East County Courts Project holds informational meeting
Because Multnomah County is required to furnish court facilities to adjudicate violations that occur east of 122nd Avenue, the proposed East County Courts Project is important to east Portland. The e-mail follows:
“The East County Courts Project will hold an informational meeting about the proposed East County Justice Center Tuesday, March 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Parklane Christian Refomed Church, 16001 S.E. Main St.
“The purpose of the meeting is to update community members and get their comments on the status of the East County Courts. The agenda includes: Brief overview on recent history of the project by the Project Manager Comments at beginning and end from Commissioners McKeel and Shiprack.
—A PowerPoint presentation showing key features of the Courts and surrounding area
—A ‘Gallery Walk’ of key features of the project where community members can provide comments
—A Q&A session and wrap up including important upcoming milestones
“If approved, a $21 million courthouse would be built on county-owned land at 185th and Southeast Stark St. in the Rockwood neighborhood. County officials will discuss the predesign and design process underway since October, when the Board of County Commissioners approved initial planning steps in building design for a facility that includes courtrooms and office space for the district attorney and support staff. Staff will also present preliminary drawings, site plans and sustainability elements.
“Building a new courts facility in East County has been a decades-long endeavor to address longstanding deficiencies with the current courthouse in Gresham. That courthouse is overcrowded and run down.
“Multnomah County is required by state statute to provide court facilities in the city of Gresham for violations that occur east of 122nd Avenue. In 2008 alone, an estimated 27,000 defendants went through the courthouse in Gresham, mostly for traffic and other misdemeanor offenses.County commissioners will discuss whether and how to proceed on the project at its April 22 meeting. The public can give input as well.”
To make comments, or for more information, Contact Hector R. Roche, Community Liaison Office of Multnomah County Chair Multnomah County Oregon 501 S.E. Hawthorne Blvd. Ste. 600
Portland, OR 97214
Or call him at 503-988-3308.
