LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Judicial Council of California's Administrative Office of the Courts has issued a notice regarding its consideration of a mitigated negative declaration for the proposed new Lakeport courthouse.

The public comment period, which began Monday, will continue through Sept. 22, according to a letter issued by the Administrative Office of the Courts.

A public meeting will be held on the project from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.

The office is considering adopting a mitigated negative declaration in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act for the courthouse project, the proposed site for which is located at 675 Lakeport Blvd.

The 50,158-square-foot, two-story building will have a basement and four courtrooms, with a total estimated cost of $71.7 million. Completion is set for the first quarter of 2015, according to the state's Office of Court Construction and Management.

The Lakeport Boulevard location was approved as the top site in March, as Lake County News has reported.

Air quality, biological and cultural resources, noise and vibration, and transportation and traffic are among the environmental issues that the mitigated negative declaration will address, the state's letter explained.

Currently, Lakeport's court facilities all are housed on the fourth floor of the Lake County Courthouse on N. Forbes Street, which was built in 1968.

The state previously decided that building was too cramped, and created access and safety issues. As a result Lakeport's new courthouse was placed among the state's highest-priority courthouse projects.

The funds to build the new courthouse are provided by a portion of judicial branch fees, fines and penalties designated by Senate Bill 1407, the state reported.

The public is encouraged to comment on the mitigated negative declaration, which can be found at the Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St. in Lakeport, telephone 707-263-7455; or the Lakeport Community Development Department at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St., telephone 707-263-5613.

Comments should be submitted to Laura Sainz of the Administrative Office of the Courts, 2860 Gateway Oaks, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95833, telephone 916-263-7993 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Copies of the document also can be requested from Sainz.

For more information on the project visit www.courtinfo.ca.gov/programs/occm/projects_lake_lakeport.htm.

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