Conference/meeting rooms (one future, 1- 18x14, 1-12x11, one -32x24, Board room for 100). What is the justification for one huge Board room?

Full Question:

Conference/meeting rooms (one future, 1- 18x14, 1-12x11, one -32x24, Board room for 100).  What is the justification for one huge Board room?   Is this a GVSUD support building or a community gathering center?   If your plans are to have others use the conference/Board Room, what is the supporting data (monthly usage, who would use it, and what fees would be collected) to justify this large amount of square footage that would remain empty or unused most of the time?  

It should be noted that meeting room and public space requirements in the original facility design were done before social distancing became the apparent norm.  How social distancing will prevail in the medium and long term is a guess.   It does seem certain that providing additional spacing rather than less is prudent behavior.  

The safety of all Green Valley's constituents is of prime importance.

Green Valley hosts an array of meetings throughout the week, month, and year. It is common to have multiple sessions co-occurring throughout the day.  Teamwork within the company, teamwork with the many partners we work with, and teamwork with the customers we serve is a high priority.  

At the same time, it is common to discuss items with these constituents that is best done in private.  Meeting rooms are a great facilitation tool to foster this teamwork and at the same time provide privacy when needed.  

The Boardroom is intended to accommodate large groups for various meetings, including monthly Board meetings, public forums, and our partners' meetings (water, electric, municipal, and others), etc. As the district grows, so does the participation in Green Valley meetings. At our first public forum, held this past January, we had 56 attendees (and valid comments were received that more would have attended if they had received notice earlier).  

It would have been impossible to house a group of that magnitude at the current facility, especially given the current social distancing climate. As we move forward and begin to open facilities to the public for attendance, we expect these numbers to increase.

Note that with the current social distance guidelines, the room's maximum capacity is diminished from the initial estimates.

Public meetings with several "break out" areas scattered around a large room are currently not possible in Green Valley facilities but would be of great benefit.  This room would facilitate this function for GV and others to use.

While the kitchen and board room's primary purpose is as stated above and below, Green Valley is a good community citizen and plans to allow other organizations to use the space if it is available.   Terms, conditions, and fees associated with such use have not been established.

There are two conference rooms included in the design. The larger of the two is intended to house employees during weekly staff meetings, larger development meetings and provide a space for presentation preparation. The second, and smaller of the two, is for weekly, sometimes daily, meetings with developers, engineers, consultants, etc. 

Again, it's important to note that we often have an overlap of group meetings and need adequate space to host those.  It is also common when working with a series of large drawings and maps that these get spread out over a large area, sometimes using additional portable tables.  Sometimes when dealing with complex situations, it is desirable to leave materials out and undisturbed in a meeting room for several days as discussions progress.

The smaller, "meet me" room is designed to give customers a private, quiet space to speak with customer service or billing employees regarding private or financial matters.   Employees can also use these for small ad-hoc team meetings.

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1. What is the purpose of the SCADA room, and when will it be utilized?
2. What is the need for office space in the Wastewater Treatment Plant?
3. Are the gate and ornamental fencing consistent with the design used in other facilities of a like nature?
4. Why does the facility need an exercise room? Will it be open after regular working hours and weekends?
5. What is the need for office space in the Warehouse and Operations area?
6. What is the rationale for the projected size of the breakroom?
7. Are all the conference rooms needed?
8. Is the Board Room situated so that people attending an after-hours function would not have access to the office space?
9. Why is covered parking necessary?
10. When the Board room is in use for a large meeting, is there adequate parking for employees?
11. Other than the Board Room where the Board will meet, are there any offices, workrooms, computers, phones, parking spaces, cubicles, or facilities of any type dedicated for use by GVSUD Board members?
12. Why is it necessary to have more than one drive-through lane?
13. What will the new facility cost GVSUD?
14. If GVSUD borrows funds to finance the facility, what is the expectation regarding interest rates that would be secured?
15. Where will the money come from to build this facility?
16. What is the life expectancy of the proposed new facility?
17. Has the proposed facility undergone "value engineering" to balance cost/benefit?
18. Will any part of the existing facility continue to be used once the new facility is complete?
19. Where will the facility be built?
20. Was employee input utilized in the design of the facility?
21. Has the architect selected by Green Valley worked on similar projects?
22. Are the proposed Green Valley facilities consistent in cost, function, and design, with other facilities of similar entities?
23. What options did GVSUD examine regarding its need for facilities?
24. When was the investigation started regarding the facilities' needs of GVSUD?
25. Is a new facility required for GVSUD to continue to provide water and wastewater services to its customers?
26. Why does Green Valley Special Utility District (GVSUD) need a new facility?
27. How can GVSUD plan for a facility to last 40 years into the future? Maybe 20 years. It isn't going to be enough in 40 years.
28. Does GVSUD provide the proper PPE for its lineman? Should the linemen even have been wet and muddy?
29. How is the architect's fee scheduled? Is it a flat rate or a percent of the overall project value?
30. Why are the proposed office spaces for the new facility so large?
31. Why is the mail-out being mailed out from North Carolina?
32. The meeting room is 19 x 26 and seats 24. What type of meetings would be held in this large room, and who would attend? What is the projected number of employees that will work at this site?
33. Why is so much space needed for a break room?
34. What is the justification for the gate structure and Ornamental fencing?
35. What is the cost justification for a washer and dryer?
36. Why is there a ladies locker room and two showers?
37. Office – 18x12. Who would use this large office?
38. Kitchen (5x5 pantry, Dishwasher, stove, double oven, and warming drawer).
39. The meeting room is 19 x 26 and seats 24. What type of meetings would be held in this large room and who would attend? What is the projected number of employees that will work at this site?
40. The 23 x 8 break room is mostly counter space and appliances and only allows seating for two.
41. What is the justification for the gate structure and Ornamental fencing?
42. What is the justification for the 13 x 22 exercise room?
43. Why do you need locker room and showers?
44. Training room (58x43) seats 75. What is the frequency and number to attend per session that justifies the need for a room that seats 75?
45. Office – 18x12. Who would be using this large office?
46. What is the justification for such a huge kitchen with a pantry and cooking appliances, including a double oven?
47. Private Restroom for the General Manager.
48. Conference/meeting rooms (one future, 1- 18x14, 1-12x11, one -32x24, Board room for 100). What is the justification for one huge Board room?
49. The SCADA has three consoles, a unisex restroom, and a food area (26x24).
50. The plans are for four drive-thru lanes, one for a kiosk and two with pneumatic tubes.
51. Why is there a need for 20 covered parking spaces in the "employee parking" lot?