HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/18/2017 Item 1, Walker
Gardner, Erica
From: Kathie Walker \[ ]
Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2017 9:21 AM
To: E-mail Council Website <emailcouncil@slocity.org>
Subject: Increase in Fees, 4/16/2017 meeting
Dear City Councilmembers,
The appeal fee increase proposed by city staff serves the wealthy and oppresses less fortunate residents who
cannot afford to pay the fee. Many of us do not have the means to pay such a large amount. Please allow the
democratic process to be realistically available to all residents of SLO.
An election costs over a hundred thousand dollars but we don’t charge citizens to vote. It would be wrong to
segregate or prevent interested citizens from participating in the process. The same goes for the Court system.
There is a small flat fee* to file a case which covers the cost of the courtroom, the judge, clerk, baliff, etc. The
filing fee is waived entirely for lower-income residents.
This policy is in place so that every person is provided judicial access, despite their station in life. The same
should be true for residents who want or need to file an appeal to an advisory body or Council who serves as a
quasi-judicial body. The cost of an appeal is a legitimate cost of doing business for the City. It is extremely
unfair to raise the fee. Please don’t.
Sincerely,
Kathie Walker
*Court Filing Fees:
Civil Complaint or other first paper...........................................................$225
Motion for hearing (unless complaint or first paper, then no fee)...............$60
Appeal: (to appellate division)...................................................................$225
Small Claims Court ............................................................................$30 - $75
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