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II. Background <br />The Ramsey County Home Rule Charter was adopted by the voters of <br />Ramsey County in 1990 and became effective November 30, 1992. <br />The Charter was drafted with the intent to "make County <br />government more visible and responsive to residents of the <br />County and to provide ways to make County government <br />more flexible and efficient in addressing the needs of <br />County residents. "4 The guiding principle of the drafters was to <br />have local County decisions made by local people in a participatory <br />process. The same principle guides this planning process. <br />Under the Charter, the Ramsey County Board, "in addition to its <br />other powers and duties, assumes the responsibility for the <br />county wide coordination of operational services and <br />strategic planning. "5 The Ramsey County Charter Commission <br />drafted Chapter 6 with the intention of having the County "act as a <br />facilitator or coordinator, bringing together local units of <br />government to discuss what services should be provided <br />and by whom ".6 This system would increase the amount of actual <br />input the local units of government would have into County planning <br />activities and build in the flexibility and efficiency of continuing to <br />update the systems so that they reflect the current needs of the <br />population. The charter is intended to improve the delivery of <br />services to all residents through a public partnership of coordination, <br />cooperation and planning. <br />The Ramsey County Board's responsibility is to "establish a plan <br />which would set forth the County board's policy regarding <br />the coordination of service delivery with other units of <br />government, including specific recommendations regarding <br />service and policy areas listed in Chapter 6 of the Charter. "~ <br />The development of the Ramsey County Board's vision and policy of <br />cooperation in each service and policy area is intended to be <br />completed in Phase I of the planning process. The shared service <br />visions created by planning participants will guide the policy <br />presented to and adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. <br />Operational plans to accomplish the visions developed and approved <br />in Phase I will require a much broader process of continued <br />cooperation between the County, municipalities, other units of <br />6 <br />Page 23 <br />