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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />AUGUST 14, 1996 <br />Sheriff's Department is working with management at <br />apartment complexes to keep problems from transplanting <br />themselves in Little Canada. Fletcher reported that <br />there is an expected 30% increase in births over the <br />next few years. Also expected is a shortage of low <br />income housing in the inner cities. Because of these <br />factors and with the transplantation of environmental <br />issues to the suburbs, it is expected that gang <br />activity will become an issue in the next 10 years. <br />Fletcher suggested that the short term solutions are <br />strong suppression and the standards the community <br />sets. People such as apartment managers, VIPS, and <br />residents can respond to community standards by <br />removing graffiti, not tolerating misbehavior, etc. <br />The long-term solution is prevention, working with <br />children, providing positive things for them to do. <br />Fletcher felt the two critical age brackets were ages 7 <br />to 12 and 12 to 15. Fletcher reported that the suburbs <br />have a large group of children reaching the crime-prone <br />years. These children need to be occupied and <br />supervised by adults. Lack of supervision is at the <br />core of the problem. <br />LaValle asked about the merging of the City of St. <br />Paul's and Ramsey County's radio services. <br />Fletcher replied that several options are being <br />explored. The only option which would increase quality <br />of service and result in a reduction of cost would be <br />for the Sheriff's Department to provide radio services. <br />The reason for this is that the Sheriff's Department <br />has top-notch employees and lower salaries. There <br />would also be a reduction in the number of employees <br />from 69 to 64. Cost to St. Paul would be on a user fee <br />basis. Estimated savings to St. Paul would be <br />$700,000. Fletcher indicated, however, that he would <br />expect no action on this matter. <br />LaValle suggested the Rice Street corridor car be <br />marked in a manner to distinguish it from the other <br />patrol cars. <br />Shanley reported that the Rice Street car is #969, and <br />this is the only distinguishing feature on the car. <br />Fahey felt it was not necessary to distinguish this car <br />from the rest. <br />Morelan reported it was his understanding that there <br />are a significant number of auto-related problems in <br />7 <br />