HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.G- Council Office RESOLUTION (ID #2367) DOC ID: 2367 A
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO—REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
In Support/Opposition
From: Chas A. Kelley M/CC Meeting Date: 04/15/2013
Prepared by: Renee Ramey, (909) 384-5188
Dept: Council Office Ward(s): All
Subject:
Resolution of the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino to Support Efforts
to Provide Adequate, Equitable, and Ongoing San Bernardino County Superior Court Funding to
Ensure that Residents of San Bernardino County Continue to Have Access to Justice through the
Superior Court. (#2367)
Current Business Registration Certificate: Not Applicable
Financial Impact:
None
Motion: Adopt the Resolution.
Synopsis of Previous Council Action:
None.
Background:
On Tuesday, February 26, 2013 the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors adopted a
resolution to engage the State Legislature, local municipalities, and other vested stakeholders to
provide adequate, equitable, and ongoing funding for the San Bernardino County Superior Court.
James C. Ramos, Third District Supervisor sent City of San Bernardino council members a letter
seeking support for the resolution.
City Attorney Review:
Supporting Documents:
reso 2367 (PDF)
Letter 3-20-2013 (PDF)
Resolution (PDF)
Updated: 4/9/2013 by Jolena E. Grider A Packet g.222
1 RESOLUTION NO.
2
RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
3 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE,
4 EQUITABLE,AND ONGOING SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
5 CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE THROUGH THE SAN BERNARDINO
6 SUPERIOR COURT.
7 WHEREAS,an essential component of justice is the public's accessibility to courtrooms; and
8 WHEREAS, courts provide the necessary medium to protect and defend constitutional and
9 statutory rights and freedoms; and
lo WHEREAS, San Bernardino Superior Court is one of the most underfunded courts in the state,
11 has the largest deficit of judicial positions and is substantially understaffed; and U_
12 WHEREAS,recent court reductions are exacerbated in San Bernardino County due to historic U
13 inequity and higher than average population and caseload growth; and °
14 WHEREAS, due to court closures, individuals living in remote areas of the County will soon in
15 no longer have a courtroom within a reasonable distance from their homes, leaving many facing M
1 hardship to get to court, given the very limited public transportation and distances that can
1 exceed three hours driving time each way; and N
0
is
WHEREAS,limited access to courts, further limits the available jury pool; and L
19 WHEREAS,the City of San Bernardino has indicated that this is a significant issue that has
20 city and countywide implications.
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21
22 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AS FOLLOWS:
23
24
SECTION 1. That the Mayor and the Common Council of the City of San Bernardino
25 supports efforts to engage the State Legislature, local municipalities, the County of San
26 Bernardino, and other invested stakeholders to provide for adequate, equitable and ongoing San
27 Bernardino County Superior Court funding consistent with the courts' workload in order to
28 ensure that the residents of the City of San Bernardino continue to have access to justice.
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Packet Pg,223
7.G.a
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%Mo� 1 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
2 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE,
EQUITABLE,AND ONGOING SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
3 FUNDING TO ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
4 CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO JUSTICE THROUGH THE SAN BERNARDINO
SUPERIOR COURT.
5 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the Mayor and
6 Common Council of the City of San Bernardino at a meeting thereof, held on
7 the day of ,2013, by the following vote,to wit:
8 Council Members: AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT
9 MARQUEZ
to JENKINS
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11 VALDIVIA U-
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12 SHORETT c0 0
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13 KELLEY °
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14 JOHNSON U)
15 MCCAMMACK
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17 N
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18 Georgeann Hanna, City Clerk w
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20 The foregoing Resolution is hereby approved this day of 92013.
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21
22
23 Patrick J. Morris, Mayor
24
City of San Bernardino
25 Approved as to form:
26 —�?,
27 4es F. Penman
ity Attorney
28
2
FPacket Pg.224
D�C�� pLi�>'TUt1Ulr� JAMES C.RAMOS
Count of`+an 9miarbitta, SUPERVISOR,THIRD DISTRICT
. PiN E311ld1ill.liFFlOI
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W eVINARDIvo
13 MAR 2 , �#A3 3
March 20,2013
San Bernardino City Council
300 N. D Street
San Bernardino,CA 92418
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Dear City Council Members, LL
On February 26h,the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution to L)
support efforts to attain adequate funding for the San Bernardino County Superior Court o
system. This resolution directs the County Administrative Office to develop a strategy in a
conjunction with County Counsel to address the impacts of the inequitable court funding rn
with the state legislature, local municipalities and other involved stakeholders.
M
The Board of Supervisors is relying on city councils across the county to sign on to our M
resolution and call for equitable funding to run our court system. While our population N
and work load has substantially increased, the funding to our courts has not. The $5.3 N
million cut from our courts' budget has caused court closures in Chino, Barstow,
Needles, and Big Bear, resulting in hardships for individuals living in remote areas of the
County. Our courts now have less than 950 employees and$23.6 million left in reserves
to fund this year. It is clear our court system is one of the most underfutaded and
understaffed court systems in the State. As we look to 2014, San Bernardino County will
need to cut another$10 million out of our budget to match the reduction in revenues. .YtQ
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As Third District Supervisor, I am calling for all cities across the county to rally together
and sign on to our resolution. We must act in order to ensure access to justice for all
residents of San Bernardino County. I am confident we will come together as a unified
county to deal with this difficult matter.
Since ,
.lames C. Ramos
Third District Supervisor
County of San Bernardino
San Bernardino County Government Center • 385 North Arrowhead Avenue, Firth Floor • San Bernardino,CA 92415-0110 • (909)387 Packet-Pg.225
RESOLUTION NO. 2013-
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF SAN
BERNARDINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE,
EQUITABLE,AND ONGOING SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT FUNDING TO
ENSURE THAT RESIDENTS OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO
JUSTICE THROUGH THE SAN BERNARDINO SUPERIOR COURT.
On Tuesday FebOACtrtA P& 2013, on motion of Supervisor 'QarvloS duly
seconded by Supervisor and carried, the following resolution is adopted by the
Board of Supervisors of San Ber ardino County, State of California.
WHEREAS, an essential component of justice is the public's accessibility to courtrooms; and
WHEREAS, courts provide the necessary medium to protect and defend constitutional and statutory
rights and freedoms; and
WHEREAS, San Bernardino Superior Court is one of the most underfunded courts in the state, has ii
the largest deficit of judicial positions and is substantially understaffed; and L
0
WHEREAS, recent court reductions are exacerbated in San Bernardino County due to historic
inequity and higher than average population and caseload growth; and °
Q
WHEREAS, due to court closures, individuals living in remote areas of the County will soon no longer cn
have a courtroom within a reasonable distance from their homes, leaving many facing hardship to get
to court, given the very limited public transportation and distances that can exceed three hours driving co
time each way; and
C
WHEREAS, limited access to courts, further limits the available jury pool; and °
0
WHEREAS, on February 19, 2013, the Board of Supervisors convened a Special Meeting that
included a study session related to funding and closures affecting the San Bernardino Superior Court;
and c
°
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WHEREAS, testimony was given on the impact historic and current underfunding, unequal funding
and understaffing of the San Bernardino Superior Court has had on County residents; and Y
a
WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors have indicated that this is a significant issue that has
countywide implications.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: the Board of Supervisors of the County of San
Bernardino supports efforts to engage the State Legislature, local municipalities, and other invested
stakeholders to provide for adequate, equitable and ongoing San Bernardino County Superior Court
funding consistent with.the courts' workload in order to ensure that the residents of the County of San
Bernardino continue to have access to justice.
Packet Pg. 226
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino, State of
California, by the following vote:
AYES: SUPERVISORS:
NOES: 0 SUPERVISORS:
ABSENT: 0 SUPERVISORS:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
} ss.
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO }
1, LAURA H. WELCH, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino,
State of California., hereby certify the foregoing to be a full, true and correct copy of the record of the
action taken by the Board of Supervisors, by vote of the members present, as the same appears in s
the Official Minutes of said Board at its meeting of ,2013. U-
0
LAURA H. WELCH
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
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