding that while the project "has been vetted out quite well,GÇ¥ he also objects to its "high pricetag.GÇ¥ Citizens who spoke against the project before the council's final vote included Elizabeth Burris, who questioned how it will benefit people living in suburban and rural communities such as Graham, and Kevin Grossman, a commercial real estate manager who called the proposal "seriously flawedGÇ¥ in its cost and decision-making progress, which he said lacked public information. Grossman urged the council to vote against the proposal and "give yourself a chance to do the process right.GÇ¥ But the majority of council members sided with McCarthy and other supporters of the plan to consolidate 19 county departments and divisions GÇô currently housed in 14 locations GÇô in a single building that will be built on the county-owned 13-acre site of the former Puget Sound Hospital, located just up the Pacific Avenue hill from downtown Tacoma. McCarthy said the project will be funded with existing resources, including the money currently spent on eight commercial office leases and cost savings that can be realized through efficiencies created by the consolidation. McCarthy has said that $126.9 million is the project's "guaranteed maximum priceGÇ¥ and includes $103.8 million for construction, fixtures and furniture, $17.4 million for parking lots, and $3.9 million for contingencies. The costs are guaranteed by the developer, Wright Runstad and Co., which would be responsible for any cost overruns and will have contracted incentives to finish the work under budget. "Customer serviceGÇ¥ by county agencies will improve in the new "one-stopGÇ¥ setting for departments visited by the public, McCarthy vowed. Councilman Derek Young agreed, saying that a building that states "this is the county, this is where you goGÇ¥ for various services will be appreciated by citizens who are confused by the current multitude of office locations. But McCune said he would prefer county agencies being located in unincorporated areas of the county that he said need more ties to county services than Tacoma. McCune also suggested GÇô but got no support from other council members GÇô having an advisory vote this fall on the project. He said that would allow more time for reviewing and planning but wouldn't necessariliy stop the project. According to McCarthy, no tax increases are necessary to cover the cost of the new building because it will save taxpayers money by: "Getting the county out of eight commercial leases for 150,000 square fee, and spending that $3.2 million on the new building. " Eliminating 38 county positions through centralization that reduces the need for redundant jobs. That would add up to $120 million in savings over 30 years. Also helping pay for the building will be rent money from Tacoma-Pierce County Department of Health, which plans to move its offices to the new building, and retail space that will be rented to a coffee shop and deli. Money will also come from the eventual sale of the Pierce County Annex, a building in Tacoma that houses the auditor, assessor-treasurer and other county agencies.
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