Administration-Brian Podany, Safety Services Director/Police Chief
Title
Title
Resolution in Support of Anoka County Joint Law Enforcement Council’s Renewal of Legislation for Future Public Safety Projects
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Executive Summary
The Anoka County Public Safety Levy statute is set to expire in 2023. There has been discussion and interest in lobbying the State of Minnesota to continue the Public Safety Levy to 2033. Staff is requesting support from the Council via a resolution of support.
Background
The City of Blaine is part of the Anoka County Joint Law Enforcement Council (JLEC). The JLEC is a group comprised of elected officials and chief law enforcement officers from across Anoka County. Currently Mayor Sanders and Chief Podany are both on the JLEC.
The JLEC works on countywide projects that impact public safety and do so in the spirit of cooperation in an effort to provide cohesion in a cost-effective manner that benefits all municipalities with economy of scale. One important piece of the JLEC that was passed years ago was a state statute that authorizes a Public Safety Levy which can be levied by the Anoka County Board for public safety projects that the JLEC first approves. The Public Safety Levy is listed separately on tax statements but is part of the County’s overall Certified Levy. When the statute was passed by the State of Minnesota, it was set to expire at the end of 2023. At the time of the creation of the statute, all cities and townships in Anoka County passed resolutions of support for the statute to the State of Minnesota.
As the statute is set to expire at the end of 2023, there have been discussions at the JLEC about renewing statute. The statute doesn’t dictate how much is levied, rather just authorizes the levy to occur for properly approved projects. The Levy has been used for various large items in the past with countywide implications, including radio system upgrades and the Anoka County Public Safety Data System. Due to discussions regarding the voting ratios on the JLEC, there has been a request from Anoka County to remove the Public Safety Levy from the County’s overall certified levy, as well as extending the statutory authorization.
The resolution of support is being requested by municipalities across the County to show support for continuation of the levy.
Strategic Plan Relationship
The JLEC and Public Safety Levy are both part of the overall public safety footprint in Anoka County and serves towards providing livable, safe communities in the city.
Board/Commission Review
N/A
Financial Impact
No direct financial impact of the resolution.
Public Outreach/Input
N/A
Staff Recommendation
Staff is requesting the Council to approve the JLEC Public Safety Levy support resolution.
Attachment List
Body
WHEREAS, the Anoka County Joint Law Enforcement Council (JLEC), a joint powers board, was formed in 1970 to benefit the public safety of the residents of Anoka County; and
WHEREAS the JLEC has over five decades of experience successfully creating and managing shared services for its member communities; and
WHEREAS, the City of Blaine has actively participated in the JLEC through the participation of our chief law enforcement officer and our elected officials; and
WHEREAS, the safety of the public and police and fire personnel will be enhanced by improvements from future county-wide projects; and
WHEREAS, both residents of and public safety agencies in Anoka County have benefited from improved public safety, increased effectiveness, and resource conservation due to the resulting economies of scale provided by shared and consolidated services; and
WHEREAS, the JLEC desires to implement future shared public safety projects to help law enforcement, fire, jail, dispatch, and emergency preparedness agencies render the highest quality of public safety services to the populations they serve; and
WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. 383E.21 has authorized the County of Anoka to levy property taxes for public safety improvements and equipment, and to issue capital improvement bonds and capital notes for such public safety projects as are approved by the JLEC until Dec. 31, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the JLEC supports a legislative change to allow the use of the bonding and capital notes issuance authority, provided in Minnesota Statute 383E.21, to fund countywide public safety projects until Dec. 31, 2033.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Blaine City Council does with this action, support and endorse the extension of the existing bonding and capital note issuance authority under Minn. Stat. 383E.21 until Dec. 31, 2033; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Blaine City Council does hereby support this expansion of the public safety bonding and capital note issuance authority, provided by Minn. Stat. 383E.21, to county-wide public safety projects.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Blaine this 21st day of November, 2022.