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�� � — <br />���---� � � � � <br />Date: OS/09/OS <br />Item: 9. <br />800 MHz Radio System &. <br />Consolidated 9-1-1 Dispatch Update <br />May 9,2005 <br />Item Description: <br />Consolidated 9-1-1 Dispatching Services in Ramsey County <br />L BACKGROUND <br />As part of the 800 MHz initiative, Ramsey County has been talking to St. Paul, White Bear <br />Lake, and Maplewood about operating one consolidated 911 dispatching center for Ramsey <br />County. It is a worthy idea. There are economies of scale. There is the avoidance of redun- <br />dancy. <br />However, St. Paul, White Bear Lake, and Maplewood have not been eager to consolidate. We <br />will never know all the reasons why. In part, it relatea to control issues. Each city wants to <br />control dispatching to meet its perceived special dispatching needs. <br />In addition, it is estimated that 70% of the 911 calls in Ramsey County are for police, fire, or <br />ems services in St. PauL Thus, St. Paul may feel that, � there is to be a consolidated dispatch- <br />ing center, St. Paul should operate that center not Ramsey County. <br />By its vote of 5-2, with Commissioners Wiessner and Rettman voting no, the Ramsey County <br />Board of Commissioners has authorized County Manager David Twa to negotiate service <br />agreements with all Ramsey County cities for consolidated Ramsey County dispatch services. <br />However, in its Resolution, the Ramsey County Board is saying that the operation of the con- <br />solidated dispatch center would be paid for with county property taxes, and that half of the <br />advisory board members for the consolidated dispatch center would be St. Paul elected offi- <br />cials. <br />Ramsey County asks all cities in Ramsey County to let them know by May 17 whether they are <br />interested in negotiating an agreement for dispatch services through the proposed Ramsey <br />County consolidated dispatch center. <br />II. ANALYSIS <br />A. In favor of participation. If the Ramsey County Board continues in its current direction, <br />Roseville property owners will be helping to pay for the cost of the consolidated dispatch cen- <br />ter through their county property taxes whether the City of Roseville chooses to contract for <br />dispatch services with Ramsey County or not. And � we choose not to contract with a con- <br />solidated Ramsey County dispatch center, arguably Roseville residents are "paying twice" for <br />dispatch services — once through their County property tax, and a second time through their <br />