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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION November 14, 2016 <br />DRAFT <br /> 3 <br />Council Member Rafferty asked staff to provide the makeup of the task force and 91 <br />Director Swenson said he would. 92 <br /> 93 <br />Council Member Kusterman said he could support redeployment of the officer but not 94 <br />eliminating an officer position. He also reviewed crime data and the fact that Lino Lakes 95 <br />is a growing community - redeployment of the position makes sense. He recognizes the 96 <br />correlation between cutting officers and increasing crime in the community, and he noted 97 <br />information he has gathered on like cities and their crime rates. His goal is to keep crime 98 <br />rates down in this city. Mayor Reinert said he’d support that action. The council 99 <br />concurred. Director Swenson said he would contact the DEA about bringing the position 100 <br />back to the City as of the first of the year. Mayor Reinert said if it goes into January, he 101 <br />hears the council saying that is okay. 102 <br /> 103 <br />Grant Traffic Officer Position – Council Member Maher said she loves having the 104 <br />position because it makes the city safer. Council Member Kusterman remarked that the 105 <br />position is enforcing the law and that is what should be happening; he doesn’t struggle at 106 <br />all with the work. Council Member Manthey said he supports the position especially with 107 <br />the ACE program available for those receiving tickets; he sees good impact in the area 108 <br />where he lives. Council Member Rafferty asked for an explanation of the position – 109 <br />what is different about this position from other police officers in the city. It was 110 <br />explained that duties are tied to the grant funds that pay for the position. Director 111 <br />Swenson explained that this person is a police officer first and foremost but there are 112 <br />rules attached to the grant funds that dictate that the officer cannot spend more than a 113 <br />quarter of any hour on duties not related to traffic. The council concurred to keep the 114 <br />position and the resolution accepting the grant will go back on the council agenda. 115 <br /> 116 <br />Public Safety Fleet – the Mayor called for a short discussion. He suggested that he’s like 117 <br />replacement plan for vehicles to be clear. Council Member Rafferty noted 118 <br />communications he’s received that are confusing as to the replacement period. He 119 <br />reviewed information he has gathered through research of other government entities that 120 <br />utilize cars. Based on what he’s studied, he recommends a 100,000+ miles club, having 121 <br />seen that working in some other cities. He also noted figures on the city’s maintenance 122 <br />costs versus outsourced maintenance. Another consideration is that the resale of the 123 <br />vehicles is minimal. He is recommending a five year replacement schedule. The mayor 124 <br />asked Director Swenson to respond with information on questions raised. Director 125 <br />Swenson suggested that the public services director and city mechanic would best be able 126 <br />to respond on some of the matters and Administrator Karlson indicated that he will 127 <br />instigate that report. Council Member Kusterman remarked that it’s clear that the 128 <br />maintenance should be done right. 129 <br /> 130 <br />Mayor Reinert acknowledged that staff will provide additional information on the 131 <br />subjects brought to light but it raises the question as to whether or not the budget going 132 <br />forward needs to include the purchase of five cars next year. The mayor said he is also 133 <br />questioning the need for additional cars to go to the fire department. Council Member 134 <br />Manthey recalled his experience within the fire department and that station chiefs did not 135