2015-05-06 P & R Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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FROM THE DIVISION MANAGER : This past weekend I was putting away a few suitcases and it got me thinking about the services offered in the Passport Centers in Anoka County I thought you might enjoy a quick history of passport application processing by the County The License Bureau took over the function of passport acceptance near the end of 1998 The process was previously done by Court Administration In 1999, the County accepted roughly 2500 passport transactions 2004 was a game changing year in the passport industry The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was passed by Congress The law required all travelers to show a valid passport or other approved secure document when traveling to the U S from areas within the Western Hemispheie. To further enhance security, in 2010 the U S Department of State-Passport Services implemented passport acceptance restrictions. Passports applications could no longer be processed in an office where first-time driver's license applications or birth records were processed As a result, the Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids, and Ham Lake License Centers were decommissioned as passport acceptance facilities In 2013, additional federal restrictions requiring complete physical separation of the passport offices resulted in the Ramsey license Center discontinuing passport acceptance Fortunately, the Blaine and Coon Rapids License Centers were built to include space that could be converted into passport centers They were also in strategic locations on the two main traffic corridors in Anoka County,- one in Blaine on Hwy 65 and one in Coon Rapids on Hwy 10. On November 1, 2013, in full compliance with U.S Department of State-Passport Services requirements, the Blaine Passport Center opened During peak times, demand exceeded ability to provide services As a result, the Parks and Community Services Committee discussed the feasibility of remodeling under-utilized space at the Coon Rapids License Center to allow for the opening of an additional passport center After careful examination, a decision was made to proceed The new office opened on October 23, 2014 Recently, both offices received a glowing review from the annual audit conducted by the Federal Acceptance Facility Inspector Comments stated that the offices demonstrate best practices, manage a well-organized appointment system, have high standards in employee development, and feature a well-designed office space Thanks to a great staff and solid leadership in the License Bureau, the County passport centers exceeded expectations in 2014 • Estimated applications 5,646, actual 7,856 • Estimated passport photos 3,702, actual 6,482 • Net County revenue projection $207,786 • Net actual passport revenue $313,076 • Total revenues exceeded 2014 budget by $105,290 1 am proud to be associated with the Anoka County License Bureau and Passport Services Office- They are innovative, efficient, and clearly have a vision for the future Until next time, I'll see you on the trail John VonDeLinde - 3 -