HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-10-2016 Council Special Work Session MinutesCITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION
October 10, 2016
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
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4 DATE October 10, 2016
5 TIME STARTED 8:15 P.M.
6 TIME ENDED : 10*35 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT Council Member Rafferty, Kusterman,
8 Maher, Manthey and Mayor Reinert
9 MEMBERS ABSENT None
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11 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Public Safety Director John
12 Swenson; Deputy Director Kelly McCarthy; Deputy Director Dan L'Allier; Caption
13 Wayne Wegener; City Clerk Julie Bartell.
14
15 1. MN Dept of Public Safety 2015 Uniform Crime Report -Public Safety Director
16 Swenson reviewed the report and how it is put together. He noted a decrease in
17 availability time for officers to be out in neighborhoods suppressing crime and that the
18 numbers reflect that. Council Member Kusterman asked if certain neighborhoods are
19 impacted and Director Swenson said there was not a clear pattern. Deputy Director
20 McCarthy explained that officers do log proactive and active time; they have seen a clear
21 decrease in the percentage of proactive time and fire training time during on -duty hours is
22 a part of that. Director Swenson briefly reviewed what proactive hours involves.
23 Mayor Reinert asked how many officers are typically on duty and Director Swenson said
24 that figure never goes below two but they do have more due to overlap during some high
25 volume times.
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27 Council Member Rafferty recalled previous questions about public safety vehicles and
28 active shifts per day. He noted a communication that he received that indicates six per
29 day. Deputy Director McCarthy explained the variables that impact the number on each
30 shift; for instance, they do reduce their daytime staffing because that proves consistent.
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32 Council Member Kusterman remarked that 2011 figures show the same trend as 2015 but
33 without the fire training element. Deputy Director McCarthy explained that there was a
34 trend at that time that was addressed.
35
36 The council heard that there is a correlation between proactive police cruising time
37 through neighborhoods and a lower crime rate. When a council member suggested that
38 watching for open doors may be too much oversight, Director Swenson explained the
39 theory that thieves will return to an area where there is known opportunity — such as open
40 doors.
41
42 Council Member Rafferty suggested that there can't be any training done during the
43 night? The council was informed that there is training on the night shift as well because
44 it is done as much on-line as possible.
45
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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION October 10, 2016
APPROVED
46 Director Swenson noted the numbers that are coming in for 2016. They indicate a drop
47 from 2015. The city still does have the lowest crime rate in the county.
48
49 Director Swenson highlighted the department's high clearance rate, of which they are
50 proud.
51
52 2. Third Quarter Statistics for 2016 were reviewed by Director Swenson. Average
53 response time was noted. The mayor touched on the reduction in the number of calls
54 where paid on -call staff responded. Director Swenson noted the city's change in
55 protocol for when paid on -call are asked to respond. Calls for service are on pace to be
56 higher. Mayor Reinert noted that the cross training that the police receive allows them to
57 provide services at more medical calls that previous. Director Swenson clarified that the
58 police have been additionally trained in the area of NARCAN.
59
60 Director Swenson reviewed:
61 - Fire Division Third Quarter 2016 call data:
62 - Criminal Offense data for Part 1 and Part 2 offenses and arrests;
63 - Felony Case File Submissions;
64 - Administrative Reporting;
65 - Third Quarter Notable Events (identify theft case, Night to Unite, Safety Camp);
66 Narcan equipment addition; Firearms Safety Training; new emergency warning
67 siren; 40 under 40 for Captain Wegener; Fire box rekeying; Preplans developed
68 for response; 21 business fire inspections.
69
70 3. Public Safety Department Fleet-
71
72 - Apparatus Replacement Plan (Fire Division) (report in packet was read);
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74 4. Funding mechanism for fire apparatus replacement - Mayor Reinert moved on to
75 how the city would pay for equipment (bonding or not). He noted that as the city levies
76 for the $100,000 each year, if it just goes into a fund, it loses money because the city gets
77 so little return on its investments. If the funding sits in an account for years, you have
78 people move from the city and they've paid but seen no benefit. He feels those are real
79 considerations. He suggests that the city could promise a bonding amount each year and
80 not actually bond for it until it is needed. The council will get more advice from the
81 finance director on the prospect (before actually changing the replacement plan).
82
83 The council discussion the Police Division Vehicle Replacement Plan (including the
84 current thee -year plan and another based on a four year replacement); the three year plan
85 is based on industry standards and best practices throughout the nation. The four-year
86 replacement plan was reviewed. Council Member Rafferty asked when the standard
87 changed from four to three years and Director Swenson said it isn't actually a three year
88 situation. Council Member Rafferty asked for discussion of a mileage policy because the
89 department doesn't have one. Deputy Director McCarthy explained that they follow the
90 ICMA model that calls for no more than 20,000 miles per year per squad vehicle.
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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION
October 10, 2016
91 Council Member Rafferty also discussed resale value. Mayor Reinert remarked that he
92 has questioned the need to have vehicles for each of the district chiefs plus an extra car.
93 Council Member Manthey suggested that the reason for those cars seem to be for
94 response to calls; in his experience, district chiefs did not have a take home vehicle.
95 Deputy Director McCarthy explained the reason to provide a district chief with a take
96 home vehicle — to respond quickly to emergency calls.
97
98 Mayor Reinert stated that the council will have further discussion of some of these topics
99 at the November work session; there will be budget topics as well.
100
lol 5. Elimination of Lino Lakes Participation in DEA Task Force — Director Swenson
102 reviewed the written report.
103
104 Mayor Reinert said he requested that this matter be included on the agenda. The city has
105 been involved in the program for five years. He thinks it is excessive to have this officer
106 involvement especially for a city this size. It was a three-year commitment and the city
107 has been in it for five. He suggests that the city has done its fair share and it's time to let
lob another city take over. It doesn't pay for itself. Council Member Manthey noted the
109 funds that come back in forfeiture and he wonders how much that makes up for costs.
110 Mayor Reinert acknowledged those funds but he still feels it is time to end the city's
111 participation. Council Member Maher remarked that her hesitance would relate to crime
112 being on the rise and how this program helps in crime reduction. Mayor Reinert
113 suggested that all cities benefit from this program and so the city would still receive that
114 benefit without supporting an officer. Director Swenson explained that any Lino Lakes'
115 work related to narcotics is given to this officer who can then leverage the resources of
116 the whole task force for that work; that is what would be lost to the city. Further
117 discussion on the matter will occur as part of 2017 budget considerations.
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119 Council Member Rafferty noted information he received from staff that shows what other
120 departments of similar sized cities have for sworn staff. He'd like to extend that report
121 because he finds that type of information helpful.
122
123 Mayor Reinert noted that you can use a baseline of three officers at all shifts during 24
124 hours — that is 12.6. Level of service is an important discussion that the council will
125 continue. The city does have the best public safety department around and that should be
126 kept but discussions about cost will continue.
127
128 The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 p.m.
129
130 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the
131 October 24, 2016.
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Bartell, City
Jeff
Mayor
held on
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