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Q~/16/98 THti 12:16 FA~ 503 3i0 63i5 ~UCL f~003 April 15. 1998 Fina.[ Report, Special Projett Qversight Gommittee (Caucthouse Squar~) Marion Countv commissianers and the directors of the Saiem Area Mass Transit Districi eatablished the committee in Decem~ber, 1997, "to act in an advisory roie oversseing ail major policy decisions related to the cantinued development, design, and financing o€ the Caurthouse Square praject." The project calls for construction of a bus terminal and an office buiiding for the transit district and caunty an 80 percent of the block in downtown Salem bounded by Church, High, Chemeketa, and Court streets. The commitiee has seen its role more narcowly. We decline to make a judgment on a~hether the Courthouse Square project shouid be construcied. A majorits~ of the cammittee recommends that the project go to iis negt. stage: Final design at a cost estimated by caun#y execvtives at ~750,~00 to $ l million_ Only when that design is completed, rigorously and independentiy anaivzed. and perhaps modified will eiected offic.iais and the public be able ta assess the costs and probable effects an publi~ service, the committee unan.imously believes. Following the process of final design and evaluation, the Marion County cQmmissianers and the transit board should decide whether to proceeG to the pracess of seeking construction bids. The facts about Courthouse Square are these: I. The Salem City Cosncil has asked the transit board to move its bus terminal from High Sireet ta another site and has encfoCSed the Coucthouse Square location_ II. Marian Countv is obligated by state iaw to provide significantly egpanded space to the circuit court, and the caunty commissioners aftec e$tensive public cansultation have concluded the space should be provided in portions of its courihouse now occupied by caunty offices. IiI. The federal government has granted the transit district $7.7 million for constructian of a bus terminai at Courthouse Square. IV. The covnty and the transit district have spent ar committed ~6 million io the Court~ouse Square project. V. The proposed methads af financing the county's share of Courthause Square, the issuance of either revenue bvnds oc certif'scates of participation. are legal and widelv used in Oregan_ They do not requue voier approvai. Membets of the public have appeared before Lhe committee to suggest that v~re shauld address such q.uestions as these: _-- Is a bus terminal-office building the best use of the Courthouse Square site? s--.Should the count~'s awn~rship of pact of Coucthouse Square befare the plan u7~s unveiled have played a factor ia site selection? Y-- ~hould ~~ocer approval have been sought f ar ~he ~r~ject % `-- Sh~uld the so-called "puise" operating svscem for buses be replaced by a"grid'" system? '' -- Should county offices be consolidated? x-- Should the site be downtown Salem? `-- Are other sites appropriaie for county offices?