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Home My WebLink AboutReg 2009-04-20 Item 8A - Motion - Support Statewide Amnesty Program Participation by Municipal CourtCAS NUMBER 09-050 Ac; km), ITI.I\I TITLE Participation in Statewide Amnesty Program by the Tukwila Municipal Court C 1 I' ;GOR1 1 1 Discussion AN Date SP( )NS( )R Couna/ SPONSOR'S S ;D BY Fund Source: Comments: MTG. DATE 04/20/09 MTG. DATE 04/20/09 05D The District and Municipal Courts in the State of Washington, with the support of Supreme Court Justice Gary Alexander, will participate in a statewide amnesty program. The amnesty period is May 1— May 31, 2009. The Council is being asked to support the Tukwila Municipal Court's participation in the statwide amnesty program I 11 COW Mtg. Utilities Cmte COUNCIL AGENDA SYNOPSIS Meeting Date Prepared by 04/20/09 LRK Motion n Resolution Altg Date 04/20/09 Mtg Date II I ITEM INFORMATION !ORIGINAL AGI;ND, \'I7:: APRIL 20, 2009 Biel _Award Public Hearing Other flit Date A kg Date AN Date Mayor 1 1 Adm Svcs n DCD 1 1 Finance 1 1 Fire 1 Legal U P &R 1 1 Police n PIV CA &P Cmte Arts Comm. Initiate !player'; review I n Ordinance Altg Date 1 Council review F &S Cmte Parks Comm. I RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION ATTACHMENTS Informational Memorandum dated 04/01/09 Letter of Support from Supreme Court Chief Justice, Gary Alexander Minutes from the Finance and Safety Committee meeting of 4/7/09 1-1 Planning Comm. ITEM No. 1 A Transportation Cmte DATE: 04/07/2009 RECOMMENDATIONS: SPONSOR /ADMIN. Support of amnesty program COMMIVITI�.E Unanimous Approval; Forward directly to Regular Meeting COST IMPACT FUND SOURCE Ex1I RIS(?UIRI?D AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED $0.00 $N /A $N /A TO: FROM: LaTricia Kinlow, Court Administrator DATE: April 1, 2009 SUBJECT: Participation in Statewide Amnesty Program ISSUE BACKGROUND RECOMMENDATION The Council is being asked to support the municipal court's participation in this amnesty program and to state such support during the April 20, 2009 Regular Meeting. ATTACHMENTS City of Tukwila INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM Mayor Haggerton Finance Safety Committee Letter of Support from Supreme Court Chief Justice, Gary Alexander. Jim Haggerton, Mayor Many courts are experiencing the effects of the current state of the economy. Most court customers are unable to pay their court fines resulting in the suspension of their driver's license. The District and Municipal Courts in the State of Washington, with the support of Supreme Court Justice Gary Alexander, will participate in a statewide amnesty program. The amnesty period is May 1St May 31 2009. We have consulted with Alliance One Receivables Management, Inc. (collection agency used by Tukwila Municipal Court), and they have participated in the planning of the amnesty program and are aware of the issues involved. Presiding Judges and Court Administrators are well aware of the flurry of activity intended to lead to the opportunity for defendants state -wide to pay off existing fines with either interest and penalties waives or substantially reduced fines. With most courts choosing to participate in the Fine /Collection Amnesty during the month of May 2009, we can benefit the public in general by re- licensing as many individuals as possible. The marketing of the program will be orchestrated by the Administrative Office of the Courts. They will contact the media agencies throughout the state and they will provide courts with information we can distributed to our local media venues GERRY L. ALEXANDER. CHIEF JUSTICE TEMPLE OF JUSTICE POST OFFICE ROX 40929 OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON 98504 -0929 Dear Colleagues: L.y$ur. UT2 Car± Sim xif Pagiringirrn March 19, 2009 (360) 357-2029 FAX (360) 357 -2085 E -MAIL J_G.ALEXANDER @COURTS.WA.GOV It has come to my attention that a number of limited jurisdiction courts are currently organizing a "Collections Amnesty" program. It is my understanding, also, that the board of the District and Municipal Court Judges' Association is supportive of this effort as is the board of the District and Municipal Court Managers' Association. During this time of reduced resources for citizens and government entities alike, this campaign is timely and makes a great deal of sense. Under this program, persons owing delinquent fines will have the opportunity to responsibly address their obligation. At the same time they can save money because accrued interest and collection fees will be reduced or eliminated. State, county, and city governments will also benefit when these fines are paid. I encourage you to consider joining this worthwhile program. Very truly yours, C)Th- C Glit41 Gerry leKander Chief J ice FINANCE AND SAFETY COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes April 7, 2009, 5:00 p.m.; Conference Room #3 PRESENT Councilmembers: Pam Linder, Chair; Joe Duffle and De' Sean Quinn Staff: Shawn Hunstock, Trish Kinlow, Mike Villa, Jim Morrow, Gail Labanara, Mary Miotke, Rhonda Berry and Kimberly Matej CALL TO ORDER: Chair Linder called the meeting to order at 5:04 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. City of Tukwila Finance and Safety Committee II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Tukwila Municipal Court Participation in the Statewide Amnesty Program*, Staff is seeking Council support of the Court's participation in a statewide Amnesty Program which will t give defendants the opportunity to pay off delinquent fines with interest and collection fees reduced or eliminated. The amnesty program, which will run May 1 through May 31, will benefit both citizens and government. The United States Supreme Court has expressed support for such amnesty programs throughout the country. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO APRIL 20 REGULAR MEETING. B. Eden Proiect Accounting Module* Staff is seeking full Council approval to purchase the Project Accounting Module for EDEN Financial Systems in the amount of $33,763. The Project Accounting Module will provide the EDEN system the ability to: Integrate multiple projects Implement an hierarchy of phases and tasks Link funding sources with project expenditures Automatically post overhead costs to projects Prepare reports for project information and cost over multiple budget years Reclassify project details independently of the general ledge accounting Although the items above are not an exhaustive list of the Module's capabilities, it does provide a solid example of functions that currently must be done manually by staff. The Module will offer an increased efficiency to deliver financial information in a timely and appropriate manner, and offers a single information source which is excellent for auditing purposes. Additionally, the Project Accounting Module will replace the Job Costing Module which EDEN no longer supports. The Finance Department will absorb the cost of the module at this time, and will seek a mid biennium budget adjustment, if necessary. After the initial purchase price of $33,763 the annual software maintenance will be $6,380. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO APRIL 20 REGULAR MEETING. C. Howard Hansen Dam Budeet Amendment* Staff is seeking full Council authorization to transfer $50,000 from the City's General Fund to budget line items created specifically for expenses related to public outreach involving the Howard Hanson Dam. The Emergency Management Division of the Public Works Department will continue to administer