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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 28, 2026 Page 4 2 IX. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL. 3 4 A. Public Safety Community Engagement (No Action Needed). 6 Mayor Webster welcomed Fire Chief Diaz, Police Chief Spiess, and Deputy Fire Chief Jaros to 7 the podium to provide an update on Public Safety Community Engagement. She thanked them 8 all for coordinating their efforts. 9 10 Deputy Fire Chief Jaros began the presentation on community engagement by informing the 11 Council that community engagement is the most important part of their job and is how they form 12 trust with the community before they have to make emergency calls. She provided some images 13 of community engagement events. She stated that the largest event every year is the Fire 14 Department Open House, which occurs on October 3. She informed the Council that this is an 15 opportunity for education and community outreach. Deputy Fire Chief Jaros briefly overviewed 16 more events such as Santa on the Fire Truck, Night to Unite, station tours, VillageFest, Trunk or 17 Treat, working as Special Olympics Medical Standby Volunteers, the Guatemala EMS and Fire 18 volunteer trip, the Elmwood Church End of School Year Party, the Valora BBQ Lunch, and The 19 Residences at St. Anthony events. She also expanded on their public safety education programs, 20 which they provide to people of all ages, beginning with Fire Prevention in schools at St. Charles 21 and Wilshire Elementary. They also provide events for Hands -Only CPR for seventh and ninth 22 graders, along with career education and fire and safety medical education for sophomores and 23 seniors. She informed the Council that they also have youth education outside of the schools 24 through Cub Scout classes, station tours, and babysitter classes. Deputy Fire Chief Jaros 25 highlighted adult education opportunities such as fire extinguisher classes, CPR classes, home 26 safety surveys, and community risk reduction outreach, as well as senior safety education at 27 Legends, The Residences at St. Anthony, Kenzington, and Walker Methodist. She provided the 28 social media handles for the St. Anthony Fire Department and informed the Council that they 29 utilize these platforms for safety education and updates on the department. Deputy Fire Chief 30 Jaros finished by informing the Council of future events that the Fire Department will be 31 participating in, such as VillageFest, the open house, Trunk or Treat, and Santa on a Fire Truck. 32 33 Police Chief Spiess appreciated how many of the events that Deputy Fire Chief Jaros overviewed 34 were not only community engagement for the Fire Department but also involved the Police 35 Department and Public Works Staff. He stated that community engagement is a philosophy for 36 the department. He emphasized how these are small opportunities to build trust with their 37 community and give a positive impression of policing as a whole. Police Chief Spiess 38 commented that all officers are community engagement officers, and that every encounter is an 39 opportunity for positive community engagement. He noted that this engagement extends to all 40 stops, medical calls, and more. He informed the Council that the Police Department does have a 41 dedicated engagement team to run social media, organize events, and develop youth 42 programming. He stated that one of the most important youth engagement projects is the annual 43 summer survival camp, which teaches incoming fourth graders firearm safety, CPR, first aid, 44 using 911, and water safety. Police Chief Spiess informed the Council that officers also speak at 45 Home Alone classes through community services, and emphasized that when young people have 46 good encounters. with the Police, they have a more positive view of them for life. Police Chief