05-16-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. e e ~ ~HILLS MEMORANDUM DATE: AGENDA ITEM 2.1 May 5, 2005 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Michelle Wolfe, City Administrator SUBJECT: Consolidated Dispatch Center Last week I sent out some information that was distributed at a meeting regarding the consolidated dispatch center. I just received a letter from the City of Falcon Heights voicing concerns with the proposal that was approved by the County Board (attached). Today, I received a sample resolution from County Commissioner David Twa. I wanted an opportunity to share this information with you and discuss the direction the City of Arden Hills would like to take in regards to this issue. The City of Falcon Heights is concerned that the suburban taxpayers will be paying a larger share for dispatching services under the proposal approved by the County Board. Ramsey County is taking on the costs for operating the dispatch center over an eight-year time frame. The taxpayers will still be paying for these services, but will be paying through County taxes instead of City taxes. The City of Falcon Heights believes that a disproportionate share is being paid by suburban taxpayers vs. City of St. Paul taxpayers. Therefore, they offer an alternate resolution from that being proposed by the County. I am presenting this material to you as background. It may be helpful, if you have questions, to schedule another discussion and invite a County representative to attend and answer questions. Based on the information I have been provided, I believe that most of the concerns about a consolidated center have been addressed (such as service levels and back-up center capabilities). I think there are many advantages to this proposal. However, it will be a difficult transition in many ways and there are some answers that will not be known until we are one to two years into the consolidation. A primary concern has been that St. Paul's dispatch center is currently understaffed, and that the consolidation will result in either (1) decrease in response times or (2) the suburbs picking up the cost to add staff. Right now, County staff believes that consolidation will offer various efficiencies which result in being able to maintain the service levels currently experienced at the County Center, and possibly improve those levels, with staff from the various existing centers. They further believe that there may even be opportunities to eliminate some positions via attrition in the future. If that occurs, then I think the issue of SL Paul's staffing levels isn't as significant.