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Councilmember Kurak aye <br />Councilmember Cook aye <br />Councilmember Zimmerman nay <br />Councilmember Pearson aye <br />Councilmember Elvig aye <br />Councilmember Strommen aye <br />Mayor Gamec aye <br /> <br />Motion carried. <br /> <br />Case #3: Report from Joint Law Enforcement Meeting <br /> <br />Police Chief Way stated that he attended the October 22nd Joint Law Enforcement meeting where <br />they covered several committee reports. The items discussed were: 1) the continuation of <br />weapons of mass destruction training for both Police and Fire throughout the County using a <br />federal grant. 2) They were informed that the auto grant was cut by the State, which was money <br />that was used to look for stolen vehicles at places such as used car tots. 3) The 800 MHz system <br />is progressing forward and they hope to start using the system this April. 4) The group had a <br />lengthy discussion regarding medical expenses for people that may be injured during an arrest. <br />The League of Minnesota Cities has stated that they will back the cities that they should not be <br />held responsible for paying those medical bills. 5) The final issue that was discussed was a multi <br />jurisdictional network, which will allow all Police Departments to put their information into one <br />system so that they can all share the information. There are some concerns over security of the <br />information, but once that is resolved the system will probably move ahead quickly. <br /> <br />There was no action necessary. <br /> <br />Case #4: <br /> <br />Adopt Ordinances Implementing a Gas Franchise Fee on Centerpoint <br />Energy, Minnegasco, a Division of Centerpoint Energy Resources Corp., a <br />Delaware Corporation, for Providing Gas Ener~oy Service within the City of <br />Ramsey, and Implementing an Electric Franchise Fee on Connexus Energy, a <br />Minnesota Cooperative, and the City of Anoka, a Municipal Electric <br />Distributor, for Providing Electric Ener~o3, Service within the City of Ramsey, <br />Minnesota <br /> <br />Mayor Gamec explained that the Council has been discussing' the implementation of a franchise <br />fee for some time. It has become apparent that the City really has no choice, but to implement a <br />franchise fee to offset the loss in Local Government Aid (LGA) and the inability of the City to <br />account for its growth. The Council feels very strongly that they will only have to implement the <br />fee for one year and the ordinance will include a sunset date. The City anticipates collecting <br />$404,000 in franchise fees that will go into the general fund and be used to help pay for services <br />provided to the citizens that would otherwise have to be cut. <br /> <br />Andre Champagne, 14721 Unicom Street NW, Ramsey, stated that he has worked for the city of <br />Fridley and currently works for Anoka County and has yet to see any government agency that <br />could not cut 5 to 10 percent of their budget. If the City does 'not implement the franchise fee <br />they would only be looking at a five percent cut in the budget; which he did not think was a lot to <br />ask of the City. The School District is trying to raise taxes, and so is the County. The tax <br /> <br />City Council/October 28, 2003 <br /> Page 5 of 17 <br /> <br />P23 <br /> <br /> <br />