On Tuesday, March 20, 2007, the Placer County Board of Supervisors will consider approving an agreement that would transfer the responsibility of operating and maintaining four courtrooms in the Historic Courthouse in Auburnto the State.
The County will remain the permanent owner of the century-old landmark Courthouse, and will continue to operate the rest of the building for the Museum and other functions.
If the agreement is approved, the County will grant the perpetual and exclusive use of the court facilities in the Courthouse to the Administrative Offices of the Court (AOC) for use by the Placer County Superior Court. The AOC will become responsible for all operations and maintenance including renovation of court-exclusive areas, but the county would review any alteration plans to make sure they are consistent with the historic character and other features of the building.
This action is being proposed because Placer Countyis required by the California Trial Court Facilities Act of 2002 to transfer court facilities to the state. Signing these agreements and implementing the transfers will complete the transition of Superior Courts from being part of county government to being part of and funded by the State government, a process begun in 1997, which then required the counties to remain responsible for providing and operating all court facilities.
As part of the agreement, Placer County would be required to pay at least $173,134 to the State each year to help pay for maintenance of the court’s part of the Courthouse, subject to one inflationary increase later this year. However, this annual cost would not increase over time.
As part of an agreement under consideration Tuesday, the AOC would pay for Placer Countystaff to continue to maintain the court portion of the building. The AOC would also pay 77 percent of the cost to maintain the common areas of the building and grounds and the areas used by the county, a figure based on the court’s proportionate use of the building.
“Under this agreement the Placer County Superior Court will continue to operate four courtrooms in the Historic Courthouse, and the County will continue to operate its museum and own this beautiful landmark building,” said Thomas M. Miller, County Executive Officer.
“ We are also pleased with the good working relationship we’ve developed with the AOC and the Placer County Superior Court, and proud to be one of the first counties in the state to move toward resolving this state-wide courthouse transfer issue.”
The county will be required to transfer other court facilities to the State as well, including the 10 courtrooms under construction in the new South Placer Justice Centerin Roseville.
However, the state will become responsible for developing and financing any additional facilities they need in the future, such when additional judges are appointed or elected.
The Placer County Board of Supervisors will consider this item at 9:10 AM on Tuesday, March 20, during their meeting in the County Administrative Center, 175 Fulweiler Ave.in Auburn.