RESOLUTION 03-2002

Recommendation on Environmental Court

WHEREAS, Environmental cleanup of litter and waste dumping is an issue of great significance to the people served by the District, and

WHEREAS, solid waste remediation is within the scope of the District's statutory functions, and

WHEREAS, Enforcement priorities for dealing with litter and other violations (building, housing, zoning, etc), hereby deemed "Community Offenses", are necessarily secondary to criminal enforcement priorities of the existing Municipal Court for Hamilton County and the several Mayor's Courts with jurisdiction for waste-related violations and misdemeanors, and

WHEREAS, A court with dedicated jurisdiction could enhance the remediation of these Community Offenses through more rapid handling of enforcement cases and alternative sentencing for offenders, and

WHEREAS, Franklin County has had an environmental division of Municipal Court in operation since 1992,

Therefore be it RESOLVED,

That the Policy Committee requests that the Hamilton County Commissioners, in consultation with the Presiding Judge of Municipal Court and the Prosecutor, take the necessary steps for the creation of an Community Offenses Court Session within Hamilton County Municipal Court.