This article has been amended since it was originally published.

Commissioners plan to include project in future bond referendum

Travis County Commissioners Court has decided how it wants to build a proposed new civil and family courthouse.

On July 23, after months of researching public-private partnerships, the court approved using the more familiar design-build format for the project's first phase.

As the name suggests, a design-build format features a single firm handling both design and construction responsibilities. County documents say the format offers more price and schedule certainty but less design control and a limited warranty for the county.

The court may approve a final contract with engineering firm URS in September.

In its feasibility study, consultants Ernst & Young estimated that building the courthouse using a design-build format would cost $284 million, or $312.86 million when operating costs were added.

Voters will get their chance to weigh in on the project: Commissioners said they plan to place bond funding for the courthouse on a future ballot.

"Given that we have to go to voters, what we're really looking to do is [answer], 'What is the best method to get this thing done?'" Commissioner Gerald Daugherty said.

The county hired URS to conduct pre-initiation services, including analyzing the four delivery options, summarizing their pros and cons and helping the court reach its decision.

The court had considered four possible construction methods for the courthouse: design-build, design-bid-build, construction manager at risk and a public-private partnership.

The county may consider using a different method to build the underground parking structure, County Strategic Planning Manager Belinda Powell said.

Judge Lora Livingston urged the court to make a decision during the meeting.

"What I want you to know is that we need a new courthouse. You know that as well as I do," she said.

Livingston said 300,000 people use the county courthouse every year.

Representatives from the Austin Bar Association and the local chapter of an electricians' union, the International Brotherhood for Electrical Workers, voiced support for the project.

Resident Bill Oakey and Travis County Taxpayers Union PAC founder Don Zimmerman argued that the courthouse should be built at a lower cost.

Commissioner feedback

Court members said there was a need for a new courthouse and supported building it.

The county's consultants had recommended a public-private partnership. However, partnerships work best when the property generates income—something the courthouse wouldn't do, Daugherty noted.

Commissioner Bruce Todd compared the courthouse process to the city of Austin bond to build Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

"We got that thing built in six years. We are four years into this [project], and we have not made any major choices," he said.

Daugherty said he supported the construction of the new courthouse.

"As elected officials, one of our first responsibilities is justice," he said. "If people question whether or not we need a new courthouse, all we would need to do is schedule a walk-through with our judges, and [residents] would see why it's so important that we need to move forward with this and [build it]."

Commissioner Ron Davis said he did not want to do anything that jeopardized the county's AAA bond rating.

Commissioner Margaret Gomez pledged to be transparent with residents about the full cost of the project.

What is proposed

While URS will work to define building specifications this fall, the county has a general idea of what the new civil and family courthouse should contain.

The county plans to build the courthouse to meet forecasts of needed judicial positions.

Powell said the courthouse is expected to have a 526,000-gross-square-foot footprint, or 698,800 gross square feet when underground parking is included.

When fully built, the courthouse will include 31 courtrooms, as well as mediation and hearing rooms, she said.

The building may also contain:

• The county's main law library
• County and district clerks' offices
• A domestic relations office
• A children's waiting room
• Secure areas where the Travis County Sheriff's Office can transport court users who are in sheriffs' custody
• Office space for the county attorney.

The current courthouse would continue to house county facilities, Powell said.

What are the next steps?

County Strategic Planning Manager Belinda Powell said the Travis County Commissioners Court may vote on a final contract with engineering firm URS in September.

After that, URS may work on pre-preparation work from September until May 2014.

That work may include working with an architect, determining how to configure the new building, how many floors will be needed and what materials will be used.

Powell said the Phase 1 work will not be a full design process but will help the court better define the project and the overall cost.

Pre-preparation work would need to be completed before any kind of bond referendum is brought to voters, Powell said.