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Oregon City seeks quick coordination with Clackamas County on courthouse disposition and plaza access plans
Summary
City leaders asked staff to coordinate promptly with county officials about the Main Street courthouse disposition, with specific concerns about securing the vacant building and preserving public access to Liberty Plaza and power for downtown events.
City commissioners asked staff to reach out to Clackamas County about the county's request for expressions of interest (RFEI) on the Main Street courthouse and to press for early coordination on how the building will be secured and how access to Liberty Plaza will be preserved once the courthouse is vacated.
County staff told the commission the Board of County Commissioners created a Main Street Courthouse Committee and that an RFEI has been issued; the advisory committee recommended transferring the courthouse to an entity that will contribute to downtown economic vitality. City staff and the mayor noted unresolved questions about public access to Liberty Plaza, how power and stage access would be maintained for events, and the visual impact of any security measures placed around the building.
Why it matters: The courthouse sits on Main Street adjacent to Liberty Plaza, a key downtown venue used for festivals and community events. Commissioners and downtown stakeholders want to avoid a long‑term vacant building appearing as a fortress (chain‑link fencing or other obtrusive security) that would limit public use and complicate summer events.
Mayor Denise McGriff reported a meeting with the county chair and said the county expects a period in which the building will be vacated and secured; she asked staff to contact county project lead Nancy Bush to be part of short‑term security planning. Commissioners asked staff to press county officials for a timeline and to ensure that DOCA (Downtown Oregon City Association) and downtown event organizers are consulted so Liberty Plaza power and stage access can be maintained for scheduled events.
No county decision was made at the city meeting; commissioners requested staff‑to‑staff coordination and a joint meeting with county commissioners as soon as schedules allow.
