Council to take action on Ordinance No. 23-26 declaring as a public record that certain document on file with the City Clerk entitled the “Chapters 5, 12, and 15 – Associate Judge Amendments”; adoptin

4.H
CITY OF BUCKEYE
Regular Council Meeting
COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: 4.H. MC - Amendment
MEETING DATE: 10/06/26 to City Code Authorizing the Appointment
of Additional Judicial Officers.
DATE PREPARED: 10/01/26 DISTRICT NO.:
STAFF LIAISON: John Burkholder, Presiding Judge, jburkholder@buckeyeaz.gov,
(623) 349-6525
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent Agenda
DEPARTMENT: Municipal Courts
Items / New Business
ACTION/MOTION: (This language identifies the formal motion to be made by the Council)
Council to take action on Ordinance No. 23-26 declaring as a public record that certain document on file
with the City Clerk entitled the “Chapters 5, 12, and 15 – Associate Judge Amendments”; adopting the
“Chapters 5, 12, and 15 - Associate Judge Amendments” by reference; and amending the City Code of
the City of Buckeye Chapter 5, Municipal Court Regulations, Article 5-1, Definitions, Section 5-1-1,
Definitions, Article 5-2, Municipal Court Organization, Section 5-2-2, Qualifications of Judges, Section 5-
2-3, Judges, Generally, Section 5-2-5, Powers and Duties of Presiding Judge, Article 5-3, Judicial
Selection Advisory Board, Section 5-3-1, Establishment; Purpose, Section 5-3-2, Membership, Article 5-
5, Home Detention/Electronic Monitoring Program, Section 5-5-1, Home Detention/Electronic Monitoring
Program; Chapter 12, Traffic Code, Article 12-3, Parking, Standing and Stopping, Section 12-3-4,
Parking Prohibited in Spaces Reserved for the Physically Disabled, Section 12-3-8, Response to Parking
Violation Complaint; Default Judgment; Penalties, Section 12-3-11, Immobilized and Impounded
Vehicles – Release; Chapter 15, Building Regulations, Article 15-1, General Provisions, Section 15-1-2,
Civil Code Enforcement for Violations of City Code; providing for repeal of conflicting ordinances; and
providing for severability.
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR THE STRATEGIC PLAN FOCUS AREAS:
Not Applicable
SUMMARY
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The primary purpose of the proposed amendment is to revise the Buckeye City Code to authorize
additional judicial and hearing officer positions for the Buckeye Municipal Court, including an Associate
Judge, Judge Pro Tem, Interim Judge, and Civil Traffic Hearing Officer. The amendment is intended to
provide the Court with greater flexibility and capacity to address increasing caseloads and the growing
volume of matters requiring judicial attention, while supporting the efficient and effective administration of
justice.
BENEFITS:
The proposed amendment will provide the Buckeye Municipal Court with increased capacity and
flexibility to address the growing volume of judicial matters. Authorizing additional positions, including an
Associate Judge, Judge Pro Tem, Interim Judge, and Civil Traffic Hearing Officer, will help improve the
timely processing and resolution of cases, reduce potential backlogs, maintain continuity of court
operations, and allow judicial resources to be used more efficiently. The amendment will also provide the
Court with the ability to respond to current and future increases in caseload while supporting the effective
and timely administration of justice.
FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT:
There is no anticipated financial impact to the current 2027 fiscal year resulting from this action. The

action provides more cost-efficient options to address the court's workload. These options will likely be
included in recommended budgets for subsequent fiscal years.
CURRENT FISCAL YEAR TOTAL COST:
There is no anticipated financial impact to the current 2027 fiscal year resulting from this action.
Items related to a project or facility location must include an attached vicinity map for Council
Review.
ATTACHMENTS:
Chapters 5 12 15 Associate Judge Amendments legislative edit version.pdf
Chapters 5 12 15 Associate Judge Amendments clean version.pdf
Ordinance No. 23-26 More than Presiding Judge Code Amendment.pdf