The issue will be on the Board of Supervisors' Tuesday agenda as an untimed discussion.
The courthouse, built in the 1960s, still has its two original elevators, said Deputy Public Services Director Carolyn Chavez.
One of the two elevators broke down this fall, an occurrence which has caused more than a few headaches for court officials and courthouse visitors.
On a typical weekday morning, lines to get to the fourth floor – the location of four of the Lake County Superior Court's five courtrooms – often stretch across the first floor lobby as people wait to squeeze into the one operating elevator.
Since safety and screening measures went into effect in the courthouse in May of 2008, access to the fourth floor is only allowed via elevator to the general public, putting more stress on the aged elevators.
That's led to jurors, attorneys and clients alike being held up as they attempt to make their way to court, an issue which has resulted in numerous delays for cases and aggravation for judges facing already stacked court calendars.
“The challenge is that we have a high volume on this floor,” said court Chief Executive Officer Mary Smith.
On a jury selection day they can have as many as 180 jurors on the floor, a number which Smith said doesn't count all of the other people who access the fourth floor.
Although the elevators' usage hasn't been specifically tracked, Chavez said Public Services asked the superior court for information about visitor numbers to get an idea of how often they're in service.
An average day can bring 400 people to the courts, she said, with a busy day bringing as many as 600 people, a number which Smith said the court would see on “one of those extreme days.”
While many people share an elevator at the same time, they also often make multiple trips among floors, said Chavez.
“It's a ballpark guess,” she said, adding that they know the traffic is heavy.
Then there are the many county employees who use the elevators, not counted in those estimates, Chavez said.
Smith said the court has had to lengthen its breaks and lunch hours because of the time it takes for jurors to access bathrooms on other floors – there are only two restrooms, one each for men and women, on the fourth floor – or return from lunch. At those times, she noted, the lines for the elevator get very long.
Chavez said the Public Services Department currently is trying to get bids both on repair or possibly replacement, if needed, for the out-of-service elevator.
Estimates for repair so far range between $30,000 and $50,000, she said. But they won't know the full extent of what needs to be done to put the elevator back into service until it's opened up and evaluated.
That leads to the possibility that the elevator might have to be replaced, which could cost anywhere from $350,000 and up to get an elevator that will fit the courthouse's needs, Chavez said.
“It's a huge issue,” said Chavez.
Finding the right elevator will be important. “The most critical need is the courts and any ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) issues,” Chavez said.
The county is pursuing grants to fund repairs or replacement, said Chavez. They're currently looking at a US Department of Agriculture grant as one option.
Last year, the state Administrative Office of the Courts officially took ownership of the courthouse's fourth floor. Chavez said the state has indicated its willingness to pay some of the costs for the elevator due to the usage that results from the courts.
The state concluded that Lakeport's court is too crowded – a situation that leads to inefficiencies and safety issues – and is moving forward on a new $71.7 million Lakeport courthouse project, as Lake County News has reported.
Currently, the state Administrative Office of the Courts is reviewing three spots for the 50,000 square foot building, including Martin Street near Bevins; 675 Lakeport Blvd., adjacent to the Visitor’s Center; and a portion of the Vista Point Shopping Center, also on Lakeport Boulevard.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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