EVERETT — The Everett City Council on Wednesday took a key step toward building a new $8.3 million municipal court.
In a 4-1 vote, the council approved a $6.37 million contract with Allied Construction of Everett.
The city over the years has floated more than a dozen proposals to move or rebuild the courthouse. All the studies and talk went nowhere — until now.
Workers could break ground later this month, city spokeswoman Kate Reardon said. It’s expected to be ready by the spring of 2013.
The city had hoped to complete the project for $6 million. It must pass a new ordinance to include the extra $2.3 million it will take to pay for the courthouse. The approval of the contract hinges on that ordinance.
Some on City Council expressed concerns over approving a project that cost more than what was appropriated. Councilman Drew Nielsen, the opposing vote, said the idea made him uncomfortable.
The contractor is under pressure from subcontractors and could only hold the prices for 30 days, said Debra Bryant, Everett’s chief financial officer. She said the city moving forward shows good faith in the project.
The ordinance is scheduled for a vote on Aug. 24.
The courthouse at the corner of Wetmore and Pacific avenues has grown more cramped as the number of cases the court handles ballooned. In 2009, the last year statistics were available, the city court processed 5,800 criminal filings, such as DUIs, domestic violence assault and prostitution. There also were about 11,000 traffic infractions and 25,000 parking tickets.
The 17,000-square-foot structure is being built to the north and west of the existing courthouse. It will provide nearly triple the space now available. The municipal court has 18 employees on site and four others at another location. When the project is complete, all employees will be based out of the new building.
The old building will be demolished and a courtyard will replace it.
Construction will cause some parking issues. Some on-street parking in front of the building will be blocked off during portions of construction, Reardon said.
How to replace the municipal court has been subject to much debate.
In the past, council member Brenda Stonecipher suggested the court didn’t need to be built anew on the same property. She thought it could be built cheaper elsewhere.
She never questioned the need for a new court, however.
“We definitely have a need for a new court,” she said. “The working conditions in our old court are substandard. It’s a major issue.”
The municipal court property housed several different commercial and government businesses before being converted into a court. Part of the land was used for a restaurant called Sadie’s Grill in the 1940s. Other offices followed in the 1950s. They were used for government programs, lawyers offices and insurance sales.
“It has been adjusted to suit many times,” said David Dilgard, a historian with the Everett Public Library.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com
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