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Information regarding the potential transition to a fire district <br />9/14/2023 <br />Notes <br />Question : :What staffing changes would be required for the fire district? <br />................................ ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................... <br />Answer None are anticipated due to a move to a fire district. :Opinion from UFD Admin <br />Question 8 How would moving to a fire district impact full-time and part-time firefighters day to day <br />.:operational roles? <br />................................ ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................... <br />Answer :No changes are anticipated in the day to day operational roles. :Opinion from UFD Admin <br />Question 9 :Will the fire district be able to continue to send its part-time firefighters to the Lake Johanna <br />:Firefighters Relieve Association for pensions? <br />............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ <br />Answer I Yes :Opinion from attorney Erich Hartmann <br />Question 10 ::What happens to the fire department owned equipment and station? <br />................................ . ..................................................................................................................................................................................... ........................................................................ Answer ;:All fire department equipment and St. 120 would become property of the fire district. Opinion from UFD Admin <br />Question 11 ::How would the Pine Tree property be transitioned to the fire district? <br />........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... <br />Answer ::The property must be transitioned to the JPA or to the Fire District in order to utilize state ::Opinion from UFD Admin <br />:funds ($6.37M). <br />Question 12 How would the tax line item be listed on a property tax statement? <br />.............. ................. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................... <br />Answer ::The tax line item would be listed on the tax statement under "Special taxing districts" Ramsey County Property Tax Division <br />Question 13 Who would vote to approve a fire district levy amount? <br />.............. ................. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................... <br />Answer ::The Fire District Board of Directors. ::Minn. Stat. § 144F.01 <br />Question 14 What would be the governance structure of the fire district board? <br />.............. ................. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................... <br />Answer ::Each participating political subdivision's representative must be an elected member of the :Minn. Stat. § 144F.01 <br />:governing body of the political subdivision and shall serve at the pleasure of that participant's ::Opinion from UFD Admin <br />::governing body. The bylaws would determine the specifics such as number and allocation of <br />:board members. <br />Question 15 ::What is the budget impact to cities with a weighted levy compared to a tax capacity levy? <br />Answer :Current Formula (2023): ::Brad Martens <br />:Arden Hills: 24.9% of budget Ramsey County <br />:North Oaks: 14.4% fo budget <br />::Shoreview: 60.7% of budget <br />Tax Capacity (2023): <br />Arden Hills: 22.2% of budget <br />North Oaks: 22.5% of budget <br />Shoreview: 55.3% of budget <br />Question 16 : :What are the alternatives to a fire district? <br />................................ ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................................................................................... <br />Answer I Remain as we are. Transition to a single city department that could contract with others for ::Opinion from UFD Admin <br />:service. <br />Question 17 ::Are any of the cities interested in taking over the fire department? <br />................................ ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................... <br />Answer ::Arden Hills - <br />Answer North Oaks - <br />Answer :Shoreview - Board members Denkinger and Martens are not in favor of the City of Shoreview <br />:taking over the fire department. <br />jestion 18 ::Do two-thirds of the firefighters need to approve the change to a fire district model? <br />........................ ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................... <br />Answer I No. The active members will need to approve the dissolution of the Corporation, but not ::Opinion from attorney Erich Hartmann <br />lby a two-thirds vote. A quorum for member meetings is one-third of the active members. <br />:(Bylaws § 8.9.) Member approvals require the affirmative vote of a majority of the active <br />:members present at a meeting at which a quorum has been established. (Minn. Stat. § <br />::317A.443, Subd. 1.) <br />Question 19 : :What is the urgency for discussing this topic now? <br />................................ : ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................... <br />