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<br /> <br />ClTY OF <br /> <br />FALCON HEIGHTS <br /> <br />2077 W. Larpenteur Avenue <br />Falcon Heights, MN 55113-5594 <br /> <br />email: mail@ci.falcoll-heights.mn.us <br />website: www.ci.falcon-heights.mn.us <br /> <br />Phone - (651) 792-7600 <br />Fax. (651) 792-7610 <br /> <br />RECEwe,,", <br />MAY - 9 2005 <br /> <br />May 6, 2005 <br /> <br />Michelle Wolfe <br />City of Arden Hills <br />1245 West Highway 96 <br />Arden Hills, MN 55112-5794 <br /> <br />CITY OF ARDEN HillS <br /> <br />Dear Michelle: <br /> <br />On Tuesday, April 26, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution that authorizes the shift of costs <br />for 911 dispatching to the County property tax levy, under a consolidated approach to dispatching services. Voting in <br />favor of the resolution were Commissioners Bennett, Carter, McDonough, Ortega, and Reinhardt. Voting against the <br />resolution were Commissioners Rettman and Wiessner. The resolution directs each community to, in turn, adopt a <br />resolution "opting in" to the consolidated services, and designate someone to negotiate on behalf of their city. <br /> <br />The formula adopted allocates 100% of the dispatching costs to the countywide property tax base, despite the fact that <br />.&~y 70% of all call volume inthe county comes from the City of Saint Paul. For Falcon Heights, this change will mean <br />Wlcrease of more than 350% in dispatch costs for our taxpayers, <br /> <br />The City of Falcon Heights is on record in support of consolidated dispatch; however, we feel strongly that the cost <br />allocation formula, and shift of dispatching costs to the suburban communities under that formula, is inequitable. <br />Therefore, we are requesting that each city examine the data we are including with this letter, along with a draft <br />resolution, and consider adopting a similar resolution as requested by the County. <br /> <br />While we concede that the suburban communities will ultimately end up paying a higher percentage of the overall <br />dispatch costs, the determination of those costs should be more equitable, and partially based on actual usage of91 I <br />dispatch services, not just a community's property tax base. <br /> <br />Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />0-M{ ~_ <br /> <br />Sue Gehrz <br />Mayor <br />651/641-1229 <br />sgehrz@comcastnet <br /> <br />~i7fV{7t/ Pnt~1f4'~ <br /> <br />Heather Worthington <br />City Administrator <br />651/792-761 I <br />hworthirigton@ci.falcon-heights.mn.us <br /> <br />C: Ramsey County 130ard of Commissioners <br />.DaVid Twa, County Manager <br /> <br />HOME OF THE MINNESOTA STATE FAIR AND THE U OF M INSTITUTE OF AGRICUL~URE <br /> <br />00. <br />160 <br /> <br />PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER <br />