Agenda - Council Work Session - 06/10/2014

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CC Work Session 2. 1. Meeting Date: 06/10/2014 Title: Continue discussion of Shared Fire Services Information Purpose /Background: Background: October of 2011 the cities of Ramsey, Nowthen and St Francis met to discuss the feasibility of some form of Shared Fire Service. At the first meeting it was decided to open the discussions to Oak Grove and Bethel to look at regional effort. Resolutions were passed in October 2011 by each of the cities verbalizing the goals and purpose of the effort: • Provide basic city services in an efficient manner • Work cooperatively across community borders • Establish a Joint Fire Study Group to look at the feasibility of a Shared Fire Service Group. • The study group would report back to all communities by April 1, 2012 with a recommendation to the feasibility of the study A combined press release was created and released from all 5 communities on November 7, 2011 (Attached) Study group was made up from the following of each community: • Administrator • Elected Official • Fire Chief • Member of respective fire dept. It should be noted that the Study Group was formed as an advisory group to each respective council. When decisions at the Study Group level were made, the elected person and Administrator were the voting members of each community. On April 12, 2012 the Study Group made a presentation at Ramsey to all communities. The PowerPoint presentation summarized the Final Report that the Study Group had generated. (Attached are both PowerPoint and Final Report) Issues identified within the Final Report were: • Issues of Relief Associations • Allocation of existing capital and debt • Possible increase in budgets for some • Identity issues • Governance - People and Structure • Benefits to Firefighters • Perception of "Loss of Control" • Differing Levels of Service The Study Group recommendation was that there appeared to be opportunities for the greatest outcome for every tax dollar with some form of consolidation. The stated purpose of the group was find a way to provide the same or better fire related services at a good value to all tax payers; The Study Group recommended continuing to evaluate the feasibility of a shared service. On May 22, 2012 Ramsey council discussed case #7.04 and passed resolution #12 -05 -075 to continue efforts towards a shared fire service. (Resolution attached)