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Ms. Taylor reported public comment about inconsistency in the way people are treated in <br />Municipal Court and wondered if the problem might be mitigated with two full-time judges. <br />Judge Allen disagreed that there was inconsistent treatment, saying that judges have different <br />ways of getting their points across but the law is applied equally. He added that he did not <br />believe reducing the number of judges will make a difference related to consistency. <br /> <br /> Mr. Farr moved, seconded by Mr. Tollenaar to rescind the council's policy <br /> direction of neutral funding for Municipal Court. <br /> <br />Ms. Swanson Gribskov expressed support for the motion but asked to have financial records and <br />performance records kept and brought before the council periodically. <br /> <br />Mr. Laue said he would support the motion "primarily because you cannot put a price on justice." <br />He added that this was not the place to look for efficiencies and to do so would send the wrong <br />message to the public and the judges. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner agreed, saying it is inappropriate to cast the necessity of revenue neutrality on the <br />court. He added that it was a policy issue for the council "to decide that the fines do not cover <br />the cost of law-breaking" and act accordingly. <br /> <br />Ms. Nathanson said one of the reasons she supported the motion was because she was pleased <br />with the initiative taken and the success of that initiative in addressing decreasing funds and the <br />continuing circumstances. <br /> <br />Mr. Tollenaar was also supportive but expressed concern with the District Attorney's suggestion <br />of referring all misdemeanor cases to the Municipal Court. <br /> <br />Addressing a question from Ms. Nathanson, Judge Allen said the current manner in which <br />arraignments are handled at the jail seems to be working for the time being. <br /> <br /> Roll call vote. The motion passed unanimously, 7:0. <br /> <br /> Mr. Fart moved, seconded by Mr. Tollenaar, to change to a full-time employee <br /> judge model and instruct staff to draft applicable changes to the City Code, <br /> and to extend current judicial contracts through December 1998 in order to <br /> allow time for Code changes, classification development, recruitment and <br /> selection of two full-time employee judges. <br /> <br />Mr. Tollenaar said the council should look at the possibility of hiring one full-time judge and the <br />balance by contract. He explained that that would address the advantages outlined in the staff <br />item summary, adding that he did not agree with some of the disadvantages noted--a rapid <br />turnover would not necessarily be a bad thing. <br /> <br />Ms. Swanson Gribskov disagreed, saying the current system worked well and allowed for <br />flexibility. She noted the court was supported by a full-time administrator and that was a <br />stabilizing influence. <br /> <br />Minutes-Eugene City Council June 8, 1998 Page 2 <br /> 5:30 p.m. <br /> <br /> <br />