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