Laserfiche WebLink
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br />Date: <br /> March 14, 2016 <br />Item No.: 8d <br />Department Approval City Manager Approval <br />Item Description: Joint Powers Agreement with Ramsey County for Election Voting System <br />B <br />ACKGROUND <br />1 <br />Ramsey County and the municipalities within the county jointly purchased election equipment in <br />2 <br />2002. Ramsey County took responsibility to coordinate the equipment purchase and to maintain <br />3 <br />the equipment. The equipment has greatly surpassed its ten-year life cycle. <br />4 <br />In 2011, Ramsey County established a task force with elections staff from Ramsey County and <br />5 <br />the cities of Maplewood, While Bear Lake, Shoreview and St. Anthony to review and test <br />6 <br />possible replacement election equipment. After reviewing numerous options and ensuring that <br />7 <br />8 <br />recommended the Hart Intervicic of Austin, TX for the purchase and use of a new voting system <br />9 <br />for deployment in 2016. <br />10 <br />PO <br />OLICY BJECTIVE <br />11 <br />By working together to purchase equipment, Ramsey County has been able to negotiate favorable <br />12 <br />pricing for new election equipment. <br />13 <br />By jointly owning the election equipment, voters in Ramsey County can be assured of efficient <br />14 <br />ballot preparation and the timely compilation of election results. The use of a uniform voting <br />15 <br />16 <br />understanding of the voting process and helps to provide equitable treatment of all voters, <br />17 <br />regardlessof the type of election. <br />18 <br />FI <br />INANCIAL MPACTS <br />19 <br />20 <br />or exceeded. The current election equipment has been in service since 2002, well past its ten-year <br />21 <br />life cycle. Thecurrent election equipment breaks down and requires more election day <br />22 <br />maintenance than is acceptable. <br />23 <br />new voting equipment is $70,280. This price is <br />24 <br />nearly identical to what the city spent in 2002 for election equipment. Money has been allocated <br />25 <br />in the capital budget to cover the costs. <br />26 <br />SR <br />TAFF ECOMMENDATION <br />27 <br />Consider the Joint Powers Agreement between Ramsey County and all of the municipalities <br />28 <br />within Ramsey County for new voting system acquisition and operation. <br />29 <br />Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br />