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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, December 17, 2007 Page 3 Ramsey County Commissioner Jan Parker provided a brief review of various happenings at the Council level, and distributed a packet of materials for later re- view by the City Council and those attending from the public. Commissioner Parker discussed the County's budgeting process, and proposed 2008 levy; impacts of ongoing funding reductions and unfunded mandates by the state and federal government, representing 85 - 90% of the County budget; other County services (i.e., road maintenance, senior citizen home-delivered meals, li- brary services, and the public safety and justice budget, including probation offi- cers, jail, post-probationary services, as well as housing the judicial system, county attorney and sheriff). Commissioner Parker noted her ongoing frustration with the continuing increases in the public safety sector; and noted a new initia- tive to address those issues, through the Ramsey County Juvenile Detention Al- ternatives Initiative and Disproportionate Minority Confinement (JDAI/DMC) program, spearheaded by Judge Bastian, to look at alternatives to divert youth from a life of crime, since current programs are apparently ineffective. Commissioner Parker introduced Judge Gary Bastian, and a former Mayor of Ma- plewood, who brought greetings from the twenty-nine (29) judges in Ramsey County. Judge Bastian reviewed the proposed initiative; education and family re- lated issues impacting juvenile delinquency, and efforts to move them out of the justice system. Discussion included the Hammergren Warning (SP?) mandating school atten- dance by court order of facing contempt of court charges; ways to assist youth more positively through the process; and related services to enhance school atten- dance and interest; work of the justice system with suburban school districts and collaborative efforts (i.e., transportation, family issues, mental health services, etc.); changing demographics of the State of Minnesota and minority population; Northwest Youth and Family Services (NYFS) provision of diversion services; and ways for the City Council to support the initiative. Judge Bastian advised that the City Council and community could continue to support their public safety officers on the street, and their partnership with the County Sheriff's office. Judge Bastian also noted that the City's park and youth programming served to keep youth busy and involved, and encouraged the City's continued support of that programming. Mayor Klausing, on behalf of the City Council, staff and citizens, thanked Judge Bastian and Commissioner Parker for their informative presentations. 6. Approve Minutes a. Approve Minutes of 12/03/07 Regular Meeting Kough moved, Klausing seconded, approval of the minutes of the December 03, 2007 Truth-in-Taxation and Regular Meeting as amended.