Laserfiche WebLink
Mounds View City Council January 9, 2023 <br />Regular Meeting Page 2 <br /> <br /> <br />7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS <br /> A. SBM Year End/Quarterly Report – Fire Chief Dan Retka. <br /> <br />Fire Chief Retka provided the Council with a year-end report from the SBM Fire Department. He <br />explained over the past 12 months he has served as the interim chief. He thanked his staff for <br />serving the community well during this time of transition. He reported he recently named Matt <br />Grant the Deputy Fire Chief. He stated 2022 was a busy year for him and noted calls for service <br />were on the rise (500 over 2021). He anticipated this would continue to occur as the population <br />ages and the population increases. He discussed how the shortage of EMT’s was impacting both <br />the fire and police departments. <br /> <br />Fire Chief Retka noted he would be working with dispatchers in the coming year to ensure they <br />are properly dispatching police and fire resources. He stated he was proud of the fact a CAD <br />interface task force has been formed. He explained by further educating dispatchers response times <br />would be reduced. He commented further on how he was working to enhance the relationship <br />between SBM and the Lake Johanna Fire Department. He stated his focus for 2023 would be on <br />community risk reduction through education of the public. It was his hope that the number of calls <br />for service could be reduced after education was offered to the community. <br /> <br />Fire Chief Retka explained the department would be hiring a full time Recruitment/Retention <br />Specialist to assist with retention of firefighters. He discussed how he was working on a new <br />scheduling program which would allow volunteer firefighters to sign up for shifts. He noted he <br />hoped to roll out the new staffing program in 2024. He then commented on the contract the SBM <br />Fire Department entered into with the Centennial Fire Department. He reported he would continue <br />to act as their chief in 2023. <br /> <br />Fire Chief Retka discussed the 2022 budget noting for the most part he came in right on budget. <br />He commented on the adjustments that were made to the 2023 budget in order to properly capture <br />increases in the rising price for equipment and to provide funding for community education. <br /> <br />Council Member Meehlhause welcomed Fire Chief Retka to the SBM Fire Department. He stated <br />he looked forward to seeing the department roll out the new staffing model in the coming year. <br /> <br />Council Member Lindstrom welcomed Fire Chief Retka and Deputy Fire Chief Grant to the SBM <br />Fire Department. He explained he looked forward to working with both of them for the upcoming <br />Festival in the Park. <br /> <br />Council Member Gunn stated she appreciated seeing firefighters in her community. She looked <br />forward to having SBM a part of the upcoming Festival in the Park. <br /> <br />Mayor Hull thanked Fire Chief Retka for his presentation. Fire Chief Retka thanked the City <br />Council for their continued support. <br /> <br />8. COUNCIL BUSINESS <br />A. Community Center Expansion Exploration: