Yaroslavsky Press Release

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February 15, 2001

YAROSLAVSKY ANNOUNCES PROJECT TO UPGRADE SANTA MONICA COURT JURY ROOM

Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky announced Board approval today of a $199,765 contract with the firm of CannonDworsky to commence architect and design work on a new Jury Assembly Room for the Santa Monica Courthouse, located at 1725 Main Street.

"The Santa Monica Courthouse was built 50 years ago," Yaroslavsky explained. "The jury rooms we have there now don't meet the needs of the court, and they certainly don't offer clean, comfortable and accessible surroundings for the citizens we ask to serve on our juries."

Judge Alan B. Haber, Supervising Judge of the West District, in which the Santa Monica Courthouse is located, stated: "Supervisor Yaroslavsky's interest in improving the Court's delivery of juror services and his continuous efforts to obtain the Board's approval of the funding for what will be a "state of the art" Jury Assembly Room represents an unprecedented effort by an elected public official in the Westside to improve our court facilities."

Yaroslavsky said that the new Jury Assembly Room project would provide some 5,600 square feet of jury assembly space in an area formerly occupied by a little-used cafeteria. The project should relieve overcrowding and provide better juror facilities meeting all accessibility standards, he said.

Yaroslavsky said that County officials have completed the feasibility study and programming phases for the project, and are ready to proceed with design work.

He added that funding would be available in the current budget from the Criminal Justice Facilities Temporary Construction Fund (CJFTCF). The total estimated cost of the project, he said, including design, refurbishment, project management, and furnishings, is $1,950,000. The project was launched with a $400,000 startup authorization in the 1998-1999 County Budget. The Board authorized an additional project appropriation of $1,250,000 in the 2000-2001 Final County Budget, which revised the total CJFTCF project budget to $1,650,000.

Yaroslavsky noted that the Superior Court will contribute up to $300,000 from its Trial Courts Operations Fund to buy furniture, carpet, paint, equipment, and other furnishing items authorized under State Trial Court Funding guidelines.

CannonDworsky was one of five firms initially under consideration to design the project. Of the two firms who ultimately submitted proposals for review and evaluation by a panel comprising representatives from the CAO, Superior Court, and Public Works, CannonDworsky was deemed to be the best qualified, based on technical expertise, proposed work plan, experience, personnel qualifications, and understanding of the work requirements.

Yaroslavsky said that the next step following completion of design documents, jurisdictional approvals, and an environmental assessment will be for the Board to adopt plans and specifications and open bids for the final construction work.