Agenda - Council Work Session - 06/10/2014

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Later in 2012 the 5 communities applied and were successful at receiving a grant to hire a consultant to further research a consolidation. The consultants (ESCI) Feasibility Study was received and a presentation was made on June 26, 2013 at Ramsey to the 5 communities (Study Attached) The conclusion of the study is lengthy but the opening statement contains the following statement: "Several of the study departments currently share certain services and work homogenously while all of the study departments benefit from mutual aid response from one another. Expanding the existing spirit of cooperation to gain even more efficiencies is the next logical step." On August 13, 2013, the Ramsey council discussed case #7.01 and passed resolution #13 -08 -133 to continue efforts towards a shared fire service. Since then the Study Group has continued to meet. It has identified the following issues that have also been noted in the Study Groups Final Report and are noted in the ESCI Feasibility Study. It was the Study Groups decision to focus on the following: • Develop a proposed draft Cost Share Model that is equitable for each community (See attached - note this is subject to revisions (per the footnotes on the document) that address the need to apportion administrative expenses) • Work towards a draft JPA that would address Governance details • Look at a plan that would bring all three Relief benefits up to the level of the highest group. The Administrator's group met outside the Study group and generated a proposed draft Cost Share Model for discussion. Within the Study Group, the consensus was that outside expertise was needed to generate a draft JPA and create a plan to bring the Relief Associations up to the highest group's level. Quotes were received for both endeavors. In May 2014 the cities of Nowthen, St Francis and Bethel all passed resolutions to hire two consultants to address the JPA and Relief issues. Ramsey Council, after discussion tabled the case. At the May 21, 2014 Study Group meeting, it was the consensus of the group to only pursue work on the JPA at this time, and address the Relief Association issues afterward when, and if, a consensus is developed on the governance structure of a new organization. The question has been raised why these four communities are the only ones being considered? Why not Elk River, Anoka - Champlin, or Andover? Each of these cities have well- developed fire departments, are in close proximity, and serve as an important part of our current mutual aid network. Each of the three other cities currently being considered (Nowthen, St. Francis, and Bethel) do not have full -time professional administrative staff. Therefore, the combination of these cities does not result in a duplication of staff, but instead shares an existing administrative expense among a larger group. In addition, Nowthen and St. Francis probably offer a suitable geographically- contiguous fire service area opportunity, based upon a close working relationship, existing agreements /JPA, and the fact that each of the communities are willing participants in such a discussion. Consequently, the Joint Fire Service Study Group started with this group of cities (less the City of Oak Grove, which dropped out after Phase 1 of the study) and did analysis of that group, without considering the other combination of cities, but being open to expanding the service area at any time. A prerequisite of that discussion would be the other cities interest in such a joint service analysis. Historically, Ramsey started out under contract with Anoka - Champlin Fire Department, and about 25 years ago decided to go out on their own. At the time, Oak Grove and Nowthen (aka, Burns Township) were also under contract with Anoka - Champlin for fire service. Neither Anoka - Champlin and Andover came forward to suggest being part of the study, and even though the study was widely known and publicized, no formal request for participation was tendered to these organizations. Both St. Francis and Nowthen are generally self - reliant with manpower and equipment, therefore, the distance /time