Chief judge urges Facilities Committee to revive 2020 criminal courthouse master plan after tax passed

Chief Judge Cabela asked the Public Safety Coordinating Council to refer updating the criminal courthouse master plan to the Facilities Committee after the Community Investment Tax included funding for a new criminal courthouse complex.

Cabela said the county’s criminal annex—specifically the south tower on Kennedy—is aging and that a 2015 facilities improvement study found the building had surpassed its capacity. The county issued a 2020 master plan for a new criminal complex, but Cabela said COVID interrupted follow‑through. “In 2020, the county commissioned … a master plan that included a new criminal court complex,” Cabela said, and she recommended updating that plan now that the Community Investment Tax passed with $155,000,000 allocated for a new criminal courthouse.

Nut graf: The judge recommended Facilities Committee and the clerk’s Long‑Range Technology Planning Committee meet with county facilities leadership and the deputy county administrator to review unmet needs, incorporate technological changes since COVID and work with the contracted architect to scope an updated master plan.

Clerk Victor Christ and other members signaled support. John Mueller, county facilities director, and deputy county administrator Greg Horwedel were asked to join the committee review. The council voted to convene the Facilities Committee and invite facilities leadership and the contracted architect to present and receive feedback; the motion carried with an affirmative voice vote.

Ending: The council set the Facilities Committee in motion to begin an updated master‑planning process and asked that the clerk’s technology planning committee be included to assess changed operational and technology needs.