HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 07252005 SPECIAL MEETINGI CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 CITY COUNCIL
3 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
4 JULY 25, 2005
CALL TO ORDER.
Mayor Faust called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
9 ROLL CALL.
10 Present: Mayor Faust; Councilmembers Gray, Horst, Stille, and Thuesen.
11 Absent: None.
12 Also Present: City Manager Mike Morrison.
13
14 Mayor Faust encouraged two -way communication between the citizens and police department. Citizen
15 can come to the podium and state their name, address, and try to limit comments to two minutes.
16
17 Mr. Momson indicated that because of the recent crimes we felt holding this meeting would be a means
18 for residents to obtain information.
19
20 INTRODUCTION OF CHIEF AND CASE INVESTIGATOR
21
22 Chief Engstrom stated that this meeting was called to stop rumors that may be filtering throughout the
23 city. He also informed the residents that coming the first of the year, the police department will have an
24 email tool that residents can sign up for and it will notify residents of police issues electronically. There
25 are two cases to discuss, one case is two weeks old and the other case is one two months old but recently
26 reported to the police department. Chief Engstrom introduced Captain Ohl, the lead investigator on
27 these cases and indicated he will be speaking on both of them.
28
29 STATUS OF THE ARMED ROBBERY OF THE HOMEOWNER ON JUNE 26, 2005, IN THE
30 3500 BLOCK OF SKYCROFT DRIVE.
31
32 An individual was unloading packages from her automobile and was presented a handgun by a male
33 individual. The individual was escorted into her home and bound with zip strips and asked for her cash,
34 debit cards and credit cards. The individual was able to obtain these items from the home and then left
35 with no further interaction between the individual and the male individual.
36
37 There were four squads that responded to this call as well as the crime lab. The officers scanned the
38 area and were unable to locate the suspect. The victim thought the suspect came by foot and left by foot.
39 The officers also talked to several of the residents that were out that evening and nobody indicated they
40 witnessed anyone suspicious. The crime lab was scanned over the scene and was able to get one
41 fingerprint.
42
43 The police department mailed out approximately 300 flyers and did develop one possible suspect that
44 was known to the police department for wandering the area. The police department was able to put
45 together a photo line up but the victim was unable to identify him. The notice that was mailed out
46 indicated that the suspect had his face covered and would have been difficult to identify.
47 Captain Ohl stated this investigation is ongoing.
48
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 25, 2005
Page 2
l STATUS OF THE CRIMINAL SEXUAL CONDUCT CASE OCCURRING APPROXIMATELY
2 TWO MONTHS AGO AT THE ST. ANTHONY COMMUNITY CENTER.
4 Captain Ohl indicated this incident was reported to Police Department on July 13, 2005. The police
5 department became aware of this offense while they were investigating this same victim as being a
6 victim in another criminal sexual conduct case. In investigating the other criminal sexual contact case,
7 she made the revelation she was sexually contacted in the Community Center bathroom two months ago.
8 The best she can figure it took place sometime in May 2005. Again, this was not reported to the St.
9 Anthony police department until July 13, 2005. She never told her parents or police department that this
10 offense occurred. At that time, she reported she saw four individual walking by the skateboard park and
11 made several comments to her, the police department was able to confirm that with her friends that were
12 with her at that time. Apparently, she then separated from her friends and came in through the front
13 doors of the community center to buy a pop. Again, she encountered these four individuals and was
14 confronted. They asked to call her parents and tell them she would be late and then she was forced into
15 the men's bathroom was sexually contacted. There was no penetration reported to the police department
16 it was a contact sexual case.
17
18 After receiving the information, the police department did a sketch photo line up array with her and
19 came up with a composite drawing, which, we have posted throughout the community center. The police
20 department has identified suspects through our own investigation that came really close to the physical
21 description of this individual and showed her photo line -ups with this individual in them. The victim
22 was unable to identify him. We are in the process of showing these same photo line -ups to her friends to
23 see whether they can identify this individual. They had quite a unique physical description that we
24 thought would be able to identify if seen again.
25
26 We have liaisons with other agencies in attempts to identify these individuals and have had several tips
27 based on the news media reports of this offense. We currently continue to investigate suspects as they
28 come in and plan to continue to.
29
30 With that report Captain Ohl turned the meeting back over to Mayor Faust.
31
32 Mayor Faust thanked everyone for coming this evening and community action as well as interaction
33 between the police department and the city. Mayor Faust turned the meeting over to the residents for
34 questions.
35
36 QUESTIONS /ANSWERS
37
38 Jane Hintz, 3503 Maplewood; How many cars are on at night?
39
40 St. Anthony had two cars respond with a minute of the call. Two cars came from Lauderdale and Falcon
41 Heights, respectively. We had four cars responded to the call.
42
43 Dorothy Elam; The detective did not mention the time of day of these crimes occurred?
44
45 Chief Engstrom indicated the sexual contact was approximately 6 - 6:30 pm and the other is 9:30 pm.
46
47
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 25, 2005
Page 3
Vemie Bjorklund, 3207 Silver Lake Road; The Community Center is unlocked we should lock it. If
someone is in need to use the restroom mavbe there could be a paid individual or volunteer to unlock the
doors.
4
5 Chief Engstrom indicated the problem is because the doors are open. He has suggested to parents to
6 have children in pairs and not wander away.
7
8 Mary Linman, 4008 Fordham Court; Are their video cameras in this facility?
10 Chief Engstrom indicated there are video cameras in police department entrances only. The individuals
11 came in front doors where there were no cameras.
12
13 Kathleen Ahern, 3204 Hilldale Avenue; Do you feel the design of the area with the wall blocking off
14 vending machines made this crime more attractive to these men?
15
16 Chief Engstrom indicated crime is strange how it is committed. The wall may have and reviewing all
17 the facts of the case he would say it probably did.
18
19 Stan Nelson, 3504 Maplewood Drive; (Pertaining to the Skycroft incidence) What should the individual
20 do if confronted in this type of situation?
21
22 Chief Engstrom indicated that if you are confronted by an armed individual you should do what the
23 individual tells you to do so you don't put your life in harms way.
24
25 Sharon Marsh, 3521 Skycroft Drive; What is time frame for public notice for crime of these types?
26 "—
27 Chief Engstrom indicated the nature of the crime was terrible, we don't want these crimes committed in
28 St. Anthony. The Police Department did not get the information out promptly. The Police Department
29 checks with other police departments and there weren't any other crimes of this nature.
30
31 Mayor Faust indicated block captain should have some responsibility in notifying the public of cases
32 such as these. He also suggested to all residents that they should report suspicious activity. He also
33 indicated the Council has not talked about this specifically and need to establish some guidelines.
34
35 Delores Anderson, 2905 — 29`h Avenue; Why don't we have cameras on the front doors of the
36 community center?
37
38 Mayor Faust indicated the council was writing all these suggestions down and will take them all into
39 consideration.
40
41 Patty Vollmar, 3512 Skycroft Drive; A neighbor had spotted an individual taking pictures on our block
42 I was wondering if the Police Department patrolled the streets?
43
44 Captain Ohl indicated to residents that the police department is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
45 and 365 days a year.
46
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 25, 2005
Page 4
1 Ms. Hagen, 3417 33`d Avenue; With the identification of the vulnerability with the front door, and some
2 suggested solutions to this problem, in the interim what steps have been taken for childcare door to be
3 open?
5 Council member Thuesen indicated that with the events that have occurred it has not changed the way
6 daycare has conducted business. The daycare has always had security checks in place. Staff never lets
7 children down to the restroom alone, there is always a group. This is an issue that staff at the daycare
8 has talked about and addressed.
9
10 Ms. Hagen indicated some day care centers have key fobs Is this something to consider?
11
12 Councilmember Thuesen indicated that he would let the director know of these suggestions.
13
14 Mayor Faust reinforced the issue that this incident was an unsupervised child.
15
16 Julianna Weeklund; Always thought of this place as a safe have I nick up m�younger child at childcare
17 center and my older child comes here from school Is this a safe place for my teenage child to come
18 after school and do her homework?
19
20 Captain Ohl stated St. Anthony is a first ring suburb of Minneapolis, safe place to be that is question for
21 you to answer. With the police department in this facility it also brings in bad guys. We have bad guys
22 visiting the police department. Does that make the Community Center a bad place to be because of he
23 proximity of the police department. He would hope not. Residents need to remember to not completely
24 let their guard down on safety.
25
26 John Mondoti, 3420 Highcrest Road; The police department cannot do it all The residents are the eyes
27 and ears for the police department. He encouraged residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious
28 activity to the police department.
29
30 Captain Ohl stated that he continually hears that residents didn't want to bother the police department.
31 He stated that the police department loves those calls and encouraged residents to make the call.
32
33 Martin Lunde, 3425 33`d Avenue; What is the percentage of additional calls for service with the
34 redevelopment of Apache?
35
36 Captain Ohl stated that he didn't have the statistics complete. He believes there will be an increase of
37 calls because anytime you bring in more businesses and people. But he would be n9ve not to think that
38 there would be an increase.
39
40 Carol Jindra, 3001 Hilldale, Stated that she grew up in St. Anthony and then built a house in St
41 Anthony. She indicated that criminals did not want to come to St Anthony. While being on the parks
42 commission they studied the park system and placed the skate park in the location by the police
43 department. She would like to see the officers more accessible?
44
45 Captain Ohl indicated that with the recent survey that St. Anthony rated very high with residents
46 knowing police officers names.
47
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 25, 2005
Page 5
Rose Fitzgerald, Autumn Woods; Autumn Woods has a security building with security cameras,
occasionally there is a car broken into and someone will indicate that they saw someone. If you see
someone suspicious call the police department.
5 Barb — Former resident of northeast Minneapolis and was a block leader and participated in a crime
6 prevention program. Does St. Anthony have programs like this?
8 Captain Ohl indicated that there are established block clubs. You need to contact the police department
9 and they will send information out to you. There needs to be 50 percent participation the block.
10
11 Joel Johnson, 3309 Croft Drive; This house invasion anything but random?
12
13 Captain Ohl indicated it was an odd offense and a strange time of day and we have no response to the
14 crime alert and teletype. There have not been any crimes similar to this in other communities.
15
16 Vicki Nelson, New Brighton resident but children attend Wilshire Park; Can St. Anthony increase
17 funding for our police department?
18
19 Mayor Faust indicated they would take this information into account. Especially with the increase in
20 population with Silver Lake Village.
21
22 Jim Zellmer, 3413 Downers Drive; Assumption that this building is safe because of the police
23 department but is there someone in the office 24 hours a day?
24
25 Captain Ohl indicated that there was not someone in the building 24 hours a day. There are police
26 officers on the streets of St. Anthony 24 hours a day. There is an emergency phone in the back of the
27 community center that connects to the 911 dispatcher if there is an emergency.
28
29 Rod Bloom, 3506 Skycroft Drive; There is no openness to this building open the building up if that is
30 not possible add a camera system. Also, what is the policy of the notification of meetings?
31
32 Captain Ohl stated that he agreed that the information could have been out in a better timely manner.
33
34 Mark Shadduck, 3609 Downers Drive; The windows in front of police department are milky and could
35 they be change to mirrored?
36
37 Captain Ohl indicated the film on the windows is new. There was a gentlemen from 3M that worked
38 with the police department and the milky film is the best product 3M manufactures. Also, because of
39 data practices issues there are legal issues to consider, so the milky film was the best.
40
41 Ken Johnson, 3510 Skycroft Drive; What percentage of our police effort is in Lauderdale?
42
43 Chief because of the contracts with Falcon Heights and Lauderdale we have more officers on the streets.
44 There would fewer officers on the street if we did not have these contracts.
45
46 Louise Louiselle, 3527 Skycroft Drive; How does the staffing police to public ratio compare with other
47 cities and they streets are extremely dark at night can there be additional li ting9
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 25, 2005
Page 6
2 Chief staffing ratio is 1.3, which we are below the average. The average is 2 in the metro area and 1.5 in
3 the outlaying areas. St. Anthony would be considered the metro area.
4
5 Mayor Faust indicated one of the 2005 goals is the street light policy can help this issue. This may take
6 some time and the lights can help keep the criminals away. Just remember that this will take some time.
8 Julianne Hunter, 3030 Silver Lake Road; In instances like this, is there a way to have something in n the
9 schools setup for students to talk to someone?
10
11 Captain Ohl indicated the schools has the DARE program and can help students in issues like this. In
12 addition to DARE we do have an officer in the schools two days a week for seven weeks.
13
14 Resident, 3405 Downers Drive; Is there a policy for getting information out and can the police reports
15 be put on the website.
16
17 Captain Ohl indicated that the police department will look into putting these reports on the website.
18
19 Tom Jaszewski, 3325 Croft Drive; Residents need to remember why this meeting was called It was
20 called to get the facts out and eliminate the rumors that are getting out
21
22 Captain Ohl reiterated that residents have to be informed of the facts.
23
24 Tom Maxwell, 3504 Skycroft Drive; Can there be better notification for getting information out to
25 residents?
26
27 Chief Engstrom reiterated that the police department is looking in the future with the IP individuals and
28 they will be handling the information and residents can sign up for this service. Once you have signed
29 up for the service the information will automatically emailed to you.
30
31 Mayor Faust indicated the information would get out either electronically or by block captains calling
32 individuals.
33
34 Sandy Maxwell; 3504 Skycroft Drive; Would it be beneficial to have a task force to get these policies in
35 21ggqZ
36
37 Barbara Cappelletti, 3500 Skycroft Drive; Are all community centers operated this way during the dam
38 Who guides this building in the daytime?
39
40 Mr. Mornson there are organized activities from 8 am to 6 pm and after 6 pm there are various groups in
41 the building. Activities within this building are supervised. The doors are not supervised but they are
42 left open to use bathrooms.
43
44 Don Dicks, 3519 Harding; Are their Police Reserves in St. Anthony and can one be stationed in the
45 police department?
46
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 25, 2005
Page 7
1 Chief Engstrom we are short of reserves currently for someone to stay in the police department would be
2 very difficult
4 Kim Bloom, 3506 Skycroft Drive; She lives next to the person that was robbed and did not hear
5 anything for two weeks. The victim is also their block captain Notification of the crime was not
6 reported in a timely manner. The Police department has been proactive but need to be more proactive in
7 the future.
9 Paulette "PT' Tombarge, 3013 Wilson Street; Emphasized for residents to call if anything seems
10 suspicious. She would like to see someone on staff until the door is locked at the community center
11
12 Dave Lucking, 3400 Edwards; The residents have given a lot of input to these issues and would like to
13 know how the staff, police department and city are going to address these issues
14
15 Captain Ohl indicated tonight we have talked about locking doors, security cameras, talking about
16 suspicious, being aware of your surroundings.
17
18 Mary Ann Thuesen, 3200 Edwards Street; Indicated that children should always to be with someone
19 else. Parents need to reinforce that children need to be with someone else Remember there is safety in
20 numbers.
21
22 Dennis Cavanaugh, 2909 St. Anthony Boulevard; By coincidence the village just completed its survey
23 and the quality of life statistics fell in 2005 compared to 2001 The survey also indicated that 22 percent
24 of the residents feel safe in the village. Residents need to be more vigilant.
25
26 Kay McReavy, former resident of Skycroft Drive; Appreciated this meeting and felt it was two year to
27 late. There were a series of car break ins two years ago The response time needs to be immediately and
28 notify neighbors more promptly.
29
30 Mayor Faust indicated that the council is committed to public safety. We all five take these acts very
31 seriously and you can be assured that the police department will act diligently in resolving these crimes.
32
33 Art Herrera, 3524 Highcrest Road; We have lived here for 40 years and proud of the services of the city.
34 Wanted to know the consequences of a resident shooting an intruder in their home?
35
36 Captain Ohl indicated that is a state statue that covers the shooting in self - defense.
37
38 Don Dick, 3519 Harding Street; Captain Ohl indicated that the Walmart call load was not obtainable?
39
40 Captain Ohl indicated the previous question was something and he could give the call load to Walmart
41 to date if he called tomorrow.
42
43 Mayor Faust reminded the residents that the police department is currently short two officers for
44 particular reasons.
45
46 Barry Tedlund, Fitness Crossroads; He was at the car show at the fair grounds in Falcon Heights an d
47 wondered if the force if being stretched with the police contracts in other areas Captain Ohl indicated
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 25, 2005
Page 8
1 that the car show was a special situation that the police officers were paid through the fair grounds He
2 also reiterated that the amount of officers that can respond to a call has doubled since having the
3 contracts with the other cities.
4
5 Dave Zurbey, 3637 Roosevelt Street; What is the time frame for getting the police department to full
6 staffing?
8 Captain Ohl indicated that they are processing applications and there will be initial interviews, oral
9 boards. He indicated it was a lengthy process.
10
11 Inella Jack, 3110 32nd Avenue; How do I find out whom my block captain is?
12
13 Captain Ohl encouraged them to call the Crime Prevention Department and they will be happy to assist
14 the resident.
15
16 Barry Tedlund; Can the phone be upfront instead of out back at the Community Center? The back
17 corner of the building seems a little intimidating and maybe moving the phone would be helpful
18 How can people get answers if they are intimated in this situation
19
20 Captain Ohl stated that residents could call him with any questions regarding this issue.
21
22 Mayor Faust asked Councilmembers to speak on behalf of meeting:
23
24 Councilmember Horst — Expressed his appreciation the community involvement this evening.
25
26 Councilmember Stille — St. Anthony residents need to use this as a wake up call. Are these isolated
27 incidences or an epidemic. The city still needs to do whatever to have a better police force and the
28 council will assist in anyway possible.
29
30 Councilmember Thuesen — Also, appreciate the turn out and important to hear the comments and
31 concerns of the residents. Encouraged residents to sign up for Silver Lake Road Task force and hoped
32 to see many of them at National Night Out. Safety of the children in the daycare center is always
33 important; they are always looking at safety and looking for ways to protect the children in the program.
34
35 Councilmember Gray — Encouraging turn out tonight and a level of apathy not there of people being
36 involved. If residents come forward with information and hopefully we can be a safer community.
37
38 Mayor Faust — Stated he has the power to call this special meeting and did so with the support of the
39 council. I am embolden by the amount of people that turned out tonight and through our upcoming
40 work sessions we will be get feedback to the community. Two -way communication is very important
41 within the city function and that is way we are having this meeting this evening.
42
43 ADJOURNMENT.
44
45 Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 8:55 pm.
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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 25, 2005
Page 9
Respectfully submitted,
Barb Suciu
ATTEST: (�
Cit 'lerk
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ayor