4.6 SR 09-05-2023
Request for Action
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 4.6
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Consent Agenda September 5, 2023 Seth Calvin
Item Description Reviewed by
Joint Powers Mutual Aid Agreement for IT Services Joe Stremcha, Assistant City Administrator
Reviewed by
Cal Portner, City Administrator
Action Requested
Approve, by motion, a Joint Powers Mutual Aid Agreement for IT Services.
Background/Discussion
IT staff have been updating procedures for responding to a possible security incident or data breach to the city
information systems. If a major incident is discovered, the League of Minnesota Cities and the Minnesota Bureau
of Criminal Apprehension will work with the city to help identify, mitigate, and resolve an incident. During an
incident, city staff would likely not be able to use computers to access city data until the security incident is
identified and possibly resolved. This inability to access city computers and data would severely impact operations.
Staff has been working with the City of Rogers to develop a plan to assist eachother when needed. This agreement
formalizes the plan to share resources such as computers, technical staff, and other technical equipment. The
agreement is similar to other mutual aid agreements and outlines the rights and responsibilities of each party and
the process for making and accepting requests.
Financial Impact
N/A
Mission/Policy/Goal
Responsible for every dollar – good stewards
Attachments
Joint Powers Mutual Aid Agreement – IT Services
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity.
Updated: January 2023
MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT
THIS MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made effective as of July 1,
2023, by and among the City of Rogers and the City of Elk River political subdivisions of the
State of Minnesota, pursuant to the provisions of Minnesota Statutes §471.59, the Joint Powers
Act (“Agreement”).
WHEREAS, The Parties desire to be prepared to adequately address a cyber security
incident, information technology disaster recovery, host space in data center that may occur
within the jurisdictions of the Parties; and
WHEREAS, to share technology resources in each jurisdiction, the Parties agree to
furnish Assistance to one another in the event of said situations.
NOW, THEREFORE, The Parties hereby agree to furnish Assistance to each other upon
the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.
I. Purpose
The general purpose of this Agreement is to enable the Parties and their respective law
enforcement personnel to come to the aid of the other Party to this Agreement as permitted in
Minnesota Statutes §471.59 and Minnesota Statutes §12.331. This Agreement is limited to the
named Parties.
II. Definitions
The capitalized terms in this Agreement shall have the following meanings:
Assistance means the provision of information technology personnel, services, equipment,
supplies and related resources.
Party means a governmental unit as defined by Minnesota Statues, §471.59, Subdivision 1.
“Parties” shall collectively mean more than one Party.
Providing Party means the entity that provides mutual aid Assistance to the Requesting Party.
Requesting Party means the entity that requests mutual aid Assistance under this Agreement.
State means the State of Minnesota.
III. Assistance
A Party may request Assistance from the other Party to respond to an incident or share resources
authorized under legislation or this Mutual Aid Agreement. A request Assistance shall be made
by a Requesting Party to a Providing Party by contacting its information technology supervisor
or his/her designee. Requests may either be verbal or in writing. Any verbal requests will be
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followed by a written request made by the Requesting Party to the providing party’s information
technology supervisor or designee as soon as practical or within such period of time as provided
by law.
Requests and responses to requests under this Agreement are limited to city personnel, services,
equipment, supplies, and related resources.
In response to a request for Assistance under this Agreement, a Providing Party may authorize
and direct personnel to go to the aid of a Requesting Party. The Providing Party shall provide
personnel who possess the required qualifications along with the equipment and supplies of the
Providing Party to the Requesting Party at the discretion of the Providing Party and as otherwise
deemed necessary by the Requesting Party.
IV. Workers’ Compensation
Each Party will be responsible for injuries or death of its own personnel. Each Party will
maintain workers’ compensation insurance or a program of self-insurance covering its own
personnel while they are providing Assistance pursuant to this Agreement. Each Party waives the
right to sue any other Party for any workers’ compensation benefits paid to its own employee or
volunteer or their dependents, even if the injuries were caused wholly or partially by the
negligence of any other Party or its officers, employees, or volunteers.
V. Damage to Equipment
Each Party shall be responsible for damages to or loss of its own equipment used to respond to
an incident or service under this Agreement. Each Party waives the right to sue any other Party
for any damages to or loss of its equipment, even if the damages or losses were caused wholly or
partially by the negligence of any other Party or its employees.
VI. Charges to the Requesting Party
A Providing Party can charge a Requesting Party for Assistance rendered under the terms of this
Agreement. The Providing Parties will submit to the Requesting Party an itemized bill for the
actual cost of any Assistance provided. The charges for Assistance provided pursuant to this
Agreement will be based upon the actual costs incurred by the Providing Party, including salaries
or wages, overtime, materials, supplies and other necessary expenses.
VII. Limitations
A Party’s decision to provide Assistance and resources in response to an incident or service is
subject to the following conditions:
A.) A Party may withhold resources to the extent necessary to provide reasonable service
within its own jurisdiction.
B.) A Party may recall Assistance at any time in the best interests of that Party.
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C.) The response personnel of a Providing Party shall follow the policies and procedures of
the Providing Party and will be under the Providing Party’s supervisor.
D.) Assets and equipment of a Providing Party shall remain under the control of the
Providing Party but shall be under the operational control of the requesting Party.
VIII. Term of Agreement
This Agreement shall be in full force and effect from July 1, 2023, through July 1, 2043, subject
to Section XV Withdrawal of Party/Termination of Agreement.
IX. Liability and Indemnification
For purposes of the Minnesota Municipal Tort Liability Act (Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 466),
the employees and officers of a Providing Party are deemed to be employees (as defined in
Minnesota Statues, §466.01, Subdivision 6) of the Requesting Party.
The Requesting Party agrees to defend and indemnify the Providing Party against any claims
brought or actions filed against the Providing Party or any officer, employee, or volunteer of the
Providing Party for injury to, death of, or damage to the property of any third person or persons,
arising from the performance and provision of Assistance in responding to a request for
Assistance by the Requesting Party pursuant to this Agreement.
Under no circumstances, however, shall a Party be required to pay on behalf of itself and the
other Party, any amounts in excess of the limits on liability established in Minnesota Statutes
Chapter 466 applicable to any one Party. For purposes of determining total liability for damages
pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, § 471.59, subd. 1a(b), the Parties are considered a single
governmental unit and the total liability of the Parties shall not exceed the limits on
governmental liability for a single governmental unit as specified in Minnesota Statutes, §
466.04, subd. 1.
The intent of this subdivision is to impose on each Requesting Party a limited duty to defend and
indemnify the Providing Party for claims arising within the Requesting Party’s jurisdiction
subject to the limits of liability under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 466. The purpose of creating
this duty to defend and indemnify is to simplify the defense of claims by eliminating conflicts
among defendants, and to permit liability claims against multiple defendants from a single
occurrence to be defended by a single attorney.
Neither Party to this Agreement or any officer of any Party shall be liable to the other Party or to
any other person for failure of any Party to furnish Assistance to the other Party, or for recalling
Assistance, both as described in this Agreement.
Nothing in this Agreement is intended to prevent or hinder the pursuit of applicable State or
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federal benefits to personnel who respond or render Assistance pursuant to an Emergency
request and sustain injury or death in the course of, and arising out of, their employment and
response or Assistance under this Agreement.
Providing Party shall not be responsible for any injuries, damages or losses arising from the acts
or omissions of personnel of the Requesting Party and its officers, employees, agents, and
assigns.
X. General Compliance
Both Parties agree to comply with all applicable federal, State and local laws and regulations
governing any services provided under this Agreement.
XI. Accounting Standards and Retention of Records
A.) Accounting – Both Parties agree to maintain the necessary source documentation and
enforce sufficient internal controls as dictated by generally accepted accounting practices.
B.) Retention of Records - Both Parties will retain all records pertinent to expenditures
incurred under this Agreement as required by the applicable records retention schedule.
XII. Data Practices
Both Parties agree to comply with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and all other
applicable State and federal laws relating to data privacy or confidentiality. Each Party must
immediately report to the other Party any requests from third parties for information relating to
activities performed pursuant to this Agreement. Each Party agrees to promptly respond to
inquiries from the other Party concerning data requests. Each Party agrees to hold the other
Party, their officers, and employees harmless from any claims resulting from unlawful disclosure
or use of data protected under state and federal laws by the disclosing Party.
XIII. Applicable Law
The laws of the State of Minnesota shall govern all interpretations of this Agreement and any
litigation which may arise under this Agreement.
XIV. Non-Discrimination
All Parties agree to comply with the provisions of all applicable federal and State statutes and
regulations pertaining to civil rights and nondiscrimination including, without limitation,
Minnesota Statutes §181.59 and Chapter 363A.
XV. Withdrawal of Party/Termination of Agreement
A.) Without Cause. Either Party may withdraw from this Agreement without cause upon
thirty (30) days written notice to the designated recipients for the other Party.
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B.) For Cause. A Party may terminate this Agreement if another Party fails to perform in
accordance with the provisions of this the Agreement in a proper and timely manner, or
otherwise violates the terms of this Agreement. The non-defaulting Party shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement, if the default has not been cured after ten (10) days
written notice has been provided.
C.) This Agreement shall terminate upon expiration of the Term or by mutual written
agreement of both Parties in the form of a resolution by the Parties respective governing
bodies.
XVI. Severability
Should a court of competent jurisdiction rule any portion, section, or subsection of this
Agreement invalid or nullified, that fact shall not affect or invalidate any other portion, section,
or subsection; and all remaining portions, sections or subsections shall remain in full force and
effect.
FOR THE CITY OF ELK RIVER:
Approved _______________________________
Mayor
Approved _______________________________
Clerk
FOR THE CITY OF ROGERS:
Approved _______________________________
Mayor
Approved _______________________________
Clerk
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