09-07-2021 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION 2 3 4 5 6 f/ 8 9 DATE TIME STARTED TIME ENDED MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT APPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES MINUTES September 79 2021 . i$00 P.M. Council Member Stoesz, Lyden, Ruhland, Cavegn and Mayor Rafferty None to Staff members present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton; Finance Director Hannah 11 Lynch; Human Resources and Communications Manager Meg Sawyer; Community 12 Development Director Michael Grochala; City Planner Katie Larsen; Public Services 13 Director Rick DeGardner; Director of Public Safety John Swenson; City Clerk Julie 14 Bartell 15 16 1. Alexandra House Presentation — Public Safety Director Swenson recalled 17 council discussion at a budget meeting and a council direction to hear from Alexandra 18 House. 19 20 Connie Moore, Executive Director, explained that Alexandra House is an emergency 21 shelter with a housing service element. Within the shelter program they provide services 22 depending on needs, including referrals, employment assistance, counseling, legal 23 advocacy, hospital response, volunteer program and more. They have been in Anoka 24 County for almost 45 years, starting as a helpline. They have increased capacity over the 25 years and also utilize hotel and motels. They are the only shelter of their type in Anoka 26 County. Officials contact them when domestic violence occurs. There is nothing they 27 do that isn't in partnership with the community. They provide services virtually as 28 necessary and that may be a permanent change in some cases. They also offer an elder 29 abuse program. They also provide community education. This past year they saw an 30 increase in the volume of services needed. Most program participants are from Anoka 31 County. There has been a huge increase in the last five years for Anoka families using 32 the emergency shelter. 33 34 Councilmember Ruhland asked about staff size and if they are able to meet all the 35 demands. Ms. Moore talked more about their services and how they are keeping up, 36 noting that Allina Health chose the organization to do a pilot project for hospital 37 assistance (volunteers are key). Court hearings are not happening in person right now. 38 Ms. Moore explained how they are generally called into situations — law enforcement 39 does an assessment and if information is gathered indicating the need, they provide ao services. Ms. Moore noted the number of domestic violence homicides the past year and 41 current this year. 42 43 Councilmember Lyden noted that service models are always changing and this year has