06-24-2024 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING CITY COUNCIL LITTLE CANADA, MINNESOTA JUNE 249 2024 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a Workshop meeting of the City Council of Little Canada, Minnesota was convened on the 24' day of June, 2024 in the Conference Room of the City Center located at 515 Little Canada Road in said City. Mayor Tom Fischer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the following members of the City Council were present at roll call: ROLL CALL: In attendance were Mayor Fischer, City Council Members T. Miller, Gutierrez, Kwapick and D. Miller. Absent: None. ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator Chris Heineman and City Clerk/HR Manager Heidi Heller. Also Fire Department Board members Don Smiley, Tim Jaede, Tim Boss, Bryce Shearen, Steve Anderson and Kevin Keenan. ANNUAL MEETING WITH LITTLE CANADA FIRE DEPARTMENT Chief Smiley stated that they had three firefighters resign in the last year. He stated they currently have 28 firefighters but would like to have 30 members. Boss stated they have three on a wait list and they will soon begin actively recruiting for a start in the fall. Chief Smiley reported that in 2023 the Fire Department: responded to 449 calls which was another record high number, auto -aid responded to Little Canada 80 times last year and Little Canada went out 46 times, mutual aid was called out 3 times and they responded to other cities 8 times; they held regular trainings and did 40 duty -crew shifts. Chief Smiley reviewed the 2023 operating costs. He noted that the utility bills and building maintenance costs were lower than expected. He noted that worker's compensation insurance costs were higher due to paying two premiums in the same budget period and IT services costs increased. He noted the events budget was higher than expected, but going forward this budgeted item will be a flat amount and the rest will be funded by charitable gambling. He noted there is a fire service surcharge on all property insurance premiums and that provides grant fund to fire departments for training and Little Canada received about $9,000 last year that was used for specialized training. Chief Smiley stated that the new ladder truck should finally arrive in fall 2024. He reported that in 2023 they reached over 500 kids with fire prevention efforts, raised over $30,000 for Firefighters for Healing at their golf tournament and donated $195,000 from their charitable gambling to the fire equipment capital fund. He noted they replaced the tables and chairs in the training room, got all of the atrium window and skylight leaks and uneven sidewalk fixed, and are working on doing research into a new vehicle exhaust system in the apparatus bay. RAMSEY COUNTY APPROPRIATE RESPONSES INITIATIVE The City Administrator explained that the Appropriate Response Initiative (ARI) is a new program spearheaded by the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners and was recently expanded into Little Canada. An ARI representative explained that the mission for this initiative is to support 911 dispatch, public wellness systems and community institutions to more appropriately respond to