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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />JUNE 10, 1996 <br />of seven members. At their June 5th meeting, the <br />Council voted to defer action for several weeks so they <br />could have more time to consider the issue. <br />Thomas reported that the City of St. Paul has a strong <br />Mayor's form of City government. The merger was the <br />Mayor's initiative, and the Ramsey County Board has <br />been left out. Likewise, the St. Paul City Council has <br />not been able to discuss the merger as a group. <br />Thomas asked for the Council's guidance and input on <br />how they feel about the merger. Thomas referred to <br />documents she submitted which shows that of the <br />County's $17 million public health budqet, $10.3 <br />million is spent in the City of St. Paul, and $5.8 <br />million in the suburban communities. Of that $5.8 <br />million, $4 million is for waste management and not <br />costs normally associated as a public health function. <br />Thomas reported that Appendix C in the proposal shows <br />that in the combination of St. Paul's public health <br />budget of $10 million and the County's of $17 million, <br />the only cost savings would be the vacancy created by <br />the departure of the City's public health director. <br />Therefore, out of a$27 million budget, the savings <br />will be about $100,000. The merger proposal maintains <br />both the County and City agencies as separate entities <br />and provides for contracting of public health employees <br />between the two agencies. The agreement says that <br />nothing contained in this agreement should be intended <br />or construed that employees will be considered as <br />employees of the other agency. The agreement conveys <br />the City's building on Cedar Street to the County. The <br />agency will remain, there will be no loss of <br />employment, and the building will continue to be used <br />by the public health agency. The building is conveyed <br />as long as the JPA is in effect. If the JPA is <br />terminated, the building goes back to the city. <br />Maintenance of the building will become a County <br />responsibility. <br />Thomas reported that the JPA will be overseen by a 21 <br />member joint advisory committee. It is proposed that <br />13 members will represent the City of St. Paul, the <br />remaining 8 to be appointed by the County Board. <br />Thomas again pointed out that 4 Commissioners represent <br />the City of St. Paul. Therefore, suburban communities <br />have no guarantee of representation on this committee. <br />Thomas pointed out that the JPA preserves all the <br />City's public health jobs, which will be vacated only <br />7 <br />