Travis County Commissioners Court
August 15, 2006
Item 16
Number 16, consider and take appropriate action to implement a program in which the Travis County law library collaborates with the dispute resolution center and Texas rio grande legal aid to provide work space for legal aid and mediation services in the courthouse and granger building law libraries.
>> morning, judge and Commissioners. With me today I have judge livingston, judge laura livingston. I've got deidra david sfron the dispute resolution and also the Travis County law librarian. And this is an opportunity to discuss a collaboration with the entities named, and without further adieu I think I would like it turn it over to judge livingston.
>> I'm just glad to be here not asking for additional money or face spais or anything and to report not only about the success of the pro se assistance project that we've been having for the last few years, but to tell but a name change of sorts. We're calling it the self-help center now. And with the assistance of lots of folks, especially those people at the table, as you might know if you've been over to the courthouse lately that, space on the first floor next to the cafeteria is being widely used by the public and library patrons and people in community who need help because they can't afford a lawyer or otherwise need help representing themselves particularly in family law and uncontested matters. It's working extremely well. And what we're asking to you do now is consider the use of some space in a little bit of a different way. We're still occupying all the space you've provided and now what we're asking to do is just collaborate with other community partners, particularly legal aid and the dispute resolution center so that we can provide at the courthouse mediations on realtime when people need it to try to avoid the necessity of going through a full litigation and resolving their disputes without the need for litigation in case where's they're almost thrrks it's almost uncontested, but not quite, they need some help and we want to provide that help right new to the citizens of Travis County. So this really is not a request for additional money or space, simply a reconfiguration if you will of the existing space that we already have and are using efficiently and will allow us the ability to partner and collaborate further and more effectively with community partners such as volunteer legal services, legal aid and county departments. We expect the domestic relations department to help in other ways as well. It's an opportunity for to us do what we do better.
>> so what's the cost to the county?
>> none.
>> so we're authorizing a different use of the same space.
>> yes.
>> basically. Increased use of the same space.
>> and y'all can achieve that increased use behavingly without us except approving it.
>> yes.
>> any reason we should not do this? I see you brought backup?
>> there's no reason.
>> motion to approve by Commissioner Gomez.
>> second.
>> discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Thank y'all.
>> thank you very much.
>> steve, what item are y'all here on.
>> s canyon land preserve.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, August 16, 2006 12:08 PM