HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-044 CCRMember Kathleen Carmody introduced the following resolution and moved its
adoption:
RESOLUTION N0.2003-44
RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE CLOSURE OF ANY SUBURBAN
COURTHOUSE AND REQUESTING HENNEPIN COUNTY DISTRICT COURT
TO SHARE INFORMATION AND COOPERATIVELY EXAMINE POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS FOR STATE FUNDING CUTS
WHEREAS, Hennepin County District Court Administrator Mark Thompson
announced at the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee (CJCC) meeting on February 27, 2003,
that the District Court was considering closing one ore more suburban courthouses in response to
proposed state funding decreases; and
WHEREAS, Court Administrator Thompson had budgetary or statistical information
that he declined to share with CJCC participants because it was only in draft form; and
WHEREAS, at no time has the leadership of the Hennepin County District Court
involved the suburban cities in a cooperative effort to analyze possible measures to absorb the
anticipated budget cuts; and
WHEREAS, the closing of one or more suburban courthouses will result in the
following:
• There will be much longer court calendars and overcrowding at the remaining
courthouses, which do not have the space to absorb additional defendants and
the court staff needed for the increased workload,
• Police officers will be off the streets for longer periods of time to travel
longer distances and to wait longer periods of time for overcrowded court
schedules,
• Suburban police departments will incur increased costs to pay for longer
waiting times and additional officers to cover the longer absences,
• Suburban citizens will suffer major inconvenience from traveling longer
distances and waiting longer periods of time to be heard,
• Cooperation of civilian witnesses and crime victims with the prosecution will
be lost, particularly in domestic abuse cases, due to the remote location and
increased waiting time, and
• Prosecution costs will potentially increase if each city's cases are spread
between more courtrooms; and
WHEREAS, suburban cities recognize the real need to cut costs at the district court
level; and
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RESOLUTION NO. 2003-44
WHEREAS, suburban cities are themselves struggling with proposed cuts in their
own state funding; and
WHEREAS, suburban cities wish to cooperate with the District Court in analyzing
other alternatives that could avoid shifting the court's budget cuts to the cities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, that:
1. The City Council opposes the closure of any suburban courthouse because of the
consequences listed above.
2. The leadership of the Hennepin County District Court is requested to immediately provide
accurate budget and statistical information to the suburban cities and to meet cooperatively to
examine possible solutions to the proposed funding cuts.
3. The City Manager and the City Attorney are authorized to cooperate with other suburban
cities in creating a task force of representatives to meet with the Court.
4. The City Clerk is directed to provide copies of this resolution to the Chief Justice of the
Minnesota Supreme Court, the Chief Judge of the Hennepin County District Court, the
Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, the Hennepin County District Court
Administrator, and the other suburban cities in Hennepin County.
March 10. 2003
Date
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ATTEST:
City Clerk
Q Mayor
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Bob Peppe
and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof:
Myrna Kragness, Kathleen Carmody, Kay Lasman, Diane Niesen, and Bob Peppe;
and the following voted against the same: none;
whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.