Item Description:
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JPA A2613679 with the City of Minneapolis and the Counties of Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne and Washington for the Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, providing coordination and support for public safety communications, EMS providers, and the 911 system in the Twin Cities area, 01/01/27-12/31/31, NTE $3,405,126
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, Joint Powers Agreement A2613679 with the City of Minneapolis and the Counties of Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne and Washington for the Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, providing coordination and support for public safety communications, EMS providers, and the 911 system in the Twin Cities area, during the period of January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2031, with a not to exceed amount of $3,405,126 be approved; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Joint Powers Agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
Pursuant to Minn. Stat. §403.025, each Minnesota county is required to operate and maintain a 911 emergency telecommunications system. These systems may be multi-jurisdictional or regional in character, provided that their design and implementation are preceded by cooperative planning on a county-by-county basis with local public safety agencies.
Historically, regional coordination of 911 and emergency communications has been supported through various cooperative agreements, including Board approved agreements A140783, A140791, and PR00003664. These agreements established the framework for coordination and defined the respective roles and responsibilities of participating metropolitan Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) and the Metropolitan Emergency Services Board (MESB). Together, they created foundational structures for governance, planning, and coordination related to emergency communication systems, including Enhanced 911 (E911), emerging Next Generation 9 1 1 (NG911) technologies, and associated operational responsibilities. They provide important context for the region’s long standing cooperative approach to 911 system development and maintenance.
Over time, statutory responsibility and operational scope have expanded. The MESB now serves not only as the regional 911 planning and coordination body but also as the regional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system board and the regional radio board responsible for planning, implementing, maintaining, and operating regional and local improvements to the statewide shared trunked radio and communication system.
The Cities of Minneapolis and the Counties of Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, and Washington intend to enter into a new Joint Powers Agreement, A2613679, to continue the establishment and governance of the Metropolitan 911 Board. Execution of this JPA enables the parties to fulfill their statutory responsibilities under Minn. Stat. §403.025 and to collaboratively implement, operate, and maintain the Regional 911 System.
The goals and objectives of the MESB include the implementation, maintenance, and operation of regional and local improvements to the statewide shared radio and communication system; the completion and ongoing maintenance of the consolidated regional 911 plan for the ten county metropolitan area; and the acquisition, installation, operation, and maintenance of the Regional 911 System. The MESB is further authorized to take, or recommend to appropriate authorities, actions necessary for the coordination and improvement of emergency medical services within the metropolitan counties.
The Board is composed of representatives from each participating jurisdiction. The counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott, Sherburne, and Washington, and the City of Minneapolis each appoint one or two representatives and hold two votes. Ramsey County and Hennepin County each appoint two to four representatives and hold four votes. Chisago County and Isanti County each appoint one representative, each holding one vote. Voting allocations are determined in accordance with each jurisdiction’s appointing resolution.
Funding for the Board is provided through required contributions from each participating county in proportion to the county’s share of the population of the ten-county metropolitan area. Hennepin County’s contribution is reduced by the population attributable to the City of Minneapolis, and the City of Minneapolis provides a separate contribution corresponding to its population share.
This request funds services that are: both mandated and core services
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval