Title
Approving an amendment to the Twin Cities Public Health Departments in Minnesota PUBLIC HEALTH MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT between the City of Saint Paul and local public health and/or environmental health entities.
Body
WHEREAS, emergencies or large special events may occur in the future which will require local public health and/or environmental health entities to come to the aid and assistance of other local public health or environmental health entities; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes Section 471.59, political subdivisions of the State of Minnesota may jointly and cooperatively exercise powers common to each of the contracting parties; and
WHEREAS, in 2007, the City of Saint Paul executed an agreement with other local political subdivisions, entitled the Twin Cities Public Health Departments in Minnesota PUBLIC HEALTH MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT; attached hereto as Exhibit A; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this agreement is to strengthen the preparedness of the public health and environmental health system in Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the signatory political subdivisions desire to simplify the defense of claims by eliminating conflicts among defendants that are parties to the agreement; and
WHEREAS, the intent of the agreement is to make personnel, equipment, and other resources available to political subdivisions in the event of an emergency, training, drill or exercise; and
WHEREAS, the agreement is set to expire on December 31, 2011; and
WHEREAS, an amendment to the original agreement to extend the expiration date for one year has been proposed, attached hereto as Exhibit B; and
WHEREAS, it continues to be in the best interests of the participating political subdivisions to assist one another in the event of an emergency, training, drill or exercise;
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council authorizes the City of Saint Paul to renew its participation in the attached mutual aid agreement.