Stanislaus County, Modesto leaders could approve agreement to develop veterans center
Stanislaus County could enter an agreement with Modesto and a nonprofit foundation to provide a center for the 27,000 veterans and their family members who live in the county.
The Board of Supervisors could approve the agreement Tuesday morning to develop what’s envisioned as a 65,000-square-foot, one-stop services center for veterans. The Modesto City Council could approve the item on its consent agenda Tuesday evening.
The partners, also including the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County, are proposing to lease a building for a veterans hall, county veterans services, the Area Agency on Aging, and adult programs offered by the county Community Services Agency and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services.
More than 30 veterans organizations with a combined membership of more than 7,000 could potentially use the center for meetings and events. The facility also will have offices for connecting veterans and their families to social services, vocational programs, Veterans Affairs benefits and health care services.
The county will seek proposals from property owners to remodel a large commercial building in Modesto. There are a number of available buildings on McHenry Avenue, near downtown or on Modesto’s east side, county Chief Operating Officer Patty Hill Thomas said.
She said the county will consider options for a 10-year lease, purchase or lease extension beyond 10 years. The annual cost for the center is estimated at $1.28 million.
Modesto would contribute $80,000 annually over a 10-year period. The county would commit $100,000 a year from proceeds of selling the former Medical Arts Building for $1 million, as well as $100,000 from the general fund and $113,000 from moving the department of aging and veterans services offices from Downey Avenue.
Office space used by the county Community Services Agency and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services would be funded by those departments to the tune of $707,000 a year. Their support services for veterans are reimbursed by the state and federal governments. In addition, the plan calls for the veterans foundation to raise $125,000 annually, and $50,000 would come from event fees.
By leasing a privately owned building, the county can keep the property on the tax rolls, Hill Thomas said. The county expects to review proposals from commercial property owners later in the fall.
The facility could be opened for veterans sometime next year.
“We will put together a marketing plan and get the word out that this is a tremendous opportunity to repurpose a facility for a great use,” Hill Thomas said.
Ken Carlson: 209-578-2321
At a glance
The Board of Supervisors will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the basement chamber of Tenth Street Place, at 1010 10th St., Modesto. The following items will be considered:
- A second reading of an ordinance that will change the process for granting salary increases for county supervisors. A 3.75 percent annual salary increase will be automatic if their salaries are more than 20 percent below the average pay for supervisors in eight other counties.
- An agreement between the county, Modesto, Ceres and Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District to implement a regional fire investigations unit.
- Approval of the county emergency operations plan.
This story was originally published September 21, 2015 at 6:44 PM with the headline "Stanislaus County, Modesto leaders could approve agreement to develop veterans center."