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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-23-1994-IX-B 1 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda Item No. 8 ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: August 23, 1994 SUBJECT: STATUS OF COURTROOM ADDITION DEPARTMENT: PURCHASING AND CENTRAL SERVICES PUBLIC HEARING:YES: NO: X ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: PAM JONES, ext. 2650 Telephone Number- Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 967-9251 Mebane 227-2031 Durham 688-7331 PURPOSE: To consider options for construction of the addition to the New Courthouse. BACKGROUND: Since the Board appropriated the additional funds through the 1994-1999 Capital Improvements Program for the Courthouse Addition Project, extensive discussions have occurred between the Superior and District Court Judges, project architect and County staff. The Judges had agreed that it was most appropriate that any new space built should be for the Superior Court. From a functional perspective the rationale was as follows: District Court is currently experiencing an explosion in the number of cases handled. Dockets that exceed 200 cases are frequent. The July 18 docket reached almost 600 cases. Although this is not a common occurrence, it suggests what is possible for the future. The funds currently available ($311,000) would build a courtroom to allow public seating of around 260 people. Although the Court is considering carrying out some efficiency measures that may reduce the numbers of people attending Court, the Court personnel agree that a courtroom of this size would address the need for only a short time. Since a District Courtroom would be built without jury facilities, its use by any Court other than District Court would be severely limited. On the other hand, Superior Court historically requires accommodation for fewer members of the public. Therefore, if a new courtroom could be constructed to meet Superior Court needs, the existing Superior Courtroom (capacity approx. 350) could be reassigned to meet the District Court needs. Following this line of thinking, program discussions were held with the Superior Court Judge. The stated program needs for the Courtroom were as follows: 1. The Courtroom should have a seating capacity of no fewer than 125 persons; 2. The arena area should be of sufficient size to accommodate multiple defendants when necessary; 2 3. There should be a jury deliberation room with toilet facilities; 4. A Judges office with toilet facilities and private entrance should be included; 5. A holding cell and separate entrance for inmates should be included; 6. There should be conference rooms (at least two) available for the attorneys and their clients. (Note: These are small conference rooms, accommodating 4-6 people.) The Judge further indicated a need to accommodate a jury assembly room and a law library. The lack of a jury assembly area was cited as a critical problem during the first meeting of the Justice Facility Study Group as well. These requirements were addressed by including items 1-5 in the new addition and placing the conference rooms in areas vacated by the District Court following their move to the upper floor of the Courthouse. The District Court had indicated a willingness to allow reallocation of their present Courtroom for Jury Assembly in the event they were allowed to use the large courtroom. They did request that the room not be set up in a manner to preclude other types of hearings which might occasionally need to be heard there. The small anteroom to the side of the existing District Courtroom was to become the Superior Court law library. After comparisons to existing Courtrooms, it was determined that seating capacity for 125 persons would likely be inadequate. The Judge has requested seating for no fewer than 200 persons. In addition, he indicates that the conference rooms should be in immediate proximity to the courtrooms. The estimate from the Architect to accomplish this additional work is $120,000 over the current budget of$311,000. If the Board chooses to address the Superior Court needs through the expanded scope of work defined above, the additional funding would be addressed during the development of the 1995-2000 Capital Improvements Plan. The project's projected completion date is Spring, 1996. RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board approve the change in the scope of work for the New Courthouse project and during the development of the 1995-2000 Capital Improvements Plan, amend the plan to include an additional $120,000 for the purpose of constructing a courtroom to accommodate the Orange County Superior Court.