Whatcom County Council Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee

**Design-Build Team Selection Process** Rob Ney reported that the county received six strong proposals for the design-build contract and shortlisted three finalists. The selection process included council member participation and resulted in choosing the Clark Construction/RAM Construction joint venture with Nelson Architecture/RMC design team. Ney emphasized that the team won based on expertise rather than local preference points, though the local participation was "a huge cherry on top." **Local Workforce Requirements** Council Member Jon Scanlon praised the outcome for achieving local workforce goals that he, along with Council Members Galloway and Buchanan, had previously advocated for despite some contention. The discussion revealed that while the current design contract has no specific…

**Rob Ney (Administrative Services Department):** Emphasized the collaborative nature of the design-build approach, noting it's the county's first use of this methodology. Expressed confidence in the selected team's combination of national expertise and local knowledge. Committed to providing regular updates every two weeks when substantial progress occurs. **Jon Scanlon (Council Member):** Expressed strong satisfaction with achieving local workforce participation goals, noting this validates the council's earlier advocacy efforts. Praised the combination of local contractors (RAM Construction) and local design firms (RMC) working alongside national partners. **Tyler Byrd (Council Member):** Focused on ensuring equi…

**Rob Ney, on the winning team's qualifications:** "It was this team, you know how cream rises to the top. It was this team that collectively won that bid, not the local incentive point. So it was like a huge cherry on top that that happened." **Jon Scanlon, on achieving local workforce goals:** "I'm really happy with that outcome. And I remember, Rob, you tell me one point you're like John, I think you can achieve those outcomes through this mechanism, and it looks like you're going to prove…

- **Design-build team officially selected:** Clark Construction/RAM Construction joint venture with Nelson Architecture/RMC design team chosen from six initial proposals - **Contract negotiations nearly complete:** Project moves from procurement to active design phase this week - **Regular reporting structure established:** Committee will receive bi-weekly updates instead of irregular project reports - **Joint Advisory Workgroup approved:** New stakeholder …

### Meeting Overview The Whatcom County Council's Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee met on September 9, 2025, to receive an update on the Justice Center Project. The meeting focused on the selection of a design-build team and the upcoming planning process for the new facility that will replace the current jail and include a behavioral health component. ### Key Terms and Concepts **Design-Build:** A project delivery method where a single contract team handles both the design and construction of a facility, allowing for collaborative input throughout the process rather than sequential phases. **Owner's Representative:** A professional consultant (STV in this case) hired to represent the county's interests and manage the project on behalf of the owner during complex construction projects. **Justice Center:** The proposed new facility that will replace Whatcom County's current jail and include additional components like behavioral health services and other justice-related functions. **Scenario Development:** The process of evaluating different building options with varying sizes, features, and costs to help decision-makers choose the best approach for the project. **Joint Venture:** A business arrangement where two companies (Clark Construction and RAM Construction) partner together to work on a project, combining their respective expertise and resources. **FFAB:** Finance and Facility Advisory Board - a county advisory body that reviews major facility and financial decisions. **IPRTF:** Whatcom County's Involuntary Treatment Act Planning and Review Task Force, involved in behavioral health facility planning. **Total Cost of Ownership:** An approach that considers both construction costs and long-term operational costs when evaluating different facility options. ### Key People at This Meeting | Name | Role / Affiliation | |---|---| | Barry Buchanan | Committee Chair, County Council | | Tyler Byrd | Council Member District 1 | | Jon Scanlon | Council Member District 3 | | Rob Ney | Administrative Services Department Facilities | | Ashley McClaran | STV (Owner's Representative) | | Kayla Schott-Bresler | Executive's Office | ### Background Context Whatcom County has been planning to replace its aging ja…