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• _- RAMSEY COUMY Office of the County Manager Paul L. Kirkwold, County Manager 250 Court House 15 West Kellogg Boulevard St. Paul, MN 55102-1614 JUN 3 0 2003 Tel: s51-2sssooo Fax: 651-266.8439 e-mail: www.co.ramsey.mn.us June 27, 2003 Mayor Sue Gehrz Heather Worthington, City Administrator City of Falcon Heights 2077-West Larpenteur Avenue Falcon Heights, MN 55113 SUBJECT: Public Safety Communications/800 MHZ I am writing to you about the Metropolitan Radio Board's Metropolitan Public Safety Communication System (800 MHZ) and several funding possibilities currently available that can assist us with our.participation in this communication system. As you know, the Metropolitan Public Safety Communication System and the Radio Board were • initiated in :ate law with a~charge to develop a seamless communication system among all participating agencies/local units of government - an interoperable system. Phase 1 is nearly completed, and now Phase 2 (development and funding] is beginning. VVe have r,~en toil by officials from the Radio Board that developing a Ramsey County subsystem is a priority for them during Phase 2. The remainder of this letter outlines steps and timeframes developed by the Radio Board and the State Department of Public Safety governing applications for participation in Phase 2. The Radio Board and related 800 MHz funding programs give counties a critical role in planning and developing the statewide system. Under Minnesota law, counties are required to develop county-wide 800 MHz technical and financial plans, and counties must approve all plans and grant applications prepared by any entity located within it. Attachment 1 is material provided by the Radio Board that further explains background and the current situation. It is Ramsey County's intent to work closely with municipalities within the County to design a system that reflects our community/county-wide needs, and to aggressively seek non-local property tax funds for the project. We realize that securing these types of funds is critical because they reduce the amount of local funds needed to build a system, making it possible for us to proceed with this mutually beneficial and important program. The Metropolitan Radio Board and Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services have just announced financial incentives to local government participation in the Public Safety Communication system. Initial applications are due July 24, 2003. (See Attachment 1 for specifics on this timeframe.) • At this time, Ramsey County is requesting support from the City of Falcon Heights to assist us in responding to these recently-announced funding opportunities for Phase 2 development Minnesota's First Home Bale County printed on recyeled paper with a minimum of lOX poet-consumer content