HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 76-1985 RESOLUTION 76-85
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE REOPENING OF THE NORTHERN
DEPARTMENT OF THE SAN MATEO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT AND
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PERMANENT BRANCH COURT IN THE
NORTH COUNTY
WHEREAS, for more than fifteen (15) years, the citizens of Northern San Mateo
County were served by the "Northern Department" of the San Mateo County Superior
Court; and
WHEREAS, the Northern Department served a useful purpose in providing a
"full service" court for the residents of the North County who would otherwise
have had to travel to Redwood City to be heard; and
WHEREAS, the growth in population of San Mateo County requires the appoint-
ment of at least four (4) new Judges to the Superior Court; and
WHEREAS, over two hundred thousand (200,000) people now reside in the North
County area, encompassing the Cities of South San Francisco, Brisbane, Colma,
Daly City, Millbrae, Pacifica, and San Bruno; and
WHEREAS, the Northern Department has been repeatedly opened and closed during
the past several years at the discretion of the Presiding Judge sitting in Red-
wood City and is now open only one (1) day per week for the hearing of domestic
orders to show cause and uncontested matters; and
WHEREAS, the lack of a full service courtroom in the Northern San Mateo
County area results in added expense, inconvenience and loss of time to the
citizens of the North County who must travel, and pay their attorneys and
witnesses to travel, the seventeen (17) mile distance to Redwood City; and
WHEREAS, it is estimated by the North County Board Association that the
added expense to the citizens of North County area amounts to approximately
Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per case tried in Redwood City; and
WHEREAS, the lack of a full service courtroom in Northern San Mateo County
also makes it more difficult for the elderly and handicapped to gain access to
a court by requiring them to travel to Redwood City to be heard; and
WHEREAS, the lack of a full service courtroom in Northern San Mateo County
results in added expense, inconvenience and loss of time to the Municipal
employees of the North County cities who must now budget two (2) hours for
round trip travel time for routine civil and criminal matters involving the
City; and
WHEREAS, the added expense and lost time incurred by the citizens of the
North County, and the cities in the North County, in traveling to Redwood City
for even routine court matters could be saved by opening a permanent, full
service branch court at the facility already constructed in South San Francisco;
and
WHEREAS, this added expense and inconvenience is denying the taxpayers of
the North County area equal access to their Superior Court system; and
WHEREAS, other Counties, including Santa Clara, Contra Costa, and Alameda,
have heeded the changing demographic concentration in their respective counties
and have established full service branch courts, in some cases larger than the
original court, in order to provide convenient and timely service to all of their
counties' residents; and
WHEREAS, there are presently two (2) open courtrooms at the North County
facility and
WHEREAS, there are presently no open courtrooms at the Redwood City courtroom
facility;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of South
San Francisco, that it does hereby strongly urge:
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1. The Presiding Judge of the Superior Court to immediately reopen the
Northern Department of the San Mateo County Superior Court on a full-time basis;
2. The State Legislature and the Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County
to take i~mediate action to initiate the necessary legislation to increase the
number of authorized Superior Court Judges in San Mateo County from sixteen (16)
to twenty (20), as provided in the latest Judicial Council Report; and
3. The Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County to take immediate action
to initiate legislation to establish a permanent Northern Branch of the Superior
Court in the City of South San Francisco to be staffed by at least two (2)
full-time Judges.
I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced
and adopted by the City Council of the City of South San Francisco at a
regular meeting held on the lOth day of April , 198 5 , by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Roberta Cerri Teglia, Mark N. Addie~o, Emanuele N.
Damonte and Gus Nicolopulos
NOES: None
ABSENT: Mayor Richard A. Haffey
City Clerk
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