Title
Ensuring equity in the implementation of administrative citations through a legislative advisory committee.
Body
WHEREAS, national studies have shown that municipal fines and fees can impose a crushing burden on BIPOC and low-income residents, and aggressive debt collection practices can further exacerbate the financial strain on BIPOC and low-income residents; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul has been a nationally recognized leader in advancing fines and fees justice reforms, including City actions which:
? Authorized the Saint Paul Public Library Debt Write-Off (RES 18-2034) program as part of the 2019 budget, signaling the importance of eliminating barriers to the use and enjoyment of the Library, and benefit the City by increasing access to Library resources for all city residents;
? Further advanced its fines and fees justice strategies by being selected by the National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education and Families to participate in Cities Addressing Fines and Fees Equitably (RES 19-635);
? Deepened its commitment to racially equitable fines and fees as a participant in the Cities and Counties for Fines and Fee Justice Initiative to assess and reform fines, fees, and financial penalties that often have an adverse and disproportionate impact on low-income people and people of color (RES PH 20-166);
? Implemented a suite of fines and fee relief programs during the COVID-19 pandemic including eliminating water shut offs, offering fee waivers for cars in the impound lots, among other relief efforts to minimize the economic impact on residents;
? Further demonstrated its commitment to thoughtful consideration of residents’ financial burdens through its Medical Debt Reset Initiative, partnership with Undue Medical Debt, Guaranteed Income pilot, and partnership with Center for Guaranteed Income Research; and
WHEREAS, the City proposed the addition of provisions to the Saint Paul City Charter to allow the City to pursue administrative c...
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