Agenda - Council - 03/27/2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2000 ANNUAL REPORT FOR CITY OF RAMSEY, MINNESOTA Each year this report to the citizens of Ramsey highlights the major activities that occurred during the year just completed. The City continues to grow and federal and state aids continue to decline. Despite this financial disparity, elected officials and staff members work to provide stable or improved levels of City services. POPULATION Ramsey's population has increased from 12,408 (3,641 households) in the 1990 census to an estimated 2000 population of 19,250 persons in 5,832 households. This population figure is based on preliminary information that the Staff has received as the result of the 2000 census. The number of households is up from 5,639 in 1999. GENERAL OPERATIONS The General Fund provides for the following types of services: o General Government - Council, administration, finance, commissions, planning/zoning, legal. o Public Safety - Police, fire, protective inspections, animal control, emergency management. o Public Works ~ Street maintenance, snow and ice removal, and engineering services. o Parks and Recreation - Park maintenance, community services, and environmental services. Major organizational changes took place during the year in Administration. The end of Year 1999 saw the Administrative Services Manager position still not filled. The Council and Staff took the opportunity to evaluate the future of this position and determined that because of the growth that the organization was experiencing, the job was more than one person could effectively do. Early in 2000, Council and the Administrator interviewed and hired a Human Resources Manager and an Assistant City Administrator. In addition to organizational changes, Administrative Services was undergoing some change in the staffing levels as well. Previously, Administrative Services provided staff and secretarial support to every department in the organization. While this pooling situation was generally working, it was becoming apparent from the community that the various departments needed to have department specific support staff who had in-depth knowledge of the projects that the department was working on. Through staff attrition and transfers to other departments, Administrative Services support staff is down three positions fi'om the original total of six positions. A half time and a full time position were the first positions vacated and the receptionist position was vacated due to the transfer of this employee to Community Development Department. The original Community Development secretary transferred to the newly created Engineering Department. A part time secretary agreed to take on the vacated part-time secretarial position, making that a full-time position. The receptionist position was filled and the Council authorized a change to the City Ordinance separating the City Clerk and Administrator functions based on the recommendation from the Charter Commission. Currently, Administrative Services is operating with one full-time secretary, a full-time receptionist, a part-time secretary and a full-time City Clerk. Through the budgeting process, two additional positions, part-time facilities maintenance worker and Clerk Il, are being planned for 2001.