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Home My WebLink About2005-05-09 05-158 RESOLVEItem No os -158 Date: May 9, 2005 Item/Subject: Resolve, Endorsing the State Court System's Selection of a City Owned Parcel at the Intersection of Exchange and Washington Streets in Downtown Bangor as the Proposed Location for a New Court Building. Responsible Department: City Manager Commentary: Prior to the last Council meeting, a workshop was held with Ted Glessner, State Court Administrator, m discuss the Court's selection of the CNs development parcel at Washington and Exchange Streets as the location for a new court [wilding. At that time, Mr. Gle ener indicated that the State Court System intends to approach Me legislature in this session with a request for approval and initial funding of this project. He requested that the Cty take a position in support of their choice of this 9M and asked, if — possdde, Mat such a position be taken within thenex ,oil weeks Prior m the Courts submitting their_. request. At that time, those Councilors present requested the a resolve be drafted for Council consideration. A proposed resolve was reviewed by the Finance Commitee, which recommended that It be expanded to include an expression of the CRI desire that the design of this building meet both the Court's objectives of prominence and civic presence and that It be designed In a manner suitable W its location in downtown and consistent with the prevailing architecture in Me area. DepaNnent Head Recommend approval, as does the Finance Committee, i% rl1(z u City Manager Associated Information: Budge Approval: Finance Director WM ll X Passage _ Fire[ Reading Page _ of _ Referral os-JSB AS AMENDED cvlS "u� Msigned to CITY OF BANGOR (IRIS.) Resolve, Endorsing Be State Court System's Selection of a City Owned Parcel at the Intersection of Exdmnge and Washington Streets in Downtown Bangor as the Proposed location for a New Court Building. WHEREAS, Mere is wide and long standing recognition that Be current space available for operations of the State Court System in Bangor is inadequate and additional space Is needed; and WHEREAS, ever the past several years, the City, of Bangor and Penobsmt County have been In dis s ions with the State Judicial Branch regarding its space needs and potential options 'for meeting Mose needs; and MERE*, the City and County, requested that the Courts seriously consider the option of rerwvatmg and expanch g the County Courthouse to meet its needs, and - WHEREAS, a feasibility study commissioned by the State Judicial Branch concluded that chis option should not he selected due W higher estimated cosh, limited eaparsion capability, and uperztkwal of ch ncy considerations; and WHI S, based on this conclusion, the Court System invited letters of Interest from pmperty owners interested in making Meir properties available to Me Court System for this project; and WHEREAS, in January, the any adopted Resolve 05-60 calling upon Be State Judicial Branch to explore Be option of constructing a new, stand alone mud faculty on the existing Chy County campus and to explore any other possible aitemative Mat would meet Its needs at that location; and WHEREAS, this resolve also indicated that if the Court Systems needs could not be met on Be City/County mmpus, Be Court System should select a site in downtown Bangor in time proximity W Me maturity of Me area's legal cemmunhy and to minimize County primmer transportation costs; and WHEREAS, the Court's mnsuitanh have reviewed Me option of constructing a new court facility on the existing campus and have determined MM the site does not meet the system's needs for future expansion, vehicle access and parking, and prominence and civic presence; in addition, the mnfgumbon and topography of Me site impose limitations and additional costs on the project; and 05-158 AS AMENDED WHEREAS, one consultants have, however, recommended that the Court System locate Meir project on a Cltyowned development parcel at cite intersection of Washington and Exchange Sheets In downtown Bangor; and WHEREAS, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court has amepted th s recanmendalmn and selected the site as the location for Meir project; and WHEREAS, this site meds the City's objective of rdaining the District and Superior Courts in downtown Bangor, and construction of a mud facility at MB location will serve as a catalyst to additional development in this area of downtown and will minimize additional County costs associated with locating the courts on a site other than the County campus; and WHEREAS, representatives athe local Bar Association have indicated that a solution to the security Issues and overcrowding associated with current mud facilities in Bangor is essential to the proper operation of our region's justice system. NOW, THEREFORE, BE U RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CRY OF BANGOR THAT The City of Bangor hereby endorses the seI of the City owned development parcel at the intersection M State and! Washington Sheets as the location for a new mud facility in downtown Bargor. The Court System has responded to the requests of the City of Bangor and Penobscot County M review all possible alternatives that woulo allow the courts M remain w the current City/County campus and has reached the justifiable conclusion that another locatim is needed. The selected site meets the Cdy3 objectives of retaining the courts in dovmtovm Bangor and will further City and State policies designed M retain and enhance vibrant community centers. BE R FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City calls upon the State Judicial Systen to work closely with the City on the design of the new facility to insure that It meets the Court's objective of prominence and civic presence and that Me design of the building is suitable to it; location in downtown Bari and consistent witIN the preva ling architecture 9 this area 9 ourmffnmnhf� Me highest possible oually. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of MIs resolve be provided to the Chief Justice of the Maine Judicial Court, Me Maitre Stale Court Administrator, Governor Jahn E. Baldmd, the members of the Bangor State Legislative Delegation, the Chairs of the legislative Connankme-with jumcliictlon over court mmwctioNexpansion programs, and Me Speaker of the State House of Representetives, the President of the State Senate, and members of the Penobscot County Comm'¢slon. 05-158 AS AMENDED Assigned to CITY OF BANGOR CME.) Resolve, Endorsing the State Court System's Selection of a City Owned Parcel at the Intersection of Exchange and Washington Sheets in Downtown Bangor as the proposed Location for a New Court Building. WHEREAS, there is wide and long standing recognition that the current space available for operations of the State Court System in Banger is inadequate and additional space is needed; and WHEREAS, over the past several years, the City of Bangor and Penobscot County have been in discussions with the State Judicial Branch regarding Its space needs and potential options 'kr meeting those needs; and WHEREAS, Me City and County requested that the Courts seriously consider the option of renovating and expanding the County Courthouse to meet its needs; and WHEREAS, a feasibility study commissioned by the State Judicial Branch concluded that this option should not be selected] due to higher estimated costs, limited expansion capability, and operational efficiency considerations; and WHEREAS, based on this conclusion; the Court System invited letters of Interest from property owners Interested in making Meir properties available M the Court System for this- . project; and WHEREAS, in January, the City adopted Resolve 05-60 calling upon the State Judicial Branch M explore the option of constructing a new, stand alone court facility on the existing City County campus and M explore any other possible alternative that wouldmeet its needs at that location; and - WHEREAS, this resolve also indicated that if the Court Systems needs could not be met on the City/County campus, the Court System should select: a site In downtown Bangor in close proximity M the majority of the area's legal community and to minimize County prisoner transportation posts; and - WHEREAS, the Court's consultants have reviewed Me option of censtructing a new court facility on the existing campus and have determined that the site does not meet the system's needs for future expansion, vehicle access and parking, and prominence and civic presence; in .addition, the configuration and topography of the site impose limitations and additional tests on the project; and M CIT COUNCIL May 9, 2005 Passe A Copy, Attest; CLC�H t WHEREAS, the consultants have, however, recommended Mat Me Court System locate Meir project on a Wca ned development parcel at the Intersection of Washington and Exchange Streets in downtown Bangor; and WHEREAS, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court has accepted this recommendation and selected this site as the location for Meir project; and WHEREAS, this site meets Me City's objective of retaining the District and Superior Courts in downtown Bangor, and construction of a court facility at this location will serve as a catalyst to additional development in this area of downtown and will minimize additional County mels associated with locating the courts on a site other than the County campus; ant WHEREAS, representatives of the local Bar Association have indicated that a solution M the security issues and overcrowding associated with current mud fatllities in Bangor is essential M the proper operation of our regions justice system. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CRY COUNCIL OF THE CRY OF BANGOR THAT The City of Bangor hereby endorses the selection of the City awned development parcel at the Intersection of State and Washington Streets as Me location for a new mud facility In downtown Bangor. The Court System has responded to the requests of the City of Bangor and Penobscot County to review all possible altertwtives that would allow the marls m remain on the current Oty/County campus and has reached Mejusdfiable conclusion Mat another location Is ncetled. The selected see meads the City's objectives of retaining the courts In downtown Bangor and will further City and State policies designcetl to retain and enhance vibrant community centers. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City calls upon the Spate Judicial System W work closely with the City ran Me design of Me new facility to insure MM it meets Me Courts objective of prominence and civic presence and that the design of the buBdng is suitable to Its location in cowntown Bangor and consistent with the prevailing archRecture of this area of our community. BE R FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of this resolve be provided to the Chief Justice of the Maim Judicial Court, the Maine State Court Administrator, Governor John E. Baldaccl, the members of the Bangor State Legislative Delegation, Me Chairs of the Legislative Committee with junsdimon over curt construction/e pansion programs, and the Speaker of the Stale Huse of Representatives, the - President of the State Senate, and members of the Penobscot County Commission. 0s-159 Asaigovod to Co,mcilar'Gtatcick M+9 9. 2005 CITY OF BANGOR (T17LE.) Resolve, Endorsing Me State Court System's Selection of a City Owned Parcel M the bassection of Exchange and Washington Streets in Downtown Bangor as Me Proposed Location for a New Court Building. WHEREAS, there is wide and long standing recognition Nat the anent mace available for operations of the State Court System in Bangor is inadequate and additional space is needed; and WHEREAS, over the past several years, Me City of Bangor and Penobscot County have been in disaassions with the State Judicial Branch regarding its mace needs and potential options for meeting those needs; and WHEREAS, Me City and County requested that the Courts seriously corulder the option of renovating and expanding the County Courthouse to meet its needs; and WHEREAS, a feasibility shady commissioned by the State Judicial Branch concluded that this option should not be selected due W higher esOmated wets, limited expansion capability, and operational effidency considembons; and WHEREAS, based on this conclusion, Me Court System invibetl letters of interest from property owners Interested in making their propertles available to the Court System for Mus project; and WHEREAS, in January, Me City adopted Resolve 05-60 calling upon Me State Judicial Branch to explore tine option of consmuRUig a new, stand alone court faciluty on the existing City County campus and to explore any other possible alternative that would meet its needs M that location; and WHEREAS, this resolve also Indicated Mat If the Court Systems needs could not be met on the City/County campus, the Court System should select a site in downtown Bangor in close proximity to the majority, of the area's legal community and to minimize County prisoner transportation costs; and WHEREAS, Me Court's consultants have reviewed the option of constructing a new court facility on the existing campus and have determined that the site does not meet the system's needs for future expansion, Winkle access and parking, and promirmnce and chic presence; in addition, the configuration and topography of the site impose limitations and additional costs on the project, and IA CTTY COMCIL bay 9, 2005 Motion, bade and Seconded for Passage botin Mase and Seconded to brand by Substitution passed Motion lode and Seconded for Pas ge ae Amended Pe aLd. As Ane�de�d�� ( IRY W�Y`� p o5-158 eaS01 VE �'1'ITLE� Endorsing tte State Court Syateols Select of a 6icy eda,a,, alo SZ Intersection of Exchange and Washington Streets in auvatown Sanger as too rropo,ed Location for a Saw Court Building Assigned b