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<br />CASE # <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />CLANDESTINE LAB MATERIALS CLEANUP <br />By James Way, Police Chief <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />On March 25, 2007, the Ramsey Police Department responded to a call of remnants of a meth <br />lab "dumped" at the 15100 block of Puma Street in the City of Ramsey_ Officers arrived and <br />located what was found to be "Hazardous Materials" that had been discarded by unknown <br />persons. <br /> <br />A clean-up company from Fridley, West Central Environmental Consultants, responded to the <br />scene to gather up the materials for safe disposal. <br /> <br />Observation: <br /> <br />Ramsey City Code Section 5.17 covers clandestine drug labs. The code indicates that "the <br />property owner shall be responsible for all costs of vacation or clean-up of the site, including <br />contactors fees and public costs for services that were performed in association with a <br />Clandestine Drug Lab Site of chemical dump site clean-up". The location in this case is just out <br />of the public Right-of-Way onto private property and was obviously a "dump site" used by the <br />person(s) responsible to dispose of the meth byproduct. The landowner in this case: was not <br />responsible for the "dumped" materials and was simply unfortunate to have the items dumped on <br />his/her property. <br /> <br />In cases like this, if the City were to asses the cost of the clean-up back to the property owner, it <br />would discourage others from reporting "dumped" items. A property owner would be more <br />likely to remove or attempt to clean up hazardous materials, putting themselves and others at <br />risk, rather than being billed for the clean~up. <br /> <br />Funding Source: <br /> <br />Staff is recommending funding for the clean-up be taken from the Council Contingency Fund. <br /> <br />Staff Recommendation: <br /> <br />Staff recommends that the City cover the costs of the clean~up of the hazardous materials and_ <br />that Council adopt a resolution transferring money from the Council Contingency Fund to pay <br />for the clean-up. <br /> <br />Council Action: <br /> <br />Motion to adopt resolution #07-04-XXX, transferring $3,163.7& from the Council Contingency <br />Fund to the Police Budget of Professional Services to cover the cost of clean-up of a meth lab <br />dump site, <br /> <br />Reviewed by: <br /> <br />Police Chief <br />Interim City Administrator <br />Finance Officer <br /> <br />CC: 04/10/07 <br /> <br />-81- <br />