07-07-2014 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 7, 2014 APPROVED 45 with a response time within seven minutes. The Police Department employees are EMS 46 trained. They receive mutual aid from other departments when needed. 47 48 Chief Jacobson added that the cross training between divisions has been well accepted. 49 He noted the following lessons learned through their process: it's important to keep the 50 history of each department separate; solid communication throughout the process of 51 change is vital; there must be commitment from the city leadership; one budget for the 52 whole department; sharing a facility is a good idea. The results he's seen is that the 53 cultures of the two divisions have really complemented each other and having personnel 54 that is trained in multiple disciplines is a benefit. Additional functions that can be 55 blended are prevention, support services and volunteer services. 56 57 Mayor Reiner noted that he supports the model and he thinks it will be best for this 58 community. He likes the communication that develops between the departments and can 59 see how that will be a benefit. 60 61 Council Member Rafferty said he is excited about the possibilities and committed to 62 seeing a good process of development for the model in this city. 63 64 Council Member Roeser asked about the challenge of keeping public safety data 65 appropriately protected. Chief Swenson said fire personnel will have to meet the same 66 requirements as the police in order to use their data or access will have to be protected. 67 68 Council Member Kusterman asked the Chiefs to explain how they do so well with 69 recruitment and why people want to work for their model department? They explained 70 that it is a sense of serving community that brings people to the jobs, not money. Chief 71 Jacobson said he sees it particularly important to have a maximum level of 72 communication with the people involved to build the understanding; otherwise people 73 tend to question that it can work. 74 75 2. Northeast Drainage Study — City Engineer Diane Hankee of WSB and 76 Associates first introduced herself to the council. She is replacing former city engineer 77 Jason Wedel. She noted her work experience as a city engineer for other communities 78 and also noted that she lives in Lino Lakes. She distributed a map indicating a proposed 79 drainage alignment for the identified drainage needs of the northeast 35E area of the city. 80 81 Pete Willenbring, WSB and Associates, reviewed the map showing drainage and planning 82 underway. During review of how drainage should be handled in the area, it was 83 discovered that the initial plan to run a stonu sewer line to Clearwater Creek was 84 somewhat inadequate. Therefore a second alternative has been studied that would 85 provide a city drainage system running to Peltier Lake, a system that would enlarge the 86 area covered. 87 88 The council discussed what the City of Hugo is draining into that area of the city and 89 found that it is more than what is draining out. It is possible that a drainage corridor 2