Port Angeles and Sequim are considering saving money through a municipal court — perhaps operated jointly by the two cities.
No decisions have been made, but staff members of both city halls are looking at options — a joint municipal court, separate courts or making no change — in response to the rising cost of contracting with Clallam County District Court for handling traffic infractions, small claims cases and other misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor charges.
The Port Angeles and Sequim councils are expected to discuss the idea at a joint meeting April 19. The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 W. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
Sequim and Port Angeles have both reported higher costs since the county started charging them on a five-year average rather than on the number of cases for that particular year, city officials said.
That change began this year.
Port Angeles and Sequim city staff members say they see forming a municipal court rather than using District Court to handle cases that come with possible penalties of less than a year in jail, as a possible way to save money.
Could be cost benefit
“Municipal court might be one of those operations where there might be a cost benefit,” Port Angeles City Attorney Bill Bloor told the Port Angeles City Council on Tuesday.
The City Council unanimously voted to have city staff review the proposal and bring the council more details about costs.
If such a move is made, it would not affect Clallam County Superior Court. Minor infractions are handled in district court.
Clallam County Administrator Jim Jones was out of the office Wednesday and couldn’t be reached for comment. District Court Administrator Keith Wills was in trial Wednesday and also couldn’t be reached for comment.
Sequim city officials first looked at the idea last year, but determined in September that it might cost too much for the city to do it on its own.
Sequim City Attorney Craig Ritchie said Wednesday that city staff members have resurrected the idea because Port Angeles has showed interest in funding a joint municipal court.
However, he said, the idea of Sequim creating its own municipal court is now again under consideration, too.
If they decided to not renew their contracts with the county at the end of the year, officials with the two cities believe they could lessen the cost of starting up their own courts.
Such an arrangement would be the first in the state.
“There aren’t any in the state of Washington, but there could be,” Ritchie said. “That might allow us to share some resources.”
After the costs of either option — to form a municipal court together or separately — are fully fleshed out, both councils are expected to make a decision as to whether to make a change or stick with the county.
Courtroom site
Whether they form their own municipal court together or separately, both cities would have to find their own courtrooms.
Ritchie said that would be easy for Sequim since it could use the council chambers in the Sequim Transit Center.
But Port Angeles would have do a little more searching.
Bloor told the council on Tuesday that the council chambers could not be used because it doesn’t have a nearby room where a jury can meet.
He said a facility would have to be retrofitted or built.
Ritchie said Sequim’s distance from the county jail would be a concern, but he added that people are detained in custody in few District Court cases.
In cases where it is necessary, videoconferencing could be used or the person facing the charges could kept in Sequim’s holding cell, he said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.