Agenda - Council - 08/13/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ramsey, Nowthen, St. Francis, Oak Grove, and Bethel, Minnesota Feasibility Study for Shared or Cooperative Fire and Emergency Services Conduct Vision Session(s) with Policyrnakers The initial stage of implementation begins with the most elementary decision: "Do we want to move forward or not?" It is extremely important that, at this stage of the process, it is clearly recognized that this is a public policy decision on the part of the governing entities involved. A decision to consider altering the way in which a critical public safety service is provided, in some cases even permanently altering the governance of those services, is clearly in the purview of the elected bodies. While senior management input should be considered, the final decision should not rest at any level lower in the organization than those who are elected to represent the customers. For this reason, it is recommended that the elected representatives meet together for the initial discussion of the feasibility study and its projected operational and fiscal outcomes. Depending on the number of elected officials, the policymakers can decide whether to include all elected officials or a representative group assigned to represent each governing entity_ During this policy stage, involvement by additional staff should be kept to a minimum, perhaps at the senior management level, and then for the sole purpose of providing technical support. It is important to limit the ability for the process to be "hijacked" at this point by strenuous arguments for or against the idea from those operations level personnel whose opinions may be influenced by turf, power, or control issues. Stakeholder input is important, but plentiful opportunity can be provided for this once the policy bodies have determined what is in the best interest of their citizens as a matter of public policy. It is equally important that the policy bodies recognize exactly what decision is being considered in the initial vision meetings. The purpose is to weigh the strategies, operational advantages, fiscal outcomes, and potential impediments of the feasibility to determine whether to commit local resources to move the process forward. The decision is not, at this point, a final decision to "flip the switch". The final commitment to take legal actions necessary to finalize implementation of any given strategy will come much further into the process. This initial vision meeting can be likened to the court process known as a probable cause hearing. The purpose of such a hearing is for a judge or grand jury to determine if sufficient evidence exists to warrant an arrest and a trial. The probable cause hearing does not determine the final verdict or sentence. That occurs after the much more thorough process and deliberation of the trial. Likewise, the vision meetings are for the policymakers to judge whether sufficient evidence exists to warrant moving forward. The final verdict on whether to take legal or contractual actions to implement will come after page 124 i Erne rSency Services Consu7nng