Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, June 8, 2010,
Item 3
3. Consider and take appropriate action regarding the building at 700 lavaca: a, commissioners court members offices and b commissioners courtroom.
>> good morning, roger el khoury, i have
>> [indiscernible] with me, susan spitaro. We would like to go over the location of the commissioners court on the buildings and we do recommend based on the discussion for the last couple of weeks that second and 15th floor be allocated to the commissioners offices,
>> [indiscernible] precinct 3, 2 and 1 will be on the second floor. And if that's the approval, if we get the approval of the -- of court on this scenario, we would like to go ahead and say -- at that time, we will -- we will mention where the location on the second floor for the judge and the other commissioner.
>> okay. We may make this easier if where he take the commissioners courtroom first.
>> i'm sorry.
>> every discussion that i have heard basically were -- was to the effect that -- that floor number one made more sense than anyplace else for the courtroom. Any issues with that?
>> no.
>> then it could be the east side or could be the west side, i think staff is leaning toward recommending the east side, right?
>> correct.
>> as you go in on the lavaca side, it would be the space to the left. We believe we could renovate that to a large enough commissioners court meeting room for that to work.
>> that's correct, that's where the 25 feet ceiling is.
>> judge, in terms of acoustics and everything, when -- when all of that is looked at, if it dictates that it's better on the other side than -- we will come back with that. This is very preliminary so that we can start stacking the building and plan the leases and that type of thing. So that's what it looks like now. But if -- if somebody said well the acoustics is much --
>> do we have any doubt that the first floor can accommodate the courtroom irrespective of what side it's on. We do have an r.f.p. On the street currently or about to go on the street with regard to a design expertise in the theatrical sense who can really tell us expertly which corner of that first floor is most appropriate.
>> that's correct, commissioner, we are working and going to present that to purchasing of the expert on the commissioners court and architect with the team of that architect will have av, audiovisual consultant, acoustical consultant, lighting consultant all of them would work with us as the lead architect on the commissioners court and public space on the first floor.
>> when will that r.f.p. Hit the street do we know?
>> i think today we're going to finalize the scope of work. We have a meeting at the facilities management. This week we're going to turn it into purchasing so they can put it on street.
>> thank you.
>> you are welcome.
>> i move that we designate the first floor for the courtroom.
>> second.
>> motion and seconded to designate the first floor as the commissioners court meeting room.
>> will you come back in the future and make a final recommendation on east or west. Discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Now back to a.
>> okay. Back to a. Again, we worked for the last several weeks and based on the direction of the court with the commissioners office and we come out with an agreement at that time that precinct 4 commissioner would be on the 15th floor and the judge and precinct 3 commissioner, precinct 2 commissioner, precinct 1 commissioner would be on the second floor. I would like before we say where they should be on the second floor, would like to have the approval from the court it is okay to be on the 15th and the 2nd floor based on our recommendation.
>> in part that recommendation is based on the request of court members.
>> that's right.
>> my preference for me would be close to the commissioner courtroom in the second floor, makes about as much sense as any of them. That's certainly my preference.
>>
>> [indiscernible] the -- the second floor. And i got my spot already designated and looked at it. I'm going to hold your feet to the fire and make sure it happens as far as what i have chosen.
>> [laughter] so on the second floor. Hopefully right above all of the other courtroom activities that are going on so i can keep a close eye on everybody.
>> i, too, have a preference for the second floor. I think that -- i further have a preference and although i wouldn't presume to dictate to my brethren, but i do express a preference to the extent that it means anything for us all to be on the same floor with regard to continuity, efficiency, accessibility of the public to the full court. I would express a preference that we all be on the same floor together.
>> i don't have a strong preference. I also don't think that given the -- the capacity to move quickly and electronically, that we necessarily all have to be on the second floor of the same floor. I think my preference, casual preference would be the second floor. But that's because i don't care for elevators.
>> we thought that we would -- as the building is designed, we have an electronic directory in the building so that not only county offices but all of the tenants can be easily identified. There's a -- a cadre of elevators there, so there will be elevators taking people up and down.
>> i have had a chance to speak with commissioner gomez and she -- she insists that she would like to have her request given strong consideration that she be allowed to locate on the 15th floor, which i didn't really have a problem with and still don't, do not have a problem with.
>> [one moment please for change in captioners]
>> just part of the core team here to answer any questions.
>> move that we indicate the commissioners court members will be located on the second and 15th floors.
>> second.
>> you said second and 15th?
>> second and 15th.
>> second.
>> discussion? All in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. Thank y'all very much. Anybody here from legal on 4? We probably need to take that into executive session. Is there an open court discussion that we should have first?
>>
>> [inaudible - no mic]. Barbara, are we better off just going into executive session and coming back and discussing whatever we need to in open court?
>> it makes no difference --
>> [inaudible - no mic]. It would not be in any way affected by what goes on in executive session. And you could just put it all together at the end.
>> all have an open court part?
>> it would take five minutes to introduce the memo and the calendar.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 1:45 PM
