Agenda Packet 1-28-19 Work Session

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January 28, 2019, Work Session – Item 2 EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Municipal Court Presiding Judge Meeting Date: January 28, 2019 Agenda Item Number: 2 Department: Central Services Staff Contact: Keri Beraldo www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5765 ISSUE STATEMENT This work session is an opportunity to for council to discuss the position of the Municipal Court presiding judge. Presiding Judge Wayne Allen retired which means the permanent Municipal Court presiding judge position is vacant. The current contract with Associate Judge Gregory Gill allows for him to serve in the presiding judge position on an interim basis until June 2019. This vacancy presents council with the opportunity to determine how to structure and fill this position on a regular basis. This is a follow up to the January 9, 2019, work session on this topic. BACKGROUND The presiding Municipal Court judge performs and oversees all judicial functions of the Eugene Municipal Court. Historically, the presiding judge has been an independent contractor that is paid a set hourly amount to perform the work outlined in their contract as well as an additional monthly amount to cover time spent attending required meetings. Current code stipulates a detailed process for appointment of the municipal judge. At their January 9 work session, council expressed an interest in exploring hiring the municipal judge as a regular employee that reports directly to council as the City Manager and Police Auditor do. Staff will present options and additional detail about a potential hiring process at the work session. COUNCIL OPTIONS The following are options for council consideration and will be detailed during the work session. 1. Keep the current process as established in code and hire the presiding judge as an independent contractor. 2. Amend the code and hire the presiding judge as a regular City employee using a pre-determined process developed by council.