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RAMSEY COUrffY Ramsey County Board of Commissioners 220 Court House 15 West Kellogg Boulevard St. Paul, IvIN 55102 • (651) 266-8350 Fax (651) 266-8370 www.co.ramsey.mn:us/ To: Ramsey County Board of Commissioners • From: Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett Ramsey County Commissioner Jan Wiessner Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt Date: October 7, 2003 Re: Suburban Court Facilities Jim McDonough, Chair Tony Bennett Susan Haigh Rafael E. Ortega • Victoria Reinhardt Janice Rettman Jan Wiesner Discussions have been taking place over the past few months regarding the Second Judicial District Court system, including a Suburban Court location. On August 11, 2003 a meeting was held in White Bear Lake to discuss the Court system in Ramsey County. Those in attendance included: Commissioners Wiessner, Bennett and Reinhardt, Chief Judge Tom Mott, Representative Doug Meslow, Sheriff Fletcher, police chiefs, municipal elected and appointed officials, municipal • prosecutors, and other interested parties. Afollow-up meeting was held with the group on Monday, August 25, 2003. A brief summary of the major issues discussed at both meetings included: 1) The Courts budget shortfall for this biennium of approximately $275,000 (4 to 6 FTEs); 2) Concerns by the Courts about the current Suburban Court facility in Maplewood (4 to 6 FTEs); 3) The requirement on Ramsey County to provide for a Suburban Court location in accordance with Minnesota State Statute 488A.185, which reads as follows: "The coimtl~ of Ramsey shall provide sz~itable gz~arters, as determined by the cozrrt, for the holding of regzrlar terms of coarrt at one centrally located site outside the city of Saint Paz~l and tii~ithin the county of Ramsey. " 4) The opening of the Law Enforcement Center and the need for duplicate staff for arraignments (4 to 6 FTEs), according to Chief Judge Mott. The two shelled in Courtrooms at the LEC and .lack of parking were also discussed; 5) Options for moving Family Court, Child Support Magistrate and Harassments out of the West Building, and Civil Commitments out of Regions; 6) The suburban municipalities concerns regarding public safety, victim and witness issues. and added costs to taxpayers, without a Suburban Court location; and 7) Options for fulfilling Ramsey County's obligation to provide the suburban facility and fog dealing with the Courts issue of the budget shortfall, including county andfor court fees and legislation. • Minnesota's Fixst Home Rule County priia~•d ~~n rrcui~•d p;q~rr a-iih a mininunu of Iu~G pua •cmieuwrr cunirirt