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is one of the key factors in making a community work; the more involvement <br />there is, the more rounded city government will be; the key communicator is <br />one avenue for accomplishing community involvement. Councilmember DeLuca <br />agreed that the School District and the key communicator are two separate <br />issues. <br /> <br />Councilmember Pearson stated that election returns reflect that the <br />residents of Ramsey opposed the school district levy and that tells him <br />it would not be appropriate to increase the budget for a key communicator <br />pr ogram. <br /> <br />Councilmember Cox stated that one of the reasons for establishing Ramsey's <br />own police department was to promote communications with the residents; <br />life saving courses have been offered by that department and advertised in <br />the city newsletter; the response has been poor. The Police Department <br />already has a neighborhood crime watch program; the city spends $17,000 a <br />year on a monthly newsletter to advertise the facts to the public. <br />Councilmember Cox stated that the election and the key communicator program <br />are related. The school levy raised taxes for one business already paying <br />$60,000 a year by another $2300 and it is not appropriate for the city to <br />tax that business even more through municipal funds for a key communicator <br />program while that business is trying to survive and pay the taxes. <br />Councilmember Cox stated that he does like certain aspects of the community <br />education program which is a reflection on that programs director, Claudia <br />Dodge. Ramsey should urge as a community not receiving it's fair share, <br />that it be provided with capital improvements so children don't have to <br />bused out of the area for a program that is supposed to be a community <br />function. <br /> <br />Councilmember Sorteberg agreed with Councilmember DeLuca's comments. <br /> <br />Motion by Mayor Reimann and seconded by Councilmember Pearson directing <br />that the 1988 budget will include no program increases for Community <br />Education. <br /> <br />Further Discussion: Councilmember DeLuca stated that he feels Council is <br />making a mistake; that the public doesn't read the city newsletter; the <br />key communicator program activates individuals to personally relay <br />information to each of their respective neighborhoods; not establishing a <br />key communicator program is doing Ramsey a disservice. Tom Holton, <br />Community Education Area Manager, stated that Superintendent of Schools, <br />Lewis Finch, is willing to speak to Ramsey Council regarding the levy <br />referendum. Mr. Holton noted that community education is not directly <br />affected by referendum dollars; the referendum had to do with Fund #1, the <br />bulk of which is salaries; community education is derived from Fund #4. <br />Mr. Holton stated that community education works very closely with the <br />cities and it's not good to have cities feeling that the school board is <br />not doing a good job. Mayor Reimann extended an invitation to Mr. Finch <br />for the purpose of meeting with Ramsey City Council regarding the <br />referendum. Mayor Reimann noted that Anoka County is a depressed area and <br />the minimum residential property tax increase resulting from the referendum <br />will be $50.00. Mr. Holton stated he doesn't want Council thinking that <br />money is being spent frivolously on community education; it is being spent <br />City Council/October 20, 1987 <br /> <br />Page 4 of 8 <br /> <br /> <br />