Agenda Packets - 1986/01/22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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n MEMO Tilt MAYuR al C11't COUNCIL. 1710 ATFORNCY FR(Mlt I'1.1'RK-% 1N1N15'RATO DATF't JANUARt 16, 1486 SUBJECT: RAMSEY - itUNrY MUNICiPAI, cIR1RT comsouim, As you may rcoall, I-trlwl ...y Adminintrative Roporl it Ill - January 13, 1486 Cimticil neetinq I indicated that w,• hod become aware througl, the ramsey County League of Loral Governments of Rams-•y County's intention to ptopos•- leglnlatlnn during the 14H1, session ealling tier tlu- consolidation of th• Muni- ipal Court Ryslem It•wt if.- •dt,enl six court arrangement to a two court arrangement with one being outside the City of Saint Paul. On January I/ Mayor Linke and I receivvd corr,•spondence from Monty Conuainsioner Ruby Hunt who chair; the county Board's Leginlativ„ Committee confirmiml this information and providing is with background information on the subject. For your background, the issue of Municipal Court consolidation goes hack tit 1975 when the old Justice of the Peace System wan ah„liahed and the Municipal court �yatem was t:re.,t wl. Minn,^ota SI.itutun /RBA. IS, !;ululivi�.i o III, copy attached, outlines tie statutory requirements for where municipal court sessions will be conducted and further Frovides that functions sorved by these six ]orations shall not tit discontinued without the consent of the governing body of the city in which the court is located and upon the affirmative vote of the Judges of the Court. It is .tbvious that the CauntY relowinizrs that it will never obtain the approval of some or all of the suburbs in which courts are currently located and rat.'ler thrn fight the hattle at that level it is their intention to propose lentsletion amending Subdivision 10. The specific language that they are proposing is outlined in commissioner Hunt's letter but essentially provides that court sessions will be conducted in Saint Paul and one other location in the County to be designated by a majority of the County Board Commissioners. All control over the Municipal Court System As provided in current statutes would be eliminated and the cities would again become subject to the whims of the County Board. Ater 1975 numerous studies were perf,,rmed by Ramsey County Court staff regarding the consolidation of the system arguing those issues outlined in Judge Fleming's letter to Commissioner Hunt which i.a included in this packet of material. obviously, every effort on the part of the county was strongly opposed by the suburbs In the County but the issue has never completely died and we are now seeing its resurrection. Also included with the packet of materials received from Commi.sioner Hunt is a copy of a report from the Ramsey County loaque of Local Gnvernmenr. Ramsey county Court's Study Committee of which I wa a membor. I will