12-10642r RESOLUTION NO. 10642
RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF THE DIVISION IV
SOUTHDALE COURTHOUSE OF THE FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
WHEREAS, the City.Council of the City of Richfield is the official governing body of
the City or Richfield, a municipal corporation organized under the home rule provisions of
laws of the State of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the Hennepin County Administrator Richard Johnson requested the
Hennepin County Board of Commissioners at their February 28, 2012, meeting to cease all
court operations at the Division IV, Hennepin County Courthouse at Southdale
commencing on September 1, 2012, in Hennepin County Resolution 12-0119; and
WHEREAS, the requested closure of the Southdale Courthouse is based on the
expense of implementing security measures at this location; and
WHEREAS, At the March 13, 2012 meeting of the Hennepin County Board of
Commissioners, Commissioner Callison introduced a revision to Resolution 12-0119. The
revision calls for further study of the security issues at the three suburban court locations
including consideration of closing the court at Southdale. Recommendations from this
study are to be presented to the County Board of Commissioners by November 1, 2012;
and
WHEREAS, the Division IV Courthouse for the Fourth Judicial District, located at
7009 York Avenue South, Edina, Minnesota currently provides court services for the City
of Richfield and it's residents; and
WHEREAS, any relocation of the court functions serving Richfield from a south
suburban location to any of the Division I, II or III locations will not only reduce the level of
services to Richfield residents, it will reduce our residents' access to justice; and
WHEREAS, any relocation of the court functions serving Richfield from a south
suburban location to any of the Division I, II or III locations would result in increase costs to
the Richfield Police Department and the prosecution services.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RICHFIELD THAT:
1. The City Council opposes any proposed closure of the South Suburban
Division IV, Fourth Judicial District Courthouse based on its concern that
such would unduly inconvenience the citizens of Richfield served thereby,
result in increased costs of prosecution and increased costs to the
Richfield Police Department.
2. The City Council hereby directs the City Clerk to provide copies of this
Resolution to: the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for the State of
Minnesota, the Honorable Lori Gildea; the members of the Hennepin
County Board of Commissioners; the County Administrator Richard
Johnson; the Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial District, the Honorable
James Swenson; and Hennepin County Court Administor Mark
Thompson.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfield, Minnesota t 's 10th day of April,
2012. 0,
1 , daA * of.
ebbie Goettel, ayor
ATTEST:
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