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<br />Council Business. continued <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />City Manager David Childs said the issue of consolidation and <br />collaboration has received wide attention by the Legislature as a result of <br />the State's budget shortfall. Recently, the Ramsey County Services Study <br />Bill was introduced which pertains to the creation of a commission to <br />study the consolidation of certain services provided by St. Paul, Ramsey <br />County and the suburban municipalities. The proposed commission would <br />represent members from the suburban cities, St. Paul and Ramsey County. <br />Also, the Ramsey County Charter Commission and the Ramsey League of <br />local Governments (RCllG) have offered to investigate the issue. <br /> <br />At the April 9 Council meeting, Council requested Childs to draft a <br />resolution opposing the formation of a committee to study collaboration <br />issues. The draft resolution recommends instead that the RCLLG address <br />the issue of collaboration. <br /> <br />Benke said the idea of separate groups providing information and staff <br />time to study this issue would be tremendous. He supports the/resolution <br />promoting the RClLG as the vehicle for continuing the County~wide <br />discussions. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Williams noted a previous effort to merge the Ramsey County and St. Paul <br />Health Departments which encountered opposition by employees and any <br />attempts to merge were scuttled. Williams proposed to the RCLlG Board <br />the development of a vehicle to endorse the use of an existing <br />organization, such as the RCllG or the Ramsey County Charter <br />Commission, to study the issue. This vehicle would allow local <br />governments to work together without legislative interference. He will <br />work informally with City Administrators and Managers, and Terry <br />Schutten, Ramsey County, to create such a vehicle. Williams feels a <br />merger is possible only if it was approached in an open way so that people <br />view it as voluntary and not a binding procedure. <br /> <br />Benke suggested combining Williams' proposal with the resolution and <br />forwarding it to the County Board, municipalities, and Legislators. <br /> <br />Williams feels if the RClLG undertook the project, some restructuring <br />would be needed to provide the staff to research the issue. <br /> <br />Benke aCknowledged that whomever performs the study, additional staff <br />resources would be needed. The RCLLG is the most efficient organization <br />to perform the study, but support is needed from the cities to provide a <br />trust factor which is important for the success of the study. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Motion by Williams, seconded by Larson. to WAIVE THE READING AND <br />ADOPT THE RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE FORMATION OF A NEW <br />COMMITTEE TO STUDY lOCAL GOVERNMENT COOPERATION AND <br />COLLABORATION ISSUES AND FORWARD THE RESOLUTION TO <br />lEGISLATORS: AND DIRECT STAFF AND COUNCILMEMBER WILLIAMS <br />TO PURSUE THE ALTERNATIVE STUDY PROCESS. <br /> <br />3 Ayes - 0 Nayes, Motion Carried. <br /> <br />Council Business <br /> <br />Ramsey County <br />Local Government <br />Study Bill <br />Report 91-101 <br />Resolution 91-043 <br />