Minutes - Council - 05/13/2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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be other savings, such as with training. He agreed with the point made by Mayor Pro Tem Backous that Ramsey is being asked to pay to calculate the retirement benefit for firefighters from other communities. Councilmember Tossey stated he is skeptical and also thought the ESCI report showed this should be over, yet it continues. He stated he cannot support this request. The Council expressed support for shared services and resources in an effort to reduce costs of government for everybody. However, Ramsey already has a great Fire Department that runs well. Councilmember LeTourneau stated he is influenced and would like to gather more information so he can determine if there is common ground that can be moved forward. He noted this process has not come to conclusion and the process of discovery is continuing. Councilmember LeTourneau stated an investment has already been made so he is uncomfortable with abandoning it at this point. He asked whether a consideration is to only do the JPA study and not do the retirement benefit study. Mayor Pro Tem Backous stated he would prefer the other communities pay for their own retirement benefit study and he could not support the resolution, as drafted, because of the high costs Ramsey is expected to cover. He also supported splitting the JPA study evenly between the communities. Councilmember Kuzma stated a lot of effort has gone into this and agreed that spending additional money to fund a benefit study for another community is not fair to the residents of Ramsey. He supported removing that portion of the cost and continuing with the JPA study. Councilmember Tossey felt that at a certain point, you have to cut your losses and that is especially true with governance to assure it is cost effective. Councilmember LeTourneau stated this has been a strategic process with costs and challenges being anticipated. He stated exit points have not yet been designed and the Council had supported continuing the process up to this point. Fire Chief Kapler suggested tabling consideration to allow time for staff to research the option of continuing only the JPA tract. With regard to exit points, he noted that when the final report was done, the Council decided to keep going, and when the feasibility report was completed, the Council again decided to keep going. Mayor Pro Tem Backous stated until he is convinced that this will reduce the cost of government in Ramsey, he sees no point in moving forward. Councilmember LeTourneau suggested that be part of the direction given so the Council can consider that answer when determining whether to proceed with the JPA. City Council / May 13, 2014 Page 9 of 12