03-22-2006 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Costs — operating costs will be funded 60% on a countywide tax levy and 40% based on calls for service consistent with the compromise that was agreed to earlier by the County and cities. The only concern staff has with proposed agreement relates to the termination provisions. The agreement can be tei<<iinated with 12 months notice. Given the time it can take to establish viable dispatch options, this amount of time may not be enough. (Staff has raised this issue with the County Manager, but we have not seen any modifications as of yet.) The Countywide Public Safety Radio Communication Subsystem Subscriber Agreement is more technical in nature and deals with the use of the region -wide 800 MHz system; purchase, maintenance and repair of radios; and administrative and operation support of the subscriber radios. Again, the major concerns with this agreement are Paragraph 6.1 — Term of Agreement and Paragraph 6.2 Cancellation of Agreement by County. In Paragraph 6.1, the agreement can be cancelled after the initial 16 -year term with only 120 days notice. In Paragraph 6.2, the County can cancel the agreement after the initial term "for lack of funding to operate the Subsystem..." Staff has pointed out that the short notice provision coupled with the potential for a political play defined by "lack of funding" could put us at risk to have other options available in a timely fashion. Again, the County Manager indicated some revisions to clarify this issue are possible, but none have been received to date. (I will follow up prior to Wednesday's meeting as to the status of any revisions.) Based on the foregoing information, it is recommended that the Council approve the Joint Powers Agreement with Ramsey County for dispatch services and the Countywide Public Safety Radio Subsystem Subscriber Agreement, subject to resolution of the notice and cancellation provisions outline above. Staff also recommends that we nominate Mayor Blesener to serve as a suburban representative to the Dispatch Policy Committee with the understanding that the Sheriff's Department Contracting Jurisdictions reach consensus on the appointment and nominate one individual to represent our group. (This may need to be done by March 23`d.) -2