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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 4 June 26, 2001 Page 3 I to be established was the Northeast Diagonal Corridor, which is still in the very beginning stages. 2 Ms.Wiessner announced that Ramsey County's Library system would be celebrating their 50'anniversary 3 this summer. She indicated that the will have a variety of special events to celebrate the occasions at the 4 different libraries. Ms.Wiessner stated that the Roseville Library was j ust sighted as the busiest library in 5 the state of Minnesota. 6 Ms.Wiessner reviewed the Economic Development portion of the packet. She mentioned the Housing 7 Endowment Fund which was created in 2000 to address the severe shortage of affordable housing 8 throughout the County. Ms.Wiessner indicated that it is a ten million dollar fund over the next five years. 9 She also touched on the wide variety of economic development that the County is involved with. 10 Ms.Wiessner indicated that the fastest growing portion oftheir budget is the Community Corrections. She 11 indicated that Ramsey County was starting to build a new Law Enforcement Center in downtown St.Paul 12 and stated the projected cost of construction cost is$45,700,000.She stated that the housing structure 13 would provide two hundred seventy six cells,many double-bunked for abed count of three hundred and 14 eighty two beds. 15 Ms.Wiessner stated that the Law Enforcement Center would house pretrial inmates presently held-at-the-- 16 Adult Detention Center and the Public Safety Building. She indicated that the plan was to close the existing 17 building,and find a better location for the new facility. Ms.Wiessner reviewed some statistics on the 18 Ramsey County Juvenile and Family Justice Center. She stated that,of the adult felony offenders in 1998, 19 only 27%had always lived in Ramsey County,which indicates the challenge they have. Ms.Wiessner 20 stated that her district rated the third highest in Offenses by District,which disturbs her. She added that 21 DUI is the greatest Offense in District 2, at 25.2%. 22 Ms. Wiessner asked the Council for any questions, or suggestions regarding her presentation. 23 Councilmember Hodson asked about the vacancies on the Workforce Investment Board. Ms.Wiessner 24 stated there were currently five openings and that she would send him an application. 25 Councilmember Sparks stated that,on a national level,crime is flat,yet the need for correctional facilities 26 is increasing in Minnesota. She asked how those two issues could be reconciled. Ms.Wiessner stated that 27 several things that can go into Councilmember Sparks'comments. She indicated that the more serious 28 crimes,such as homicides,are flat. She added that there has been a steady increase on DUI offenses,part 29 of which has to do with the legislature passing new laws to make penalties stiffer. Ms.Wiessner stated that 30 legislature has made the DUI offense a felony, rather than a misdemeanor. 31 Ms.Wiessner continued her response to Councilmember Sparks'comments by saying that, living in a 32 metro area,there are more people attracted to Minnesota from other states. She identified the low 33 Unemployment rate,State Fair,and State Capital as factors for Ramsey County. She added that Ramsey . 34 County has a much higher rate of homelessness,and that they have gone from a State Hospital model to