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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes October 22, 2024 Page 14 1 • Benefits and risks. 2 o Lessons Learned from Previous Partnership. 3 o Police Department SWOT Analysis — Chief Spiess met with all members of the 4 Police Department individually. He also conducted a survey. The main barrier is 5 the staffing. 6 o Department Staff Feedback. 7 • Phased Staffing Plan — Incentives have been recommended. Hope to be at full staff by 8 January 1, 2027. 9 • Contract. 10 o Appropriate Sharing of Financial Risk. 11 o Financial Plan — Shared fix costs of running a Police Department. 12 • Facility Needs — The best option would be a public safety facility. Grant funding will be 13 sought. 14 15 Detailed updates were provided by Staff. Over the course of the year, staff from both St. 16 Anthony Village and Falcon Heights have worked to address risks and concerns with a renewed 17 partnership, including: 18 • Revising the contract to better protect from financial impacts of critical incidents. 19 • Addressing department feedback and protecting from additional required overtime. 20 • A financial plan to ensure no levy impact to St. Anthony taxpayers. 21 • Began work toward a facility upgrade solution that is feasible for the community. 22 23 Council is requested to consider approval of renewing the policing services partnership with 24 Falcon Heights; authorizing staff to complete negotiations and finalize draft contract to be 25 effective March 1, 2025; and, commitment to facility upgrades. 26 27 Mayor Webster referred to Police Chief Spiess's presentation at the work session, where he 28 shared his two priorities — commitment to high -quality policing for St. Anthony and Lauderdale 29 and the well-being of the officers. These are the Council's priorities also. 30 31 Councilmember Jenson stated he appreciates the comments on the SWOT analysis and the 32 benefits going forward. He asked when the decision of Building A or Building B needs to be 33 made. Mr. Yunker stated he has reached out to a colleague to get State bonding and insights to 34 their approach. He suggested starting out with a State Bonding Request then reach out to the 35 Federal Representative on options. This may take a couple of years. There are things that can be 36 done now to the current Police Department facility. Councilmember Jenson asked what would 37 happen to the current Police Department facility. Mr. Yunker stated they would look at other 38 departments within the City needing more space. 39 40 Councilmember Randle asked how long it would take to get fully staffed. Police Chief Spiess 41 stated they do not have to be at a full staff level of 30 to be effective in policing in Falcon 42 Heights. Some of the positions are not as critical as others such as the community service officer. 43 The patrol staff is more critical. Police Chief Spiess stated the City wants to keep current staff 44 and the job market makes it difficult but by January 1, 2027, it could be possible. 45