Minutes - Council - 05/06/1993 - Joint with Anoka City Council

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I I I I I I I I i I I I I Case #$: Animal Containment Police Chief Revering stated that at the last joint meeting of the Anoka and Ramsey Councils, ~ there was discussion of joint animal containment. A member of the Anoka Police Department and Ramsey Police Chief Auspos have been discussing this idea. He comment~ that the City of Coon Rapids is also interested in this. He reported that Anoka has had i~s own City pound for several years and he feels it is a good operation. Anoka would have to do some capital improvements to their facility to make this feasible. He felt joint anira~ al containment would realize a savings for the cities as volume would reduce costs. He offered to check into the cost of the improvements to their facility and report back to Ramsey. Case ~6: Lower Rum River Water Management Organization Finance Officer Helling explained that the Ramsey City Council would like a better understanding of where the money given to the LRRWMO is going and the escalating cost of memb°XShip in the future. She stated that the City of Coon Rapids has 25% of the vote and 3% of the budget liability. She suggested the budget be revisited and inquired if the joint powers should be changed. City Engineer Jankowski stated that the LRRWMO is looking at modification of its joint powers agi'eement and that the concept of voting could be re-evaluated. Councilmember Weaver stated that Coon Rapids has the lower percent of 40 acre tracts in the LRI~WMO and Andover has more in the Coon Creek Watershed. The land area and evaluatiOn is the formula for the share of costs. From February 1, 1993, to January 1, 1994, thermal operating budget is $18,200 and payments are made to the organization twice a year. The cash reserve of $12,000 has occurred in the last year because the attorney ';has not been asked to come to the meetings and that caused a savings of $3,000, not having the engineer attend meetings realized a savings of $4,500. He stated the biggest expense iS insurance. With regard to escalating future costs, he stated they "pinch" every penny and therefore the budget probably will not have to increase. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired if the City of Ramsey bears a larger liability if someone gets sued because it incurs the largest cost of the budget, to which Mr. Jankowski replied he would check with the insurance agent. City Manager Nagel suggested assessing needs before reducing funds. Councilmember Mann felt that the LRRWMO money was managed extremely well and felt we are fortunate to have the watershed board we have. Case b°?: Joint Four or Five City Meeting (Andover, Anoka, Champlin, Dayton and Ramsey) City Administrator Schroeder inquired if the City of Anoka felt that a joint meeting to include Andover, Anoka, Champlin, Dayton and Ramsey would be a benefit to which he received positive responses. It was agreed that such a joint meeting should take place, possibly mid-to-late September. It was also agreed that banding together would give the northern suburbs a stronger voice when it comes to dealings with the Metropolitan Council, MnDOT, etc. Joint City Council Meeting/May 6, 1993 Ramsey/Anoka i Page 4 of 5