088-054 - 06-14 Opposition to Transferring Trials to Downtown Government Center Resolution 88-54 June 14, 1988
Member Bakken introduced the following resolution and �oved its adoption:
RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITIOP� TO TRANSFERRING JURY TRIALS FR0�1 THE RIDGEDALE
COURT FACILITY TO DOWNTOWN HENNEPIN COUNTY GOVERN�IENT CENTER
WHEREAS, the City Council of Golden Valley is the official governing body
of the City of Golden Valley; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has been informed that an executive committee of
the Hennepin County District Court Judges voted recently to transfer the handling
of Golden Valley jury trials from the Ridgedale facility to the downtown Hennepin
County Gove rnment Center; and
WHEREAS, the Ridgedale Court facility has sufficient courtroom space to
accomodate the handling of all court and jury trials for municipalities located
in Division III; and
WHEREAS, the Golden Valley Police Department is strongly opposed to the
proposed move because of increased time and costs involved in traveling downtown;
and,
WHEREAS, it is the experience of the Police Department that civilian
witnesses are often reluctant to travel downtown because of excess time lost
from work , unfamiliarity with downtown and the cost and availability of parking
and that this general reluctance will make it mo re difficult to successfully
prosecute cases; and
WHEREAS, it is highly likely that suburban jury trials would have low
priority for jury assignment at the downtown facility and a backlog of cases
would inevitably develop; and
WHEREAS, moving jury trials downtown would further distance the residents
of Golden Valley from the court system and constitute a waste of taxpayer's
money expended for construction of the Ridgedale facility; and
WHEREAS, the transfer of jury trials from the Ridgedale facility to the
Hennepin County Government Center will result in substantial increases in the
total cost of prosecution for the City of Golden Valley, including loss of
police and attorney time, increased overtime pay and probable increases in
personnel ; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Golden
Valley, that the City Council strongly opposes the proposed transfer of Golden
Valley jury trials from the Ridgedale Court facility to the downtown Hennepin
County Government Center for the foregoing reasons.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be sent to each
member of the Henr�epin County Commissioners and Golden Valley's representatives
in the State Legislature.
Resolution 88-54 - Continued June 14, 1988
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P ary E. nderson, Mayor
ATTEST:
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J y Nal , Deputy ; ity Clerk
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The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was seconded by
Member Thompson, and upon a vote being taken thereon, the following voted in
favor thereof: Anderson, Bakken, Johnson, Stockman and Thompson; and the
f ollowing voted against the same: none, whereupon said resolution was declared
duly passed and adopted, signed by the Mayor and her signature attested by the
Deputy City Clerk.