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_., <br />COURTS <br />The Court System in Orange County is experiencing growth <br />pains as well. The Court Facility Capital Needs Committee, <br />consisting of representatives of the area Judges, the Chair <br />to the Board of Commissioners and County staff, met in the <br />Fall, 1990. The session was designed to discuss issues and <br />brainstorm solutions. Several critical space issues were <br />raised, the most costly being the location of two new <br />courtrooms and the relocation of one existing courtroom in <br />Hillsborough. <br />We explored several possibilities to identify the space <br />needed by the Courts. As previously mentioned, the Court <br />Street Annex is a possibility, but would solve only a portion <br />of their space dilemma. Relocating the Sheriff's <br />Administrative offices and allowing this area to be used by <br />the Court system would only serve to create another, <br />expensive capital project, and would not provide sufficient <br />space for the Courts either. - <br />Yet another possibility involves the construction of an <br />addition to the New Courthouse. Upon initial review, it <br />appears that approximately 10,000 square feet will be <br />necessary to provide three additional courtrooms and <br />associated staff support offices. Assuming 10,000 s.f. at <br />$80 s.f. plus 10% design fees a minimum budget of $880,000 <br />would be required. It should be noted that although <br />additional courtrooms would be available, this option <br />provides no staff growth. <br />During the brainstorming session, the question was raised as <br />to whether there was sufficient buildable area on the County <br />campus to consider constructing any additional buildings. If <br />it was determined that the campus is at capacity and if <br />long -term planning (1995 -2000) included the relocation of <br />Courts and Law Enforcement functions to a separate complex, <br />this project would require a bond issue. Although we would <br />expect the proposed coordinated facility study to provide <br />accurate construction cost data, based on similar projects, <br />it is estimated this endeavor would carry a price tag of <br />approximately $30 -40 million. <br />Two things have become apparent after review of the major <br />needs expressed by the Courts: <br />1. A comprehensive facilities study should be <br />conducted prior to any piecemeal construction work; and <br />1991 CIP INFORMATION <br />PAGE 4 <br />V1 <br />