02-22-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DRAFT 5 If directed, staff would expect to provide information on the program through the next 179 newsletter with availability probably in April. 180 181 Community Development Director Grochala suggested that staff could work to address 182 questions and report back at the next work session. The council concurred. 183 184 4. Fire Services – Public Safety Director Swenson and Public Safety Deputy 185 Director L’Allier were present. Chief Swenson explained that police personnel had until 186 today to indicate their interest in the new position. Only one person is interested in the 187 new Police Officer / Firefighter position so staff recommends looking at other options: 188 daytime fire duty crew; contracting with an outside vendor to provide daytime fire 189 response; collaborating with another jurisdiction for daytime fire response. Staff is 190 looking for council suggestions as well. 191 192 Mayor Rafferty asked staff to work with personnel and administrative staff on viable 193 options. There is some staff work involved. 194 195 Director Swenson said staff will continue with the options they have presented. Staff is 196 bringing this forward in order to be proactive to ensure the resources are in place long 197 term to provide this vital service. 198 199 Councilmember Lyden noted that fire service is a core responsibility. He quoted the late 200 President John F. Kennedy who suggested seeking neither a Republican nor Democrat 201 answer but rather the right answer. Responsibility for the future in this case is to be open 202 to all suggestions. He’s open to all conversations for potential solutions. 203 204 Councilmember Ruhland asked about paid on-call – aren’t they working from home 205 now? Director Swenson said that the number of paid on-call members responding during 206 the weekday daytime hours has been reduced in recent weeks. This is likely a result of 207 the paid on-call firefighters no longer working from home. 208 209 Councilmember Stoesz asked about the process of consideration by officers. Director 210 Swenson explained that Human Resources was involved and a form created that was 211 distributed to police personnel. Director Swenson added that police personnel are 212 concerned about the permanency of the position – the City needs to have permanency for 213 the long term stability of fire service delivery and the officers seem to prefer flexibility. 214 215 Mayor Rafferty asked about the possibility of bringing new people in under this new 216 position. Director Swenson remarked that there aren’t a lot of candidates who would 217 meet the requirements; he added information on how the City of Woodbury hires officers 218 with an understanding that the job could change. 219 220 Councilmember Lyden said the residents need the services and doing the same thing over 221 and over isn’t working. Using the vendor scenario, what happens to cross trained officers 222 currently in the department? Director Swenson said they are currently paid an hourly 223