HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 22, 2026 City Council Workshop Meeting MinutesA
B.
CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
City Council Workshop
City Hall - Flex Meeting Area (Not Televised)
2077 rNest Larpenteur Avenue
MINUTES
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
6:00 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER: 6:00 PM
ROLL CALL:GUSTAFSON-X- MAY-X-
MIELKE X MOGEN X WASSENBERG X
STAFFPRESENT: LINEHAN_X_ JOHNSON-X-
C.POLICY ITEMS:
1,. Meet & Greet with St. Anthony Police Chief Jeff Spiess and St. Anthony Police
Department Officers
Linehan introduced members of the St. Anthony Police Departrnent and provided an
opportunity for the Council to ask questions and discuss departrnent operations, challenges,
and community policing efforts.
Chief Spiess shared that staffing and recruiting high-quality officers remain major challenges.
SAPD has created a recruitrnent team, attends career fairs, and utilizes a cadet program to build
a hiring pipeline. Retaining quality officers and maintaining a strong departrnent reputation are
priorities, though hiring can take one to two years.
Discussion focused on community visibility, proactive policing, and relationship building.
SAPD noted residents appreciate seeing squad cars in neighborhoods, and officers proactively
address speeding concems, conduct apartrnentwalktfuoughs, and focus on higher-crime areas
The departrnent also discussed parkrerships with organizations such as Northeast Youth and
Family Services to help connect residents with support services and reduce repeat calls for
service.
Councilmembers discussed State Fair operations, including balancing parking enforcement
with service calls. SAPD shared that parking citations can pull officers away from higher-
priority calls and expressed interest in administrative citations as a potential solution. The
departrnent also discussed coordinated traffic enforcement efforts with Ramsey County and
state agencies during the Fair.
The Council discussed theft trends, youth intervention programs, and efforts to connect
residents with services. SAPD stated there are no significant crime trends currently standing out
and emphasizeda compassionate approach focused on long-term solutions.
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Councilmembers also discussed automated ticketing and Flock camera technology. Chief Spiess
stated that other agency's Flock cameras have been useful in solving crimes. SAPD does not
currently operate its own system, and the Council agreed additional research would be needed
before considering the technology further and that it was not an initiative to explore this time.
D. ADJOURNMENT: 6:58 PM
Councilmember Wassenberg motions to adjourn the meeting;
Approved 5-0
DISCLAIMER: City CouncilWorkshops are held monthly as an opportunity for Council Members to
discuss policy topics in greater detail pior to a formal meeting where a public hearing may be held and/or
action may be taken, Members of the public thnt wouldlike to make a comment or ask questions about an
item on the agenda for an upcoming workshop should send them to mail@falconheights.org prior to the
meeting. Alternatiaely, time is regularly allottedfor public comment during Regular A$ Council
Meetings (typtcally 2nd'and 4thWednesdays) during the Community Forum.
Randall Mayor
Dated 13th 2026
City AdministratorT
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