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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 26, 2001 Page 3 1 anniversary this summer. She indicated that the will have a variety of special events to celebrate the 2 occasions at the different libraries. Ms. Wiessner stated that the Roseville Library was just sighted 3 as the busiest library in the state of Minnesota. 4 Ms. Wiessner reviewed the Economic Development portion of the packet. She mentioned the 5 Housing Endowment-Fund which was created in 2000 to address the severe shortage of affordable 6 housing throughout the County. Ms. Wiessner indicated that it is a ten million dollar fund over the 7 next five years. She also touched on the wide variety of economic development that the County is 8 involved with. 9 Ms. Wiessner indicated that the fastest growing portion of their budget is the Community 10 Corrections. She indicated that Ramsey County was starting to build a new Law Enforcement 11 Center in downtown St. Paul and stated the projected cost of construction cost is$45,700,000. She 12 stated that the housing structure would provide two hundred seventy six cells,many double-bunked 13 for a bed count of three hundred and eighty two beds. 14 Ms. Wiessner stated that the Law Enforcement Center would house pretrial inmates presently held 15 at the Adult Detention Center and the Public Safety Building. She indicated that the plan was to 16 close the existing building, and find a better location for the new facility. Ms. Wiessner reviewed 17 some statistics on the Ramsey County Juvenile and Family Justice Center. She stated that, of the 18 adult felony offenders in 1998, only 27% had always lived in Ramsey County, which indicates the 19 challenge they have. Ms. Wiessner stated that her district rated the third highest in Offenses by 20 District, which disturbs her. She added that DUI is the greatest Offense in District 2, at 25.2%. 21 Ms. Wiessner asked the Council for any questions, or suggestions regarding her presentation. 22 Councilmember Hodson asked about the vacancies on the Workforce Investment Board: Ms. 23 Wiessner stated there were currently five openings and that she would send him an application. 24 Councilmember Sparks stated that, on a national level, crime is flat, yet the need for correctional 25 facilities is increasing in Minnesota. She asked how those two issues could be reconciled. Ms. 26 Wiessner stated that several things that can go into Councilmember Sparks' comments. She 27 indicated that the more serious crimes, such as homicides, are flat. She added that there has been 28 a steady increase on DUI offenses,part of which has to do with the legislature passing new laws to 29 make penalties stiffer. Ms. Wiessner stated that legislature has made the DUI offense a felony, 30 rather than a misdemeanor. 31 Ms. Wiessner continued her response to Councilmember Sparks' comments by saying that living 32 in a metro area, there are more people attracted to Minnesota from other states. She identified the 33 low Unemployment rate,State Fair,and State Capital as factors for Ramsey County. She added that 34 Ramsey County has a much higher rate of homelessness, and that they have gone from a State 35 Hospital model to a Jail Model. 36 Mayor Cavanaugh complimented Ms. Wiessner on the Silver Lake Road Project. He also 37 commented on the rumored closing of the library in Arden Hills. Ms. Wiessner stated that there is