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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 6, 2021 3 hiring additional deputies for the State Fair. This would mean that in 2023 Falcon Heights would have to find new police services. City Administrator Perrault discussed how State Fair policing could affect the Sheriff's contract with Falcon Heights, and the possible ripple effect of Falcon Heights not being part of the contract cities anymore. Councilmember Holmes asked for clarification about the articles published in the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press. City Administrator Perrault stated that a story was released a couple of hours before this Council meeting about the State Fair hiring a Police Chief. He indicated that this person happened to be a Ramsey County Sheriff Commander, but would be performing the State Fair Police Chief duties separately from the RCSO and on his own time, so there would be no affiliation between the State Fair and Ramsey County. He went on to explain how the State Fair police coverage generally functions each year. City Administrator Perrault noted there was no mention of this letter from the contract cities in the newspaper articles, even though the letter is public. He also noted the cities of Shoreview and Little Canada have already signed the letter and that the additional contract cities were expected to sign it within the coming days. He said the letter effectively requests that the Ramsey County Board reconsider its decision and that they provide police coverage to the State Fair due to the financial impact to the contract cities. A discussion ensued regarding the letter from the contract cities and the charts contained therein. Mayor Grant commented that this could be a snowball that rolls downhill and the contract cities may decide that they need to do something different. Councilmember Holden stated that on top of the current upcoming 2.5% increase from the Sheriffs Department and considering this additional possible increase for Arden Hills of 4.5%, the City could be looking at a total increase of nearly 8%. Councilmember Holmes asked why Ramsey County does not want its Sheriffs Department to police the State Fair. City Administrator Perrault stated that politics and liability could possibly be the main reasons for the County's decision. A discussion ensued about the articles published by the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press. A discussion ensued regarding a Ramsey County Sheriff's employee also serving as the State Fair Police Chief and the function of police coverage at the State Fair in general. The background regarding police services at the State Fair was further discussed, noting that Ramsey County provided police service at the State Fair in 2021, that there was no State Fair held in 2020, and in 2019 and in prior years, the State Fair had its own police department.