Olympia City Council reviews court transition options, judge urges city to keep local court 

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The Olympia City Council held a study session on Thursday, June 12, as the group continues to explore options to potentially move Municipal Court services to Thurston County.  

However, Olympia Municipal Court Judge Pam Nogueira made a passionate plea to retain the court operations within the city government. She warned that a transition to Thurston County would be more costly and a step back from the city's values and community-specific services.  

Nogueira argued that shifting services to the county would be more expensive and would discontinue community-specific programs rooted in Olympia’s values.

“This is not about District Court — they are fabulous,” she said. “This is about what’s best for Olympia. And what’s best is keeping our third branch of government grounded in this city.” 

She estimated the county option would cost the city more than $6 million by 2026 — nearly double the court’s current $2.5 million annual budget — compared with about $2.9 million to renovate city-owned spaces.

She said many features included in the city’s renovation estimate are not needed and offered to scale back to lower costs.

“There’s a lot in that $2.6 million (difference) that we are willing to cut back to make this work,” she said. 

The judge also cited ongoing efforts to maintain community-based services, including restorative justice programs, quarterly provider meetings to close service gaps and a mental health-focused resource fair.

“You lose control of your financial decisions, you lose all of our programs, and in one year you would have made up the cost difference,” she said. 

The city is considering whether to renovate space in City Hall and 108 State Ave. or shift courtroom operations to Thurston County.  

The current justice center, built in 1966, was assessed and estimated to have over $12 million in structural deficiencies in 2019. Rebuilding was projected to cost more than $90 million, prompting the city to pursue other options. 

Olympia Assistant City Manager Debbie Sullivan outlined three scenarios: leasing commercial space (estimated $7 million in buildout plus annual rent), renovating city-owned facilities (also $7 million but without ongoing lease costs), or contracting with the county for judicial services while keeping other court-related departments in the city (estimated $3.8 million). 

City-owned spaces 

As part of the city-owned renovation option, Project Engineer Fran Eide and Bill Valdez from KMB Architects presented a comprehensive plan for transforming City Hall's council chambers and 108 State Ave. into a functional municipal court space.  

For 108 State Ave., the proposed layout distributes various court-related departments across two floors, including Municipal Court administration, Community Court services, probation, public defender, and prosecuting attorney offices.  

The first floor would feature Community Court spaces, and the judge's office, while the second floor would accommodate specialized legal offices.  

The council chamber's renovation would convert the existing multi-purpose space into a secure courtroom with a screening area, private meeting pods, a barrier separating public seating from the litigation space, and facilities for a jury and judge.  

The designs would allow the space to host court in the morning and return to council use in the evening.  

The renovation presents significant challenges, including managing multiple entry points, integrating new technology systems and preserving public access to the civic space. 

Thurston County District Court  

A representative team from Thurston County District Court — Judge Sam Meyer and Executive Officer Frankie Peters — presented their services during the study session.  

The court manages criminal and civil cases, and operates specialty tracks, including Mental Health and Veterans courts, known for their therapeutic and collaborative models.  

The Probation Department includes a Mental Health and Intensive Supervision Division that works with individuals experiencing behavioral health issues or complex legal challenges. Pretrial services used an evidence-based public safety assessment and a robust text reminder system, which has significantly reduced failure-to-appear rates.  

The Thurston County Resource Hub — a nearby walk-in center — connects court participants directly to housing, additional treatment and other critical supports, with staff often present in courtrooms to provide real-time help.  

The court also provides a no-cost substance monitoring program to indigent individuals in certain cases, ensuring equity in compliance expectations. Through its Procedural Justice and Fairness Initiative, the court partnered with external reviewers to assess fairness and efficiency, and continues to track data on case timelines, incarceration rates and demographics.  

The District Court is serving multiple jurisdictions, including Lacey, Tumwater and Rainier. 

Council member Robert Vanderpool raised concerns about local control and how changes in services could be managed.

"How would current or future councils make recommendations if we wanted to add or change services, such as expanding a program?" he asked.

Peters explained that they meet with Lacey and Tumwater city councils once a year to provide updates, gather feedback and discuss any new service opportunities.

He said if there were significant changes or additions, he would bring those proposals to county management for review, including the financial implications.

"We've always been open to those (ideas). We love making changes that can meet our community members, and if it can be done without a cost, even better," Peters said.

Interlocal agreement 

Sullivan also presented the draft interlocal agreement with Thurston County District Court, a direction given by the city council on April 22 

The proposed agreement, spanning from July 1, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026, aims to provide court services for all criminal cases and infractions requiring a hearing, as well as progressive alternatives and supervised probation.  

Sullivan emphasized the scope of services, which includes Veterans Court, Mental Health Court and other therapeutic courts. 

The agreement mandates annual reporting on service enrollment and file management, and requires 60 days notice for any service changes, providing the city with opportunities for ongoing dialogue and adjustment. 

Mayor Dontae Payne reiterated that the potential transition of court services is a difficult decision rooted in Olympia's long-term budget sustainability. He encouraged the public to follow the city meetings closely to understand the broader financial challenges the city faces.  

A final decision is pending, with the council seeking to balance budget sustainability with community service excellence. 

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  • JnNwmn

    No answer on why the Justice Center was sold cheaaply to the Tribe with little public comment.

    Saturday, June 14 Report this