From: CUNNINGHAM Shawn D
Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2010 1:27 PM
To: #ALL CHAIR'S OFFICE; #ALL DISTRICT 1; #ALL DISTRICT 2; #ALL DISTRICT 3; #ALL DISTRICT 4
Cc: #ALL PAO STAFF; FROCHTZWAJG Jonathan; STIENSTRA Sanne; HARRIS Mindy L; THOMAS Bob C; LINDENTHAL John A
Subject: East County Courts project briefing April 20; Board to vote April 22

I will send the following news release to the media shortly.  Please let me or Peggidy Yates know if you have any questions.

 

NEWS RELEASE


For release:      April 14, 2010

Contact:           Peggidy Yates, 503-988-4878

 

 

East County Courts project briefing set for April 20; Board to vote April 22

 

On Tuesday, April 20, The Multnomah County Board of County Commissioners will receive a briefing on the East County Courts proposal by the project team, followed by a vote on Thursday, April 22 to determine whether to proceed further with the project.

 

The April 20 briefing will take place at 10:00 a.m. and will feature a report of progress.  The Board of County Commissioners approved funds last October to complete the schematic design phase of the project plan.  The facility design includes courtrooms, security and office space for District Attorneys and support staff. 

 

The Board will not take action at the briefing Tuesday, April 20 and no public testimony will be taken.  The briefing will include preliminary schematic drawings, site plans, sustainability elements and project financing options.

 

On April 22 at 10:30 a.m., the Board of Commissioners will accept public testimony and vote on a resolution to authorize additional funds for the final design phase of the project, before voting again whether to authorize construction of the facility in late 2010.

 

Agendas for the meetings have not been finalized.  When completed, meeting agendas and materials related to both agenda items will be located here and should be posted by the close of business on Friday, April 16.

 

The East County Courts proposal is the result of decades of study on how to rectify longstanding deficiencies with the current Courthouse in Gresham, which is leaky, cramped and inadequate. If approved, the new courthouse would be built on county-owned land at 185th and Stark in the Rockwood neighborhood of Gresham.

 

Multnomah County is required by state statute to provide court facilities in the city of Gresham for violations that occur east of 122nd Avenue. In 2008 alone, an estimated 27,000 defendants went through the courthouse in Gresham, mostly for traffic and other misdemeanor offenses.

 

The courts proposal was the subject of an informational public meeting and presentation in East Portland last month.

 

###

 

Shawn Cunningham  |  Multnomah County Public Affairs Office  |  503-988-4369  |  newsroom  |  http://twitter.com/multco