Council to Review Reduced Courthouse Construction Cost Recommendations

for release

Contact: Leanne Kozak, 916-263-2838

 

April 19, 2012

Judicial Council to Review Recommendations to Reduce Courthouse Construction Costs

Public Meeting Next Week in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO—The Judicial Council of California will review recommendations to reassess 13 court construction projects at a public business meeting April 24th, 2012. The meeting will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Judicial Council Conference Center, Hiram Johnson State Office Building, Third Floor, Ronald M. George State Office Complex, 455 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco.

Chaired by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, the council is the administrative policymaking body of the California courts. A live audiocast will be on the California Courts website. The complete agenda and reports for the meeting will be posted on the Judicial Council meetings web page.

Justice Brad Hill, chair of the Court Facilities Working Group, and Justice Jeffrey W. Johnson, chair of the Courthouse Cost Reduction Subcommittee of the Court Facilities Working Group, will present recommendations to reassess the courthouse projects with a goal of significantly lowering their costs and to continue with 25 active projects funded under Senate Bill 1407 but with other cost reductions.

Other council agenda items include:

Audit Report for Mono Superior Court: The Advisory Committee on Financial Accountability and Efficiency for the Judicial Branch and the Administrative Office of the Courts will recommend that the council accept the audit report for the Superior Court of Mono County.  If accepted, the audit report will be placed on the California Courts public website for public access.

Judicial Branch Contracting Manual: The council will also consider adopting proposed revisions to the Judicial Branch Contracting Manual based on comments received since December 13, 2011, and will consider directing staff to report in August 2012 about further revisions to the manual. The proposed revisions would make the manual more effective and workable for judicial branch entities in their procurement and contracting activities.

Security and Operational Funding for El Dorado Superior Court: The council will consider four options for funding one-time and ongoing operational and security for the remodeled El Dorado Superior Court juvenile facility that is expected to open on June 11, 2012. The council previously approved funding for this facility, but it has taken longer than expected for the work to be completed.

Update on Technology Activities: Judge James E. Herman, chair of the CCMS Internal Committee will provide the council with an update on technology activities. No action is required.

 

 

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