08-26-2024 - Council Meeting Minutes

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Council Minutes -3- funding from the state. In speaking with fire departments, she understands that there is a shortage of firefighters. So, the MN Senate is looking at ways that they can boost our fire department as well. She is working with Senator Rest and the Tax Department and Tax Committee, to make sure that they can fund this properly. She stated that for those who don't know, every single city, county, and tribal nation of Minnesota received Public Safety funding that was locally controlled, dollars where they could determine what was best for their community to use towards public safety. Senator Gustafson stated that she met with the Governor to review the local police and fire department needs in Lino Lakes and other cities. She thanked Lino Lakes Public Safety Director Swenson for providing the information and testimony needed to secure the funding. Senator Gustafson said another priority she will be working on is lowering the cost of elementary school student before and after school care. She spent most of her teaching career at Centennial High School and knows that the expense of after -school activities for High Schoolers can also be a burden for families and she would like to see more kids involved. She said that she was happy the School Resources Officer (SRO) situation has been resolved. She said that she is a supporter of SROs, and she believes they would probably back her up in saying that when kids are more involved and they have more connections with their community, they are less likely to get in trouble, and there are just more people looking after them. So, they will be looking into things like that. Senator Gustafson said that she has talked with the city about bonding for an inclusive playground, and she would like to revisit that as that state budget forecast comes out. Senator Gustafson reported that this past session, they increased the penalty for straw gun purchases. In Minnesota that used to only be a gross misdemeanor, therefore it was very rarely charged by prosecutors, but now it has been increased to a felony level. Senator Gustafson said the childcare tax credit continues to be in effect. She said they are working towards increasing that to hopefully benefit more middle-class families and extra funding for paramedics was passed this year too. Senator Gustafson said that being able to properly fund our police and fire departments is something that is important to her. She said that she will be fighting for those dollars as much as she can in this next session. Senator Gustafson said that she is here to listen and encouraged the City Council and staff to keep connecting with her on important local topics. Mayor Rafferty thanked Senator Gustafson on behalf of the City Council. He recognized her work on behalf of the eight cities she represents. He highlighted the City of Lino Lakes public safety projects that were supported by the Public Safetyfunding and identified the state grant for the City of Lino Lakes water treatment plant that was awarded this year.