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Mounds View City Council February 24, 2020 <br />Regular Meeting Page 7 <br /> <br />Apportionment. He described the trend for Fire Departments transition away from volunteer to 1 <br />full-time or combination organizations. He reported this House File was in response to this issue 2 <br />and would protect the pensions set aside for volunteer fire fighters. He commented on the 3 <br />complications of moving this bill forward and requested the Council approve allocating $5,000 to 4 <br />assist with lobbying efforts for this bill. He stated it was his hope this issue could be resolved, 5 <br />but anticipated it may take some time. He explained the SBM Fire Department was in a good 6 <br />position along with the health of its pension. 7 <br /> 8 <br />Mayor Mueller asked what portion of the 2020 budget would be used to cover the $5,000 9 <br />allocation. Finance Director Beer stated this would come out of the Contractual Services portion 10 <br />of the budget. He noted funds were available to cover this expense. 11 <br /> 12 <br />Mayor Mueller requested further information from staff regarding the importance of the SBM 13 <br />Fire Pension to the Fire Department. City Administrator Zikmund explained the turnover of 14 <br />volunteer fire fighters has been a historically chronic issue for volunteer fire departments. He 15 <br />reported the pension was created to assist with recruitment and retention of volunteer fire 16 <br />fighters. He commented on how the pension was dramatically improving the retention rates for 17 <br />the SBM Fire Department. He explained there was a strong commitment to maintain the SBM 18 <br />Fire Department model. 19 <br /> 20 <br />Council Member Bergeron asked if there would be any winners or losers in this. City 21 <br />Administrator Zikmund explained everybody becomes a winner because the pension was shared. 22 <br />He commented further on the SBM staffing model. 23 <br /> 24 <br />MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Bergeron. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 25 <br />9246, Support of HFXXXX Fire Pension Aid Apportionment. 26 <br /> 27 <br /> Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 28 <br /> 29 <br />MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Hull. To Direct Staff to Allocate $5,000 for Lobbying Efforts 30 <br />regarding HFXXXX. 31 <br /> 32 <br />City Administrator Zikmund stated he would be speaking with the SBM member cities to gain 33 <br />further lobbying support. 34 <br /> 35 <br />City Attorney Riggs reported he supported the proposed lobbying efforts. 36 <br /> 37 <br /> Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 38 <br /> 39 <br />9. REPORTS 40 <br />A. Reports of Mayor and Council. 41 <br /> 42 <br />Council Member Gunn reported the Mounds View Police Foundation would be meeting on 43 <br />Tuesday, March 3rd. 44 <br /> 45