by Richard Prior
Staff Writer
The Jacksonville Bar Association has invited 14 leaders of the Jacksonville legal community to serve on a special advisory committee to study the issues relating to the proposed new Duval County Courthouse.
Bar President Jim Moseley Jr. has asked a number of past presidents of the Florida Bar and the Jacksonville Bar Association to serve on the committee and “take a fresh look at the issues relating to the construction of the new courthouse.”
“I’ve appointed some of the people who are most respected and have achieved great things in the legal community,” Moseley said. “We have brought some diversity to thought to this committee to see what they think about some of these issues.”
Members of the committee are Howard Coker, Henry M. Coxe III, Hamilton Cooke, John DeVault, Michael Dewberry, Victor Halbach, Rutledge R. Liles, Reginald Luster, Joseph Milton, James Moseley Sr., Mary K. Phillips, James Rinaman, Grier Wells and Edward White.
“These experienced lawyers have represented hundreds, if not thousands, of clients who are the primary users of a courthouse,” Moseley said. “Hopefully they can bring a new perspective to the discussion that has been taking place as to what will best serve the taxpayers of Duval County in the construction of the courthouse.
“These lawyers have practiced law throughout the Southeastern United States and have a unique perspective of courthouse design and what works and what does not.”
Chief Judge Donald Moran wrote an open letter to Mayor John Peyton that ran in the May 25 edition of the Daily Record, outlining the “immediate concerns” about cost-cutting measures at the courthouse.
“Success in this project is not measured by completing this public building at a number, regardless of the resulting project,” Moran wrote. “Rather, in years to come, this project will, in reality, be judged a success if it is functional, safe, durable, meets the needs of the growing community for the next 50 years and is a positive reflection on the City.”
Moran wrote the May 21 letter on behalf of the Judicial Committee responsible for selecting a design for the new courthouse. Members of the committee, in addition to Moran, are Judges A.C. Soud Jr., Charles Arnold, Lance Day and Mallory Cooper.
The 896,000-square-foot courthouse was billed as a $190 million project when voters approved the Better Jacksonville Plan in 2000. Then-Mayor John Delaney shifted $21 million from a $35 million contingency fund in March 2002, making the new price $211 million.
The size also grew to 1,134,000 square feet.
At one point, estimates ballooned to $282 million before settling back to $232 million. City Council told Peyton the cost needs to get back to $211 million. In a 17-2 vote on Nov. 25, Council approved $222 million with an additional $10 to cover unexpected hikes in land and utility costs.
Two significant reasons for an increased price tag are the cost of land and increased security.
The property for the courthouse was appraised at $8.9 million when the project was announced. Land cost now is around $25 million.
Additional security features, incurred in the wake of 9/11, amount to $7 million.
Moseley said he hoped the public didn’t get the idea that the committee was being formed to argue the judges’ position.
“We hope this will be viewed by the community as a conciliatory way of reviewing this issue,” he said. “We are hoping to bring some fresh ideas and viewpoints, and, hopefully, bring the community together on this important issue.
“We’re not setting out an agenda or arguing a position. We’re not an adversarial committee but one that we hope will lead to community unity.”
Moseley said he has been in touch with the Office of the Mayor and with Moran about the formation of the Advisory Committee. Both have offered their full cooperation, he said.
“We’re looking forward to working with the committee in the spirit of cooperation to see what can be done to make sure everything is investigated,” said Heather Murphy, spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office.