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MAYOR <br />Michael 1. Fahey <br />COUNCIL <br />Beverly Scalze <br />Jim LaValle <br />Steve Morelan <br />Bob Pedersen <br />515 Little Canada Road, Little Canada, MN 55117-1600 ADMINISTRATOR <br />(651) 484 -2177 / FAX: (651) 484 4538 Joel R. Hanson <br />Email: cityhall @ci.little- canada.mn.us <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Mayor Fahey & Members of the City Council <br />FROM: Joel Hanson, City Administrator <br />DATE: June 9, 2000 <br />RE: North Star Estates Evacuation Plan <br />Last fall, our Emergency Services Director, Don Smiley, recommended that North Star <br />Estates construct emergency shelters within their complex. This was due to discontinued <br />use of the Ramsey County Garages as an emergency shelter site. Meetings were held <br />with representatives of North Star Estates at which time they expressed interest in <br />pursuing the shelter construction option if the city was able to assist with some grant <br />funding. (I have talked with Ramsey County Community Development and they have <br />indicated a willingness to assist in this regard depending on the nature of the project.) <br />However, little progress has been made since our meeting late last year. (See <br />correspondence with John Bonner, their attorney.) <br />It is my opinion that we need to approve an interim evacuation plan for North Star Estates <br />in order to ensure compliance with state law. I would recommend that we authorize the <br />use of the Old Fire Hall as an emergency shelter for North Star Estates through March 31, <br />2001. This approval would be contingent upon a letter from North Star Estates indicating <br />a defined action plan to evaluate the construction of a shelter(s) within their park. This <br />work would need to be completed by August 1 in order to provide time for construction <br />yet this fall. <br />Council Member Morelan suggested the possibility of opening the shelter whenever a <br />"watch" is declared versus a "warning" to give residents more time before the storm is <br />upon them. (The theory is they will have a longer notice for a watch than for a warning.) <br />I discussed this with Don Smiley and he indicated it is a possibility. He would require <br />more efforts from the Fire Department and/or City Staff to make this accommodation. <br />Council Morelan also suggested charging North Star Estates for each time we open the <br />shelter. This may be an appropriate option to create an incentive to complete their study <br />of shelter plans within the park as will it reimburse us for the time and effort involved in <br />opening the Old Fire Hall. Subject to any comments from the City Attorney, I would <br />Page 88 <br />