The City Council plans to offer a referendum in the Nov. 4 election to trim the size of City Court.
Councilwoman Carol Berz said the measure would do away with authorization for the second division of the court, that has been in place since 1962.
Council Chair Ken Smith said that does not mean that the Second Division is eliminated. He said a future council could reinstate it should it so choose.
It was noted that no change could occur at the court until the term of the current judge expires. Russell Bean has presided in the Second Division since his appointment by Mayor Jon Kinsey in 2000. He won a new eight-year term in 2014.
Sherry Paty oversees the First Division.
The council earlier had been discussing a possible referendum to do away with City Court altogether.
The duties of City Court have been diminishing, starting with the loss of criminal cases that ranged up to murder over an issue involving former Judge Walter Williams.
Most parking cases were removed when CARTA took over parking and set up a payment and appeals system.
The court continues to hear traffic and environmental cases, though the new Administrative Law Judge is starting to take some of the latter cases.
City Court has long been hampered by the fact that it can only levy fines up to $50 per day under the state Constitution. The hearing officers can set much stiffer penalties.
City Court occupies one courtroom on the second floor of the Courts Building between Market and Cherry. The clerk's office is on the ground floor.
Another item that had been projected to go before voters in November was whether to set up a special enterprise fund for paving. However, Councilman Jerry Mitchell said that idea needed more study.
Councilman Henderson, a staunch advocate for more paving of city streets, earlier said a certain percentage of the overall budget might go to the fund.
The upcoming budget includes $6 million for paving. It had been as low as $3 million in recent years.