COUNCIL COMMUNICATION
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council
FROM: Mitchell Kalauli, City Magistrate
SUBJECT:Title
Discussion and Action: Ordinance No. 26-1387 Amending Lake Havasu City Code Section 2.56.111, Municipal Court Administrative Fee Schedule and Jail Cost Recovery, to Revise the Court Enhancement Fee (Introduction) (Mitchell Kalauli)
Body
FUNDING SOURCE:
N/A
PURPOSE:
To consider the introduction of an ordinance amending City Code Section 2.56.111, Municipal Court Administrative Fee Schedule and Jail Cost Recovery.
BACKGROUND:
The Lake Havasu City Problem Solving Courts consist of four Specialty Courts: Veterans Treatment Court, Youth Court, Building Bridges Court, and the Inmate Release Court. The success of these programs relies on the ability to provide substance use and mental health treatment and drug and alcohol testing. While grants are being applied for, they are not a guaranteed source of financial support. Increasing the Court Enhancement Fee would help ensure the continued operation and support of the Lake Havasu City Problem Solving Courts.
If adopted, the Court Enhancement fee would increase from $20 to $40.
It is proposed to amend City Code Section 2.56.111(C)(1) as follows:
§ 2.56.111 MUNICIPAL COURT ADMINISTRATIVE FEE SCHEDULE AND JAIL COST RECOVERY.
C. 1. Court enhancement fee. The Municipal Court may collect a Court Enhancement fee of $2040 which shall be assessed in addition to any fine, sanction, or penalty imposed by the Court. The Court Enhancement fee shall be collected after the statutory priorities of restitution and time payment fees if applicable. The Court Enhancement fee shall be received by the Court in a manner consistent with the Arizona Supreme Court Accounting Standards and deposited with the Treasurer on a monthly basis for deposit into the Court Enhancement Fund.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
This proposed increase to the Court Enhancement Fee does not increase the amount of fines collected; it increases the amount of fees to stay locally instead of being distributed to Arizona State.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The increase in the fee would result in additional revenue in the Court Enhancement Fund, which is restricted for purposes such as allocating funds to local programs like the Problem Solving Courts.
ATTACHMENTS:
Ordinance No. 26-1387 (tracked)
POSSIBLE MOTION:Recommended Action
I move to introduce Ordinance No. 26-1387 amending City Code Section 2.56.111.
I move to not introduce Ordinance No. 26-1387.