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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-2001-022 Second Full Time Muncipal Court Judge PositionRESOLUTION NO. R-2001- 22 A RESOLUTIOIANI Creating a Second I'Uill 11 Time City of Vaki111 MUInicipai CoUIL Judge Position. WHEREAS, due to increasing caseloads and in order to better distribute the administrative duties of the Municipal Court Judge, it is in the best interests of the City of Yakima to create a second full time judge position for the Yakima Municipal Court, and WHEREAS, Yakima Municipal Code Section 1.60.040 provides that additional full or part-time judge positions shall be created by a resolution of the City Council now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YAKIMA: A second full time Municipal Court Judge Position shall be created. City Staff shall prepare and present to Council for adoption all necessary ordinances and resolutions necessary to accomplish this objective. ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL this 6th day of February , 2001. ATTEST: City Clerk 0W)r /muni2JjudVJW s� ry Place, Mayor Judge Jonatlwn H. Martin Court Commissioner Susan J Woodard CITY OF YAKIMA MUNICIPAL COURT 200 South 3rd Street Yakima, Washington 98901 Phone (509) 575-3050 • Fax (509) 575-3020 Court Set -vices Manager Tuesday, January 09, 2001 Linda S. Morris Yakima City Council Yakima City Hall Yakima, WA 98901 RE: SECOND JUDGE'S POSITION Ladies and Gentlemen: As I've previously advised, I feel the time is ripe to have a second full time judge for our court rather than a full time commissioner. This would eliminate much of the judge shopping that certain attorneys are engaging in, and would allow for a better distribution of administrative duties in the court. To some extent, we would be able to redistribute the case load. This would not be an added expense to the City, as the Commissioner's salary is the same as the judge's. We simply could defund the commissioner's position, and at the same time fund the second judge's position. (One could think of this as simply changing the name of a budget item.) At this time, I am requesting that the City Attorney be directed to draft an ordinance funding the second judge's position, and at the same time defunding the commissioner's position. I am also requesting that you pass a resolution appointing Commissioner Woodard as the second judge for Yakima Municipal Court. would like to see this accomplished and effective by March 1, 2001. Very truly y urs, JUDGEE-J6NATHAN H. MARTIN Yakima N-Awk,an I I lit 1 1994 BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. For Meeting Of: February 6, 2001 ITEM TITLE: A Resolution creating a second Municipal Court Judge, a resolution appointing a new Municipal Court Judge and an ordinance amending the Yakima Municipal Code Classification and Compensation Ordinance. SUBMITTED BY: Dick Zais, City Manager Judge Martin; Municipal Court Rita Anson, Finance Director Ray Paolella, City Attorney CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: judge Martin, #575-3050 Rita Anson, #575-6070 Ray Paolella, #575-6030 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: At the January 16, 2001 Council Study Session, Judge Martin of the Yakima Municipal Court requested Council to approve the appointment of a second Judge to the Yakima Municipal Court and to eliminate the existing position of Court Commissioner (see attached letter from Judge Martin.). An appointment at this time would be effective through December 31, 2001. An election would be held in November 2001 to elect a Judge to serve a four year term, commencing January 1, 2002. As directed by City Council at their regular business meeting on January 16, 2001, staff has prepared: (1) a resolution creating a second full time Municipal Court Judge position, (2) a resolution appointing Commissioner Woodard to the position of Municipal Court Judge, and (3) the ordinance to adjust the Classification portion of the Yakima Municipal Code Pay Ordinance to eliminate the position of Court Commissioner and change the title of judge to Municipal Court Judge. (Note, one full time judge and one full time Commissioner are budgeted in the 2001 budget. Since these two positions are in the same pay level, there are no budget impacts to this change). Resolution 2 Ordinance 1 Other (Specify) Contract Mail to (name and address):_ Funding Source N/A FOR SUBMITTAL: 0 Phone: STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Pass Ordinance and Adopt Resolution BOARD/ COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: COUNCIL ACTION: 18 A. Resolution adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R-2001-22 18 B. Resolution adopted. RESOLUTION NO. R-2001-23 18-C. Ordinance passed. ORDINANCE NO. 2001-05