HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-03-24 - AGENDA REPORTS - NEW SC COURTHOUSE (2)NEW BUSINESS
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT
Agenda Item:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval
Item to be presented by
March 24, 2009
(D
V V VFrank Ferry
NEW SANTA CLARITA COURTHOUSE
City Manager's Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION
1) City Council adopt a resolution expressing the City's support for the Santa Clarita Superior
Court project and commit to a land donation of approximately 3.5 acres located off Golden
Valley Road. 2) Direct staff to work with the appropriate agencies and legislators to explore the
creation of a new Santa Clarita Judicial District. 3) Create an Ad -Hoc Committee and appoint
Mayor Frank Ferry and Councilmember Bob Kellar.
BACKGROUND
The Trial Court Facilities Act of 2002 established the State Court Facilities Construction Fund
and provided that monies in that fund may be used to acquire, rehabilitate and construct, or
finance court facilities.
On September 26, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill 1407 which
extended the definition of the Trial Court Facilities Act of 2002 to include the planning, design,
construction, rehabilitation, replacement, leasing, or acquisition of court facilities. The bill
established the Immediate and Critical Needs Account of the State Court Facilities Construction
Fund, the proceeds of which will be used for the above stated improvement to court facilities.
SB1407 is funded by a $5 billion state bond to assist the State in upgrading courthouses
statewide. The bond measure is entirely financed through increases in court related fines and fees
to help service the bond's debt.
SB 1407 also requires the Judicial Council to collect and make available information regarding
monies in the account and to make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature for
court construction or renovation projects that should be funded through this state bond. The
Judicial Council has designated a total of 41 projects in 34 counties across the State that will be
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provided new or renovated courthouses over the next decade.
The Judicial Council has classified the Santa Clarita Superior Court as an "immediate need," and
will use a portion of the bond monies to fund replacing the current courthouse facility. Of the
$5 billion budgeted by SB 1407, the Judicial Council has identified $50.279 million to be spent
towards the construction of the new Santa Clarita Superior Courthouse.
In February 2009, District Attorney Steve Cooley invited local public officials to attend a
meeting to initiate discussions regarding a new Santa Clarita Courthouse. In attendance from the
City of Santa Clarita were Mayor Frank Ferry, Councilmember Bob Kellar, and Director of
Community Development Paul Brotzman. Also in attendance were: Assemblymember Cameron
Smyth and Senator George Runner who attended via conference call, Deputy Chief of Staff Drew
Mercy from the Office of Senator George Runner, Deputy Chief of Staff Bob Haueter from the
Office of Congressman McKeon, District Attorney Steve Cooley and Assistant District Attorney
Sharon Matsumoto from the Los Angeles County District Attorney Office, Planning Deputy
Paul Novak and Justice Deputy Anna Pembedjian from the Office of Supervisor Michael
Antonovich, President of Spirit Properties LTD. Larry Rasmussen and private consultants Matt
Klein and Richard Wirth, and Randy Wrage. All attendees expressed support for this project, and
that it is important to move forward with this project.
The Facilities Planning Report from the State Administrative Office of the Courts has identified
the need to replace the existing Santa Clarita Courthouse with a new facility with four
courtrooms.
On March 3, 2009, the Judicial Council sent a letter to the City of Santa Clarita informing the
City of this project and requesting assistance in identifying economic opportunities associated
with the project. Economic opportunities include financial contributions, land donations, or
reduced cost of land acquisitions.
While the Judicial Council's policy requires a competitive site selection process, timing of the
project implementation will depend, in part, on the economic opportunities associated with the
project. The Judicial Council is requesting a response from the City offering support and
assistance in identifying economic opportunities for this project by March 31, 2009, in the form
of a resolution from the governing body or a signed letter from the City Manager. After careful
review and analysis, it is recommended that the City Council consider donating 3.5 acres of
City -owned property located off Golden Valley Road to the Judicial Council as the City's
contribution. Currently, the City owns approximately 12 acres of land at this site (approximately
7 acres buildable). In reviewing this possible site, City staff has identified 360.4 feet by 423 feet
from the south west corner of the property to be appropriate for construction of a new Santa
Clarita Superior Courthouse.
In addition to a larger facility, a need exists to establish Santa Clarita as its own judicial district.
There are currently no minimum population requirements for establishing a new superior court
district in the County of Los Angeles. However, based on prior court districting decisions, the
minimum requirement to establish a new judicial district was 250,000. The estimated population
of the Santa Clarita Valley as of January 2008 was approximately 278,438. This includes
approximately 177,045 residents within the City of Santa Clarita and 101,393 residents in the
unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. The population of the entire Santa Clarita Valley is
expected to grow to over 428,000 residents by 2025 and over 517,000 residents by 2035.
(Population statistics based on Judicial Boundary data, not One Valley One Vision General
Plan.)
The Administrative Office of the Courts has guidelines that govern the type of court services
available in certain areas, which include judge and staffing requirements, both of which are
guided by the area's population. According to the Administrative Office of the Court, the
recommended population is 200,000 for an area court to be designated as a judicial district, or
judicial branch courthouse. The Santa Clarita Superior Courthouse, or an Area Courthouse, is
typically designed to serve areas with a population under 200,000 and offer limited services in
the area of civil and criminal matters, family and juvenile law (Trial Court Facilities Act 2002).
According to this information, the City of Santa Clarita should be designated as a Branch
Courthouse so it may offer a full range of services and be equipped with additional courtrooms,
security, jury, and judge facilities to handle the additional case load.
With the growing population and the needs of local residents for expanded services, staff
recommends that the City of Santa Clarita work with appropriate legislators and public officials,
as well as contact the State Administrative Office of the Courts to inquire about expanding
services at the Santa Clarita Courthouse and designating Santa Clarita as its own judicial district.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other action as determined by the City Council
FISCAL IMPACT
On July 19, 2001, The City of Santa Clarita acquired Tract 2836-012-905 in conjunction with
2836-016-909, for a total of 12 acres. In 2002, both parcels were appraised for a total rate of $10
per net square foot, or $3,335,000. The recommended donation is 3.5 acres of the total 12 acres.
The current value of the properties are unknown.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Map of proposed Golden Valley land donation
3
RESOLUTION 09-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING ITS INTENT TO DONATE
CERTAIN LAND OWNED BY THE CITY TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO
FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW SANTA CLARITA
SUPERIOR COURTHOUSE
WHEREAS, under the Trial Court Facilities Act of 2002 and SB 1407, Chapter 311,
Statutes of 2008, recognized the critical demand and need for courthouse construction and
renovation projects throughout the State. The State has approved $5 billion in bond financing to
upgrade courthouses statewide, and recognizing the critical need in Santa Clarita has apportioned
$50.279 million for the construction of a new Santa Clarita Superior Courthouse;
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita affirms its support for a
new Santa Clanta Superior Courthouse; and
WHEREAS, the Judicial Council of California has contacted the City of Santa
Clarita to identify economic opportunities in the selection of this project, such as a land donation;
and
WHEREAS, the Judicial Council of California has identified the preliminary site size
of the property required to accomodate the project to be in the range of between 2.5 and 3.5
acres, assuming a regularly shaped lot before setbacks and excluding open space allocations; and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita owns property contiguous to Golden Valley
Road, Tract 2836-012-905 ("Property"); and
WHEREAS, the City of Santa Clarita has identified that 360.4 feet by 423 feet from
the south west corner of the Property is suitable for the new Santa Clarita Superior Courthouse
Project.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita does hereby
resolve as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Clarita pledges its support to
assist the Judicial Council of California.
SECTION 2. The City Council commits to donate the 3.5 acres of the Property to the
Judicial Council of California subject to certain conditions set forth below:
1. The City desires to assure adequate access to current property owners in the
adjacent area and may require certain utility and other necessary easements.
2.The property transfer will receive final approval by the City Council following the
Court's communication to the City, in writing, that the Court has complied with the California
Environmental Quality Act, has all the necessary funding, has an executable strategy to proceed
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with its plans, and that the Court is committed to moving forward with its plans in the immediate
future.
SECTION 3.. Upon satisfaction of the foregoing conditions and receipt of the
aforementioned communication from the Court, and the satisfaction of any procedural
requirements pertaining to the transfer, the City Council commits to authorizing the transfer.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this day of , 2009.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
H
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA)
I, Sharon L. Dawson, MMC, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that
the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Clarita at a
regular meeting thereof, held on the day of , 2009, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
CITY CLERK
11
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
CERTIFICATION OF
CITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION
I, Sharon L. Dawson, City Clerk of the City of Santa Clarita, do hereby certify that this is a true
and correct copy of the original Resolution 09- , adopted by the City Council of the City of
Santa Clarita, California on , 2009, which is now on file in my office.
Witness my hand and seal of the City of Santa Clarita, California, this day of
52009.
Sharon L. Dawson, MMC
City Clerk
By
Susan Caputo, CMC
Deputy City Clerk
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