Title
Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Amendment to the Agreement for Creation of the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority that Adds the City of Hampton, Virginia as a Member
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The Hampton Roads regional Jail is no longer housing inmates, as of April 1, 2024, will be closed permanently and the jail building and equipment will be sold to the City of Portsmouth. Hampton has been sending inmates to Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) in Suffolk, since the Downtown jail closed for renovations and HRRJ could no longer accommodate our inmates. Sheriff Karen Bowden has been satisfied with the service provided by WTRJ and they are willing to extend permanent membership to Hampton on mutually agreeable terms.
Discussion:
Hampton will benefit from joining the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority, as the Hampton Roads Regional Jail is no longer a viable alternative for housing Hampton's inmates. The Western Tidewater Regional Jail has indicated that they will accept Hampton as a permanent Member if the City pays a "buy-in" fee of $5,736,162, which the City will be able to cover within its $8,098,535 projected proceeds from the sale of the Hampton Roads Regional Jail. Hampton will be charged the same per diem cost rate as the current WTRJ Member Jurisdictions (the City of Suffolk, the City of Franklin and Isle of Wight County). However, the extraordinary medical costs covered by the WTRJ will be $250,000 (which is our pro-rata allocation of what the historic experience has been for the other member jurisdictions). In essence, if serving the extraordinary medical costs of our inmates is more than what that cost for the other Member Jurisdictions , Hampton will pay the difference. Hampton will also cover inmate transportation to and from WTRJ until they can increase their transportation corps to 85% of the approved staffing level. Hampton should have budget savings to offset these costs from the closure of the HRRJ. It cost Hampton $5.7 million to house 175 inmates at the HRRJ in FY23, and will cost Hampton $3.1 million to house 200 inmates at the Western Tidewater Regional Jail in FY25.
Recommendation:
Approve the Agreement for Hampton to join Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority.
Body
WHEREAS, the Hampton Roads Regional Jail has not been able to reach proper staffing levels necessary to provide full service to the City of Hampton and its other Member Cities;
WHEREAS, the City of Hampton and the other Member Cities have decided to close the Hampton Roads Regional Jail and sell the building and equipment to the City of Portsmouth;
WHEREAS, the City of Hampton cannot house all of its jail inmates at its local jails, thus necessitating a need for a permanent place to house its inmates;
WHEREAS, the Hampton Sheriff has been housing inmates it cannot house in the local jail to the Western Tidewater Regional Jail;
WHEREAS, the Sheriff has been satisfied with the service provided by the Western Tidewater Regional Jail;
WHEREAS, the City Manager and Sheriff have explored becoming a permanent member of the Western Tidewater Regional Jail;
WHEREAS, the City of Hampton and the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority Board have negotiated mutually agreeable terms for Hampton to become a permanent member;
WHEREAS, the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority Board have extended permanent membership to the City of Hampton under mutually agreeable terms, subject to the approval of their current Member Jurisdictions (the City of Suffolk, the City of Franklin and Isle of Wight County);
WHEREAS, it is the City of Hampton's understanding that, once the Hampton City Council takes action to approve the Amendment To The Agreement For Creation Of The Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority, that adds the City of Hampton as a Member under the terms outlined in the Amendment, the other Member Jurisdictions will be asked to take this same action;
WHEREAS, once the Amendment To The Agreement For Creation Of The Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority that adds Hampton as a member is ratified by all Member Jurisdictions, the City of Hampton will be admitted as a permanent member of the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority effective July 1, 2024; and
WHEREAS, becoming a permanent member of the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority will provide Hampton a permanent, cost effective, solution to house Hampton inmates.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, as follows:
1. That it approves the Amendment To The Agreement For Creation Of The Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority that adds Hampton as a member under the terms therein; and
2. That the City Manager or her Authorized Designee is authorized to execute and deliver to the Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority the Amendment To The Agreement For Creation Of The Western Tidewater Regional Jail Authority that adds Hampton as a member in substantially the same form as attached hereto.