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The Ramsey City Council conducted a City Council Work Session on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at <br />the Ramsey Municipal Center, 7550 Sunwood Drive NW, Ramsey, Minnesota. <br />Members Present: <br />Also Present: <br />CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />CITY OF RAMSEY <br />ANOKA COUNTY <br />STATE OF MINNESOTA <br />Mayor Sarah Strommen <br />Councilmember Randy Backous <br />Councilmember Mark Kuzma <br />Councilmember John LeTourneau <br />Councilmember Chris Riley <br />Councilmember Jason Tossey (arrived at 6:06 p.m.) <br />City Administrator Kurds Ulrich <br />Police Chief James Way <br />Police Captain Jeff Katers <br />Development Services Manager Timothy Gladhill <br />Assistant to the City Administrator Patrick Brama <br />1. CALL TO ORDER <br />Mayor Strommen called the City Council Work Session to order at 5:47 p.m. <br />2. TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION <br />2.01: Interview Law Firms for City of Ramsey Legal Services <br />City Administrator Ulrich reviewed the staff report, noting it is the City's policy to review <br />outside professional contracts on a three- to five -year basis. The current City Attorney contract <br />for civil and criminal /prosecution legal services has been in place for three years and runs until <br />July 1 but can be extended indefinitely under a 30 -day termination provision, if desired. City <br />Administrator Ulrich advised that 14 firms submitted proposals either combined civil and <br />criminal, or civil, or criminal services only. It was noted that a staff panel reviewed all of the <br />applications and selected seven firms to interview this evening. Of the seven, three propose <br />combining civil and criminal, two are civil only, and two are prosecution only. City <br />Administrator Ulrich reviewed the City's legal billing costs for the last three years and explained <br />the schedule for tonight's interviews. He stated it is staff preference to use a combined (civil and <br />criminal) legal firm so there is not overlapping activity. City Administrator Ulrich asked the <br />Council what it preferred from a legal firm, noting a relationship between the Council and City <br />Attorney is important. On the prosecuting side, he noted an attorney with a good level of <br />negotiation is important in prosecuting police cases. <br />Police Chief Way concurred and stated an important consideration is that they have a good <br />reputation with handling legal cases. <br />City Council Work Session / May 7, 2013 <br />Page 1 of 23 <br />