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The Committee further believes that voter acceptance of a new Justice Building will be <br />dramatically higher than the acceptance level for construction of administrative office <br />facilities, which would be the alternative leaving the courts in the present courthouse <br />to assume all available space therein. <br />Such a proposed design actually allows for the construction of potentially fewer <br />courtrooms over the next twenty years because of greater flexibility. By focusing the <br />construction on non-Judge specific courtroom facilities, and by not associating a <br />courtroom with each judicial office, more efficient use of the facility space is possible. <br />The Courts will clearly need both additional courtrooms and substantial additional <br />administrative offices to incorporate needed programs in the area of community-based <br />dispute resolution. While several additional courtrooms could be relatively easily <br />constructed within the courthouse, the courts will quickly exceed the capacity of that <br />building, leaving furthe~ growth a major concern in a matter of very few years. That <br />growth should be anticipated, planned for and addressed at this time. <br />While_ no funding issues were to be addressed by the sub-committee, two observations <br />relating to cost were felt to be appropriate for comment. <br />- One of the major issues driving the court's need for facilities is security. There is a <br />tremendous need for enhanced security, immediately. Some security measures are <br />essential in the short run, even if a new facility is undertaken in the foreseeable future. <br />If a new Justice Building is undertaken, such construction could avoid the need to <br />expend substantial funds in a major upgrade of the security features necessary to <br />adequately secure the Courthouse in the long range, however. <br />- Comments were also received regarding the cost of bringing the courthouse up to <br />safety and earthquake standards, if the building were to be converted to administrative <br />offices. However, the same standards should be met regardless of whether the <br />building houses offices or courts. This is a cost which must be addressed in any event. <br />JHM:stl <br />-6- <br />