Title
Thurston County Court House and Regional Administrative Buildings Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
To receive an update on the a new County Courthouse and Regional Administrative Buildings
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive an update on the planning for a new County Courthouse and Regional Administrative Buildings.
Staff Contact:
Susan Grisham, Executive Assistant, 360.753.8244
Presenter(s):
Brett Buckley, District Court Judge
Carol Murphy, Superior Court Judge
Tye Menser, Thurston County Commissioner
Jon Tunheim, Thurston County Prosecutor
Background and Analysis:
On April 30, 2019, the Board of County Commissioners voted 2-1 to add a ballot proposition to increase the levy of the regular property tax to fund a new Courthouse and Regional Administrative Building during the April 28, 2020 election.
Over the past year, leadership from Thurston County and the City of Olympia have been working collaboratively on a project to build a new Courthouse and Regional Administrative Buildings.
Through a feasibility study, County leadership explored reconstructing and expanding the existing campus and buildings or building a new Courthouse and Regional Administrative Buildings elsewhere within the City Limits of Olympia. The Board of County Commissioners narrowed down to three of 12 potential sites to be evaluated. These sites included the current Hilltop site, an undeveloped piece of property on Harrison Street, and the Leigh Creighton Justice Center location on Plum Street. Each location was evaluated for qualities related to customer service, economic development, life cycle costs, environmental sustainability, safety, parking, and transit services.
The new Courthouse and Regional Administrative Building would be built on the site of the former Olympia City Hall, near downtown on Plum Street. It would combine 16 County offices and departments, that are now in seven buildings, into two adjacent buildings. The space will also be a central customer service desk to direct citizens to services, offices, and departments. It would also replace the Olympia Municipal Justice Center, with the city and county sharing courtrooms and other facilities.
Attachments:
None