Drafter
Clerk 10/20/2014
Title
AN ORDINANCE approving the execution of a lease and first lease amendment for space in the Jefferson Building, to support the operations and services of the department of public defense.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. On May 20, 2013, the King County council adopted Ordinance 17588 creating a department of public defense within the executive branch.
2. The four independent nonprofit agencies, which had been providing public defense services to the county under contracts, were subsumed as divisions into the newly created department of public defense.
3. One of the nonprofits subsumed into the new department was the Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons ("SCRAP"), which had been leasing space in the Jefferson Building, located at 1401 E Jefferson St., Seattle, Washington within council district two.
4. The intent of the department of public defense is to ultimately consolidate its divisions within county-owned buildings.
5. However, there is a need for space near the juvenile justice center located at 12th and Alder.
6. The facilities management division determined, through consultation with the department, that continued leasing in the Jefferson Building is the most cost-effective option for the county.
7. The facilities management division successfully negotiated with the landlord of the Jefferson Building a new ten-year lease for the space previously leased by SCRAP, effective March 24, 2014.
8. Subsequent to executing the lease, clarifying langauge was negotiated to be included in the lease. The landlord has already agreed to to amend the lease to include this new clarifying language, as set forth in a first amendment and attached as Attachment B to this ordinance.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. The King County council, having determined that leasing space in the Jefferson Building previously occupied by the Society of Counsel Representing Accused Persons is in the best interest of the public, hereby approves the lease attached as Attachment A to this ordinance, contingent upon the execution of the first lease amendment in substantially the same form as Attachment B to this ordinance. Upon execution of this first amendment, the actions taken by county officials, agents and employees consistent with the terms and purposes of the lease will be hereby ratified,
confirmed and approved and the council authorizes the executive to take all actions necessary to implement these agreements.