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STAFF REPORT <br />DATE: 3/3/2026 <br />CONSENT <br />TO: Mayor and City Council <br />FROM: Dustin Kalis, Fire Chief <br />AGENDA ITEM: Lake Elmo Fire Department VBWD Training Agreement <br />REVIEWED BY: Nicole Miller, City Administrator <br />CORE STRATEGIES: <br />☐ Vibrant, inclusive, connected community ☒ Efficient, reliable, innovative services <br />☒ Responsive, transparent, adaptive governance ☐ Balanced Finances now and future <br />☐ Managed Growth ☐ Resilient Infrastructure <br />BACKGROUND: <br />In 2025, the Valley Branch Watershed District began acquiring several homes on Legion Avene <br />for stormwater and watershed mitigation efforts. Chief Kalis approached the district to utilize <br />two of the properties for live fire training. Utilizing an acquired building for training will allow <br />firefighters the ability to train in the most realistic scenarios possible. The department last <br />conducted a live fire training exercise within the city in 2012. <br />ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: <br />Should the City Council enter into the agreement with the Valley Branch Watershed District to <br />allow the fire department use of two residential structures for live fire training exercises? <br />PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: <br />The Fire Department will conduct training exercises at 2764 Legion Avenue N. in April 2026, and <br />at 2814 Legion Avenue N. in July or August 2026. Live fire training permits will be obtained from <br />the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. All <br />training burns will be conducted in strict accordance with permit requirements and NFPA 1403 <br />standards. This agreement has been reviewed by the city attorney. <br />A communication plan is in place to inform adjacent property owners and neighborhoods of these <br />activities. Training operations are designed to minimize the impact on residents; however, as <br />weather conditions significantly dictate smoke drift, the training plan will be adjusted as needed <br />to reduce the impact on neighboring properties. Following the exercises, the remaining structures <br />must sit for two weeks before a contracted demolition crew removes them. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT <br />The watershed district is allowing the use of these properties at no cost to the city. Other costs <br />associated with the training (materials, staff overtime) will be submitted for reimbursement <br />through the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education. <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Motion to adopt the VBWD Lake Elmo Fire Department Training Agreement. <br />ATTACHMENTS: <br />2026 VBWD Lake Elmo Fire Department Training Agreement