Approved 5/10/07

JUDICIARY

April 26, 2007

Minutes

Members Present:         Rebecca Bahar-Cook, Andy Schor, Tina Weatherwax-Grant, Dianne Holman, Deb Nolan, Randy Schafer and Board Chairperson Marc Thomas

Members Absent:         None

Others Present:             John Neilsen, Mark Grebner, Tamiekco Smith, Warren Henson, Edward Cook, Mike Botke, Jim Paparella, John Evans, Al Way, Shauna Dunnings, David Easterday, Maureen Winslow, Sara Deprez, Carol Read, Tamiekco Smith, Warren Henson, Ruth Hill-Schorsch and Elizabeth Schrock

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Bahar-Cook at 7:35 p.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of the Human Services Building, 5303 S. Cedar, Lansing.

(Comm. Holman informed staff that she would be late to this Committee due to a family responsibility.)

Approval of the April 12, 2007 Minutes

MOVED BY COMM. NOLAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. SCHOR, TO APPROVE THE APRIL 12 MINUTES AS AMENDED.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.  Absent:  Comm. Holman

The Minutes were amended as follows:

The first page, item one, second paragraph, first sentence:  the sentence was removed.

Additions to the Agenda

2.         Stuart Dunnings April 26, 2007 memorandum to the Judiciary Committee

Limited Public Comment

Mr. Easterday introduced the new FOC, Shauna Dunnings, to the Committee.  The Committee welcomed Ms. Dunnings to the County.

1. Interviews – Jury Board

The Committee interviewed Ed Cook and Matt Davis for a position on the Jury Board.

(Comm. Holman arrived at 7:56 p.m.)

Joanne Zink will be interviewed in two weeks.

2.         Community Coalition for Youth – Report and Recommendations on the Continuum of Care Initiative

Mr. Paparella stated the Task Force has made tremendous progress to date.  The draft Report includes three recommendations from the Task Force.  Mr. Paparella reviewed the report which was submitted to the Committee. 

Task Force Recommendations:

Recommendation One – Create the COCF in Three Stages

Stage One:       Develop an alternative day school for 30 court youth and an after-school program for 30 additional court youth.  Expand and enhance the family assessment and treatment services for court youth.

Stage Two:       Expand and enhance community based treatment, intervention and prevention programs for court and at-risk youth.

Stage Three:     Develop a seasonal curfew violators program.

Recommendation Two – Establish an Advisory Body for the COCF

Recommendation Three -  Purchase a Centrally Located Building

· 30,000 to 40,000 square feet in size

· School building preferred by most of community partners

· Flexibility for future expansion

· Easy access to major bus route

· Location in zip codes 48910, 48911 and 48912

Mr. Paparella stated is at the court’s discretion to determine which service providers will deliver services to the court youth.  The goal of the COCF is to reintegrate the youth back into their home schools.

The Committee held a general discussion regarding the recommendations listed above.  Comm. Schor asked what type of youth would be eligible for the alternative day school.  Ms. Winslow stated students who have been expelled, suspended or those who choose to leave school will be eligible for the alternative day school.  Mr. Paparella explained the costs of the services would not be known for some time.  Another task force could address the costs associated with providing the services.

The Committee discussed the Holmes Street School briefly.  The facility is listed for $295,000 and it has 30,000 square feet.  Ms. Winslow stated the facility would need a lot of renovation to meet the needs of the COCF. 

Chairperson Weatherwax-Grant stated the Ingham Intermediate School District could possible provide funding for some of the youth services.  She suggested the Coalition look into this matter. 

Comm. Schor stated it is very important to keep communication lines open with the Lansing School District in order to receive youth prior to adjudication.  He also suggested the Coalition keep in mind possible concerns of residents near the COCF location. 

Chairperson Thomas requested clarification regarding Community Mental Health’s position on the COCF.  Mr. Way explained that Mr. Sheehan has indicated the COCF services should start small with 30 beds.  Mr. Paparella stated the Coalition has found common ground with CMH regarding starting small. 

Chairperson Bahar-Cook asked when the Committee will receive the final draft of the Coalition’s recommendations.  Mr. Paparella stated the final draft should be available in two weeks.  Chairperson Bahar-Cook then commended the Coalition for their efforts on the draft plan.

Comm. Weatherwax-Grant stated she does not envision the COCF to be a drop off center for youth who do not have a place to go.  Housing and entertainment for youth during specific hours is not an effective use of the taxpayers’ dollars. 

Chairperson Bahar-Cook asked the Commissioners to review the draft report and then present ideas and/or concerns about the report at this Committee’s next meeting.  During the next meeting, the Committee will develop a task force to tour facilities.  Comm. Holman stated it may be helpful to have a project manager to bring people together since the Coalition members have full-time jobs.

Chairperson Bahar-Cook distributed copies of Mr. Dunnings’ letter to the Committee for its review.  Mr. Paparella explained that Mr. Dunnings has not had the opportunity to review the draft report. 

3.         Circuit Court/Family Division

a.         Private Institutional Costs for the Fiscal Years 2004/05, 2005/06 and the Current Year

Ms. Winslow explained this information is presented this evening in response to a request from this Committee.  The Committee held a general conversation regarding this item.  Ms. Winslow explained the Court will refer more youth to Highfields because the facility is addressing treatment intervention for youth.  She further explained that some youth are placed out of state because there are not many options within this State.

b.         Resolution Authorizing a Budget Amendment to the Circuit Court ‑ Family Court Juvenile Division 2006/07 Budget

MOVED BY COMM. HOLMAN, SUPPORTED BY COMM. WEATHERWAX-GRANT, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO THE CIRCUIT COURT – FAMILY COURT JUVENILE DIVISION 2006/07 BUDGET.

Chairperson Thomas asked Mr. Neilsen if he has any updated information regarding the placement budget.   Mr. Neilsen stated the facility vendor bills are current.  Chairperson Thomas asked that Mr. Neilsen continue to update the Committee on this matter.

MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

4.         Controller’s Office

a.         Resolution to Adopt the 2007/08 Juvenile Justice Community Agency Process Calendar

Mr. Neilsen stated the first two dates in the calendar should be changed to May 8 and May 9, 2007.

MOVED BY COMM. SCHAFER, SUPPORTED BY COMM. NOLAN, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE 2007/08 JUVENILE JUSTICE COMMUNITY AGENCY PROCESS CALENDAR.  MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

b.         Discussion Item: DRAFT - Resolution Updating Various Fees for County Services

Mr. Neilsen stated this item does not require action this evening.  He then explained that many of the fees related to this Committee are established by the Court.  Mr. Neilsen then stated the District Court would like to discuss increases in fees with this Committee after the plans for the 2007 building study are finalized. 

Mr. Neilsen informed the Committee that the proposed fee increases would generate an additional $360,395 in revenue. 

c.         Resolution Establishing Areas of Priority Emphasis Guiding 2008 Activities and Budget Process

Mr. Neilsen explained this Resolution was developed from discussions at recent Judiciary Committee meetings regarding the status of current areas of priority emphasis and departmental perspectives regarding areas of importance for 2008.  The changes to the Resolution are bolded. 

The Committee held a general discussion regarding this item.  After this discussion, the following changes were made to the Resolution:

Providing Appropriate Treatment and Sanctions for at risk Juveniles – Specific Enhancement:  Use of Juvenile Justice Millage funds to implement the action plan created in the Chinn Study, including specifically:  the creation of a continuum of care facility that will have a comprehensive juvenile assessment component; day treatment/evening reporting program; and center for respite/crisis intervention (“beds” was deleted) to support community-based programming that will support the Court’s and County’s goals of treating adjudicated youth locally within Ingham County whenever appropriate, and for these model programs and facilities for at-risk and adjudicated youth to be in place no later than 2008.

Comm. Schafer stated he voted against this Resolution in Law Enforcement due to the second BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED paragraph.  He explained that he wanted this paragraph deleted from the Resolution:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that efforts to pursue alternative funding mechanism and levels of service for county law enforcement shall continue.

Comm. Schor asked who authored the language contained in the second BIFR paragraph.  Mr. Neilsen stated he would clarify this matter and report back to this Committee. 

MOTION CARRIED with Comm. Schafer NO

Announcements:     None

Public Comment:    None

The meeting adjourned at 9:39 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Debra Neff