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• POLICY H2 <br />8/27/03 <br />ITEM: Consideration of Resolution 03-15 Opposing the Closure of any <br />Suburban Courthouse <br />SUBMITTED BY: Mayor Gehrz <br />Heather Worthington, City Administrator <br />EXPLANATION: <br />Summary: In 2002, the Ramsey County Court's Head Judge declared the Maplewood <br />Court facility "inadequate", and moved to close the court. In the intervening year, the <br />police chiefs, prosecutors, and city managers in the County held several meetings with <br />Head Judge Mott, and did not reach an agreement to keep the court open. <br />On August 1 lth, the city managers/administrators, police chiefs and prosecutors met again <br />with Judge Mott, and he indicated at that time that it was his intention to close the court <br />at the beginning of September. <br />As a result, city managers in suburban Ramsey County were asked to bring forward the <br />attached resolution, in order to dissuade Judge Mott from closing the suburban court. <br />Several reasons were discussed at the meeting on the l lt~', including: <br />• Proximity of the court to suburban cities <br />• Cost of police vehicle parking downtown at the courthouse <br />• Time spent in transit and in court downtown compared with the suburban location <br />• Service delivery to victims and those called to testify in court <br />• Parking concerns downtown <br />In addition, state statute does require that Ramsey County keep a suburban court location <br />open, in addition to the downtown court at the Courthouse. <br />ATTACHMENTS: <br />• Memo to Ramsey County managers <br />• Resolution 03-15 <br />ACTION REQUESTED: <br />• Discussion <br />• Approval of Resolution 03-15 <br /> <br />l~ <br />