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<br />Mayor Gamec stated that he feels that Councilmembers Dehen and Look did this on their own <br />and now that it is at a lawsuit stage, they are coming to the Council asking for support. He stated <br />that he thinks this is an individual issue because they want their kids to attend this school. He <br />stated that he agrees with Councilmember Strommen that they should have talked to the Council <br />at the very beginning and asked for support then. He stated that now he would like to just sit <br />back and see what happens with the lawsuit. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dehen stated that he feels the Council can support Ramsey residents and help <br />get them schooling options or they can sit back and say that they don't support it. <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec stated that he doesn't feel the Council was ever given a chance. <br /> <br />Councilmember Strommen stated that she feels Councilmembers Dehen and Look are only <br />giving the Council one option because the door has been closed on other conversations because <br />they have pursued legal action. She stated that she is not saying that she doesn't support the <br />students of Ramsey, but there is only one option given tonight. She stated that she does not <br />understand why they couldn't come to the Council in January and say, hey, just so you know, we <br />have been in discussions with PACT about enrollment and would like the City to support 'us. <br />She stated that then other options could have been to put together like a task force to look at <br />something that would work for the entire community. <br /> <br />Mr. DeBruyn stated that he does not think that Councilmembers Dehen and Look can paint their <br />efforts broadly that they are representing all the citizens of Ramsey, because they don't. He <br />stated that Councilmember Dehen knew from a phone conversation, that the lottery had been <br />posted until April 15th. He stated if Councilmembers Dehen and Look are honest, they will <br />admit that they knew the lottery had been postponed. He stated that he feels there was an <br />opportunity to have discussions and this could have been brought to the whole Council, but <br />Councilmembers Dehen and Look chose not to. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated that after meeting with Mr. DeBruyn, he talked with City <br />Administrator Ulrich on how the City could be creative in using money or an old building for a <br />second school site, so he sees the City was being brought into the discussions. He stated that he <br />feels Mr. DeBruyn's response to the City has been that everyone has an opinion, and our <br />opinions trumps yours. <br /> <br />Mr. DeBruyn stated that is Councilmembers Look's interpretation. <br /> <br />Councilmember Look stated that Mr. DeBruyn's bosses, the Minnesota Department of <br />Education, have also rendered an opinion. <br /> <br />Mr. DeBruyn stated that the Minnesota Department of Education has not contacted him and told <br />him that he needs to do anything differently in their enrollment process. He stated that, in the <br />end, if this is found that this needs to change, they will change their internal policy. He stated <br />that he has told Councilmembers Dehen and Look this all along. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session /Aprill, 2008 <br />Page 14 of20 <br />