To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Jennifer Ludwig, Director, Arapahoe County Public Health
Prepared By:
prepared
Jennifer Ludwig, Director, Arapahoe County Public Health
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presenter
Presenter: Jennifer Ludwig, Director, Arapahoe County Public Health; Breanna Paderewski, Director of Finance and Administration, Public Health
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Subject:
title
10:30 AM *Use of Funds for Arapahoe Plaza Project
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Arapahoe County Public Health is requesting a change in the scope for the build-out of Arapahoe Plaza. We would like to open a new Vital Records office to service the area and are seeking direction from the BOCC on how to proceed.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Good Governance - Plan for future service, infrastructure, and fiscal needs.
Background and Discussion: Arapahoe County Public Health (ACPH) has provided services out of its Belleview and Broadway location since 1968 (known as the Englewood Office). The Board-approved 2023 Space Study identified disposing of the Englewood Office, which is the worst asset in the county’s portfolio, and relocating ACPH services to Arapahoe Plaza. The facilities and fleet management department worked with the public health department to design the necessary space improvements to support sexual health, WIC, Immunizations and Harm Reduction operations in 2025. The project was competitively bid in December 2025 and the construction services contract executed in April 2026. Onsite construction started July 20, 2026.
The Harm Reduction Program is one program within public health that is constantly adapting its service model based on a variety of factors including safety issues, security, funding, capacity, and needs of participants. Upon moving from Englewood to APZ, the team will shift its focus to street outreach, fixed location sites, and Prevention Point, leaving the new APZ space mostly vacant. The revised Harm Reduction service model will consist of screening and testing in Prevention Point and if a client screens positive then they will be referred to and brought inside to the sexual health clinic. Harm Reduction Program staff will utilize storage space and shared sexual health clinic space for their time at APZ. Seeing this service model change as an opportunity, ACPH would like to add a new Vital Records office at APZ to service the western part of Arapahoe, Jefferson, Denver, and Douglas counties. There is a service gap from Golden to Centennial for death and birth certificates we feel can be filled by ACPH. Vital records services help people navigate important life events by providing access to birth and death certificates needed to enroll children in school, obtain identification and passports, access benefits, establish legal identity, settle a loved one’s affairs, and manage other essential personal and family needs. There are 7 funeral homes in the catchment area that we could add to our business portfolio. Vital Records is the only service provided by ACPH that generates revenue. Vital Records would provide service Monday through Friday with appointments and walk-ins, consistent with our other locations at Lima and Altura.
Capital funds in the amount of $40,135 would need to be redirected from the project to accommodate this new scope of work. Per Section 01 2100 (Allowances, page 8) of the Arapahoe County Facility Design/Construction Standards, contingency is strictly restricted to unanticipated elements within the original scope of work. Because this is a new scope request - and not an unforeseen requirement - it is ineligible for contingency funding.
As such, ACPH is requesting the Board reallocate project funds to modify the scope to change the Harm Reduction space into a Vital Records office. The additional scope will require design modifications to include: counter-to ceiling glass to provide barrier between staff and public; modifications to original HVAC structure to accommodate two workspaces; secured vault storage including hard-lid ceiling, badge access controls, and a security system including motion sensors. These elements are necessary to comply with state standards and regulations associated with operating a vital records office.
Implementing this additional scope also will extend the completion date by 10 calendar days. Should the Board wish to approve this additional scope, FFM staff recommends diverting monies from the project’s contingency fund. While this request falls outside the traditional purpose of contingency funds, sufficient funding is currently available to support this request, provided no unanticipated changes or issues occur. Should further unforeseen issues arise that exceed the contingency balance, the facilities team may need to seek unallocated Capital Improvement Program (CIP) funds to cover those costs.
Alternatives: The BOCC could consider the following alternatives:
1) BOCC could decline the request and move forward as planned. ACPH will assess how the space can be utilized in the current configuration.
2) The BOCC could choose to not move forward at this time, and the desire for a western Vital Records office could be wrapped into the current facilities master plan.
Fiscal Impact: The estimated cost (rough order of magnitude) of this change is approximately $40,135, although exact costs are unknown until the design team updates the drawing.
Alignment with Strategic Implementation Strategies: N/A
Staff Recommendation: Public Health staff recommends allocating contingency funds and approve adding this scope to the project. FFM believes reallocating contingency should not negatively impact the total project cost at this time.
Concurrence: Facilities & Fleet Management (FFM) and the Arapahoe County Board of Health are in concurrence.