11-14-2016 Council Special Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION November 14, 2016 APPROVED 91 Council Member Rafferty asked staff to provide the makeup of the task force and 92 Director Swenson said he would. 93 94 Council Member Kusterman said he could support redeployment of the officer but not 95 eliminating an officer position. He also reviewed crime data and the fact that Lino Lakes 96 is a growing community -redeployment of the position makes sense. He recognizes the 97 correlation between cutting officers and increasing crime in the community, and he noted 98 information he has gathered on like cities and their crime rates. His goal is to keep crime 99 rates down in this city. Mayor Reinert said he'd support that action. The council 10o concurred. Director Swenson said he would contact the DEA about bringing the position 101 back to the City as of the first of the year. Mayor Reinert said if it goes into January, he 102 hears the council saying that is okay. 103 104 Grant Traffic Officer Position —Council Member Maher said she loves having the los position because it makes the city safer. Council Member Kusterman remarked that the 106 position is enforcing the law and that is what should be happening; he doesn't struggle at 107 all with the work. Council Member Manthey said he supports the position especially with 108 the ACE program available for those receiving tickets; he sees good impact in the area 109 where he lives. Council Member Rafferty asked for an explanation of the position — 110 what is different about this position from other police officers in the city. It was 111 explained that duties are tied to the grant funds that pay for the position. Director 112 Swenson explained that this person is a police officer first and foremost but there are 113 rules attached to the grant funds that dictate that the officer cannot spend more than a 114 quarter of any hour on duties not related to traffic. The council concurred to keep the 115 position and the resolution accepting the grant will go back on the council agenda. 116 117 Public Safety Fleet —the Mayor called for a short discussion. He suggested that he'd like 118 the replacement plan for vehicles to be clear. Council Member Rafferty noted 119 communications he's received that are confusing as to the replacement period. He 12o reviewed information he has gathered through research of other government entities that 121 utilize cars. Based on what he's studied, he recommends a 100,000+ miles club, having 122 seen that working in some other cities. He also noted figures on the city's maintenance 123 costs versus outsourced maintenance. Another consideration is that the resale of the 124 vehicles is minimal. He is recommending a sixty month replacement schedule. The 125 mayor asked Director Swenson to respond with information on questions raised. 126 Director Swenson suggested that the public services director and city mechanic would 127 best be able to respond on some of the matters and Administrator Karlson indicated that 12s he will instigate that report. Council Member Kusterman remarked that it's clear that the 129 maintenance should be done right. 130 131 Mayor Reinert acknowledged that staff will provide additional information on the 132 subjects brought to light but it raises the question as to whether or not the budget going 133 forward needs to include the purchase of five cars next year. The mayor said he is also 134 questioning the need for additional cars to go to the fire department. Council Member 135 Manthey recalled his experience within the fire department and that station chiefs did not 3