History:
The existing Hennepin County Medical Examiner (HCME) operations are currently located in the county’s Forensic Sciences Building, 530 Chicago Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. The existing facility and site do not provide sufficient space for the needs of the growing service areas and the mission critical function of Medical Examiner services. Population growth estimates exceed the operational capacity, according to National Association of Medical Examiner (NAME) industry guidelines for facilities. A facility that meets and exceeds industry standards is essential for ongoing accreditation and recruitment and retention of qualified staff to provide for the needs of the communities we serve.

The New Regional Medical Examiner’s Facility (CP 1002306) proposes a 69,000 square foot facility based on population growth projections for Hennepin, Dakota, and Scott Counties through 2047. HCME currently occupies 29,500 usable square feet on two floors and approximately 40,000 gross square feet (GSF) of the 62,000 GSF Forensic Sciences Building. HCME has occupied this portion of the building since 1999 when renovation converted it from the Hennepin County Medical Center's food service facility. As such, the new facility will be planned for future expansion capability to support access needs for partnering counties and reasonable scene response times for a growing geographic service area. The current proposed location is an 8 acre site on Hennepin County property in Minnetonka that includes the Hennepin County Home School. The building pad is proposed to be located east of the current County Home School with access from the existing entry now serving the Glen Lake Golf Course and the County Home School. An access road will be located along the southern portion of the property to serve this new location.

On January 1, 2017, Hennepin, Dakota, and Scott Counties enacted a 30 year Cooperative Services Agreement for Medical Examiner services (RESOLUTION NO. 16-0504) which includes capital budget provisions and taxpayer support toward the new facility. Taxpayer contribution for Dakota and Scott counties is through a joint powers agreement and includes a financial formula utilizing case and autopsy volumes that determine the amount of taxpayer contribution. The agreement is written so additional counties can easily be integrated and the financial formula recalculated to reflect the percent of volume performed. Therefore, additional cooperative counties will promote efficient and cost-effective operations through equitable distribution of expense across the service area, while allowing the cooperative to maintain accreditation and quality standards for service that our residents expect and deserve.

Hennepin County, with the support of Dakota and Scott Counties, received $2.68 million in state bonding dollars through the 2017 Capital Improvement Appropriations bill (HF 892). An additional $15.073 million in state bonding dollars through the 2018 Capital Improvement Appropriations bill (HF 4425) for a grand total of $17.753 million dollars was approved in June, 2018. The total request from the state was $28.92 million dollars, or half of the total cost of the project. A State funding predesign document was completed by Smith Group JJR and RSP architects on August 8, 2016 in preparation of receiving state bonding dollars. The information in this predesign document is still applicable to receive state funding and will be used as we move forward with the project if and when state bonding money is received.

In winter of 2016/2017, the Hennepin County Designer Selection Committee recommended Leo A Daly, and their subject matter expert McClaren, Wilson & Lawrie Inc. (MWL) located in Ashland, Virginia, as the design team for the New Regional Medical Examiner’s Facility. The Board was notified of this recommendation by way of memo dated January 10, 2017 from Director of Facility Services, Michael Sable.

The 2018-2022 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) included a total project budget of $57,840,000 for the New Regional Medical Examiner’s Facility project.

Current Request:
Approval of the Schematic Design is requested. The Schematic Design report’s Executive Summary has been distributed to the County Board, and a copy is on file with the Clerk to the County Board.

This Board action requests that the budget for the New Regional Medical Examiner’s Facility Project (CP 1002306) be reduced by $5,000,000, for a new total of $49,840,000. This represents a reduction of approximately 8.6%. This budget reduction will be included in the prospective 2019-2023 Capital Improvement Program. Project components removed to address the budget reduction were project contingency, building square footage within the autopsy suite, select lab equipment, tenant improvements and furniture within administrative suite, exterior and interior material changes, site features along with associated soft costs. An attempt will be made to value engineer portions of the project scope during the Design Development phase to replenish a portion of the project contingency that was reduced to meet the new project budget. Upon approval of this board request, final design will begin in July, 2018, construction is anticipated to start in the 3rd quarter 2019 and grand opening in 1st quarter of 2021.

Approval is requested to authorize the County Administrator to award a contract to the contractor offering the best value if the proposals are within the proposed budgets.

In addition, approval is requested for Contract A188710 with Leo A Daly for continuation of architectural and engineering services for the design development through construction administration phases, for the period of July 30, 2018 through June 30, 2022, in an amount not to exceed $3,926,057. Leo A Daly was selected by the County’s Designer Selection Committee in the Fall of 2016.

Impact/Outcomes:
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner (HCME) New Regional Facility project is essential in assuring that we can sustain growing case volumes, be thoughtfully designed for the practice of medicolegal death investigation, and in turn recruit and retain the most qualified forensic science professionals while providing an environment that supports education in the Forensic Sciences. Key elements of the facility project strategic plan are:

• Create an inviting and modern facility in a location that our employees, customers, and collaborative partners feel comfortable.
• Maximize design through use of natural light, energy efficient construction, and use of space in a manner that is flexible and assure the facility will meet the needs of our service area for decades while assuring facility operational costs are minimized.
• Recruit and retain the best talent in the forensic death investigation.
• Support the educational mission to select, train, and provide highly qualified talent to the industry through an accredited training program and educational curriculum.
• Serve as a resource for coroner counties requiring forensic pathology and death investigation services through an accredited Medical Examiner facility.
• Continue to meet and set the standards and accreditation requirements for Medical Examiner services in Minnesota. Hennepin County has secured a 30-year Cooperative Services agreement Dakota and Scott Counties that supports a financial model based on volume of services performed and includes capital expense contribution. This agreement supports community partnerships and assures that we have the regional and operational support to meet our strategic vision.