TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Steve Lederer, Director of Public Works
REPORT BY: Juan Arias, Deputy Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Behavioral Health Treatment Center and 555 Gateway Drive Improvements Project Approvals
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve the Plans and Specifications for the “Behavioral Health Treatment Center and 555 Gateway Drive Improvements Project” PW 26-100; and authorization to advertise for sealed bids and opening of the bids at a time, date, and locations to be published by the Director of Public Works pursuant to Section 20150.8 of the Public Contract Code. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
A. Behavioral Health Treatment Center (BHTC)
On June 3, 2025 the Board of Supervisors received a presentation, created a new capital improvement project, and approved related budget amendments for repurposing the Reentry Facility as the HHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Center.
The Reentry Facility was originally built with a mix of State and local funding. In order to use the Reentry Facility for BHTC, the County was required to “buy out” the State’s interest in the facility. The new goal for the facility is to provide services by the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) as a Behavioral Health Treatment Center. The Behavioral Health Treatment Center will consist of three programs: 1) Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Withdrawal Management; 2) a Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act designated Mental Health Rehabilitation Center (MHRC) or other licensed facility type deemed eligible by the State to serve the target population; and 3) a Sobering Center.
The Behavioral Health Treatment Center envisions:
1) New and Expanded Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care -SB 43 Treatment Mandate,
2) Proposition 36 Treatment Capacity, and
3) Jail and Emergency Department Diversion.
These proposed programs at this new campus will strengthen the County’s behavioral health care system for those with the most serious mental health and substance use disorders to create infrastructure to meet the new SB43 mandate that modernizes conservatorships, sustain and expand residential treatment capacity to provide for a long-term facility through its relocation from Napa State Hospital and to serve the new adult offender population under Prop. 36 (allowing for an increase from 35 to up to 48 residential treatment beds at this new site) and create a program to divert intoxicated adults from arrest and jail into a safe environment with critical short-term care and access to onsite longer-term treatment.
HHSA, in working with the Public Works Department and Nacht & Lewis architects, anticipates that some modifications to the existing facility are needed to operate the three treatment programs, thereby maximizing the facility’s use. Nacht & Lewis Architects was selected through a RFQ for on-call architectural services for various County projects and has assisted the County with design of the project and preparation of plans, specifications and estimates. Nacht & Lewis designed the original facility, which has been beneficial to the County for coordination and cost efficiency purposes.
Current Challenges at Napa State Hospital:
Napa County currently leases space at Napa State Hospital for its Residential Treatment and Withdrawal Management Program. That facility is in urgent need of extensive maintenance, has limited access, has limited capacity, and has no ability to co-locate with other treatment programs.
Optimal Relocation and Expansion:
Reentry Facility’s design, capacity, and existing furnishings make it the ideal site to relocate and expand capacity of our Residential Treatment and Withdrawal Management Program and add new critical programs to create a “Behavioral Health Treatment Center.” This new center is also adjacent to our new jail and nearby the Napa County HHSA that directly oversees these programs creating clear connections and referral pathways.
For tracking the modifications, a new Capital Improvement Project was created: 25050-HHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Center, with initial appropriations of $300,000 for the design phase, funded through a transfer from HHSA reserves. The goal is to complete the modifications to the facility in the first half of 2026, assuming Probation Department’s relocation from reentry to another leased space is accomplished in the Spring of 2026. The estimated total project cost through completion is $4,000,000 and will be funded from HHSA reserves.
Now that design of the required improvements and construction documents have been completed, staff recommends letting the project out for construction bids. Once bids are received and a lowest apparent bid is determined, staff will return to the Board for approval of a construction contract award and for a budget transfer to fully fund the project based on actual construction bids.
B. 555 Gateway Drive:
On June 3, 2025, the Board received an update on the Facilities Master Plan, made the strategic decision to indefinitely pause implementation of the plan, and directed instead to move forward with short-term improvements to address critical facility and department space needs. Among these short-term actions was an item to lease office space for the Probation Department and Child Support Services. Movement of Child Support Services to leased space opens needed space for the District Attorney in 1127 First Street and movement of the Probation Department opens the Reentry Facility for the BHTC.
Staff from Probation, Child Support Services, and Public Works have utilized the services of the County’s contracted real estate agent to seek available office space for lease. Staff evaluated several properties and identified approximately 40,000 square feet of space in a single building located at 555 Gateway Drive as the most cost-effective available property to meet the space needs. With tenant improvements to be made by the Landlord, the space is suitable for the Probation Department, one of its program service providers (GEO, currently located at the Hall of Justice), and for Child Support Services. The space is anticipated to be available in April of 2026 for the County to install furniture and security cameras with occupancy anticipated in the summer of 2026. Timelines are subject to change for earlier occupancy should the Landlord’s current tenant vacate the space earlier than required.
Upon approval of the proposed lease, additional costs were anticipated, including purchase and placement of furniture and security systems, movement and installation of existing furniture and department essentials, and allocation of two additional custodial positions. Capital Improvement Funds have been budgeted to support improvements and the move. Additional staffing in the custodial subdivision of property management will be requested at mid-year.
Now that design of the required improvements and construction documents have been completed, staff recommend letting the project out for construction bids. Once bids are received and a lowest apparent bid is determined, staff will return to the Board for approval of a construction contract award and for a budget transfer if needed to fully fund the project based on actual construction bids.
C. BHTC and 555 Gateway Drive construction process:
Department of Public Works staff have worked with the County’s on-call Architects Nacht and Lewis and with applicable departments for the preparation of designs and construction bid plans and specifications for the improvements required for the BHTC and for the improvements and systems furniture installation required at the 555 Gateway property. Staff proposes to bid the two projects as one construction contract to take advantage of construction coordination and cost efficiencies.
Now that design has been completed and the construction bid documents are ready, staff recommends approval of plans and specifications and releasing the project out for construction bids. Once construction bids are received, staff will return to the Board with a recommendation for a construction contract award and any necessary budget adjustments in order to move the project forward into construction.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Where is it budgeted? |
Project funding will be located in Behavioral Health Treatment Center: Fund 3000 Sub-division 3000550 Project 25050 - HHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Center 555 Gateway Drive: Fund 3000 Sub-division 3000550 Project 26002 |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
The project must be let out for construction bids in order to move project into the construction phase. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Lease payments for the 555 Gateway Boulevard property. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
The project may not move into the construction bidding phase. |
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Additional Information: |
Strategic Initiative: Build Healthy, Connected Communities |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: Consideration of possible adoption of Categorical Exemption Class 1: It has been determined that this type of project does not have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. [See Class 1 (“Existing Facilities” and Class 2 (“Replacement or Reconstruction”) which may be found in the guidelines for the implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act of 14 CCR §15301 and §15302; see also Napa County’s Local Procedures for Implementing the California Environmental Quality Act, Appendix B.]