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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 08-29 CCM JT CC AND FC MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL/FINANCIAL COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESOTA JO1NT WORK SESSION AUGUST 29, 2022 ', CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS ��� 1. CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council/Financial Commission Joint Work Session was called to order by Mayor Elliott at 6:35 p.m. 2. OVERVIEW/INTRODUCTIONS Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, Kris Lawrence- Anderson, and Dan Ryan were present. Also, present were Financial Commissioner Chair Teneshia Kragness, Commissioners Taofeek Ishola, and Emmanuel Kpaleh. Also present were City Manager Reggie Edwards, City Clerk/Interim Assistant City Manager Barb Suciu, Communications and Community Engagement Manager/Interim Assistant City Manager Angel Smith, Fire Chief Todd Berg, Director of Recreation Cordell Wiseman, and Director of Finance and Fiscal Services Angela Holm. 3. 2023 GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENT BUDGET REQUEST 3a. FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Todd Berg stated the mission of the Brooklyn Center Fire Department is to protect lives and property from the adverse effects of fire and other dangerous conditions, whether manmade or acts of nature. This will be accomplished through public education and a commitment to excellence in training and superior customer service. Chief Berg explained there are five divisions within the Fire Department. The Administration Division is responsible for the management of the department. Functions in this division include budgeting, implementation, and development of policies and procedures and ensuring that all records are maintained and updated. The Fire Prevention Division offers a variety of public education opportunities that focus on fire prevention so people have the knowledge and skills they need to lead safer lives. Additionally, the Fire Department conducts building inspections within the community making the community a safer place. Chief Berg added the Operations Division provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, 8/29/2022 Page 1 mitigation of hazardous materials spills and leaks, and other rescue services to the citizens and visitors who transverse our community. The Training Division is responsible for making sure all firefighters are trained to the appropriate certification level by offering weekly, monthly, and yearly training opportunities. Finally, Emergency Management helps identify and mitigate risks within the community through individual and organizational preparedness. This is accomplished through planning,training,conducting emergency management drills, and responding to disasters. Chief Berg showed a slide with a table depicting the current Department Staff levels. In 2022, there was 33 total personnel. In 2022,the Deputy Fire Chief was restructured into the Deputy Fire Marshall. There has consistently been one full-time inspector and one administrative coordinator. There are two on-call Assistant Fire Chiefs, four on-call Captains, and 23 on-call firefighters. The Charter allows for 40 on-call firefighters. In 2023, Chief Berg is asking for a full-time Fire Inspector/Community Liaison. Chief Berg stated the goal of the budget is to increase the safety of the community by offering Home Safety Surveys, Hands-Only CPR, and the installation of Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors. They would like to visit all elementary schools during Fire Prevention Week and educate approximately 1250 school-aged children on fire safety. Continue Fire and Fall safety for older adults. In the future, the Department is looking to retain a compassion dog for internal and external use. It is a low cost with a large impact. Chief Berg stated in 2023, he is looking to recruit at least five additional paid-on-call firefighters. He hopes to continue to be the resource for other City departments and the community in dealing with COVID-19. As earlier stated, the Department is also looking to add a full-time Fire inspector/Community Liaison to help increase the rotation of fire inspections and focus more on the community engagement of the fire department. Chief Berg showed a slide with the Fire Department Budget by program and object code. Overall, the budget for 2023 is $2.3 million. Some of the biggest expenditures in 2023 will be personnel services. In 2022, there was a lot of worker's compensation to deal with. Chief Berg stated the compassion dog is included in the supplies budget for a one-time cost of $15,000 to buy the dog, train the dog, and outfit a vehicle. In the future, it would only be about $2,000 each year for the dog. There is also a one-time expense to replace the office chairs as they have been ripping employees' pants. He added there is also the consideration of inflation for supplies. Chief Berg stated the large jump in central garage charges is meant to keep up with the past outdated budgets for vehicles. There is no budget for capital outlay in 2023. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked what hands-only CPR is. Chief Berg stated the technique is used to assist someone without breathing assistance. The program teaches groups of ten or so people the technique. Recently, the medical community has learned there is enough oxygen in a person's blood to keep the brain going with only chest compressions. He added the Fire Department trained the entire high school before COVID-19, and many youth groups are 8/29/2022 Page 2 interested in the training. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated she would like to participate in the training sometime. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked what type of dog the Fire Department is looking to get. Chief Berg stated the dog is a compassion therapy dog. It would be trained to approach people and allow them to be a pet. Research has shown health and anxiety improvements. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked what the breed of dog would be. Chief Berg stated the dog is traditionally a Golden Retriever or a Labrador. Commissioner Kragness asked how the $15,000 for the dog works out. Chief Berg stated the purchase of the dog, the multiple training sessions for the dog, the vet bills, the outfitting of a vehicle for the dog, a space at the fire station for the dog, and the cost of supplies such as food or a leash. Mayor Elliott asked where the dog would sleep. Chief Berg stated the dog would go home with his handler each day. Mayor Elliott asked who the handler is. Chief Berg stated he would be the handler because he is consistently at the Fire Department, and he is committed to staying at the Fire Department for the years to come. Councilmember Ryan thanked Chief Berg for the presentation and explanations. Councilmember Lawrence Anderson asked what positions would change for 2023. Chief Berg stated there would be four more on-call firefighters and one full-time inspector to be added. The Department has lost six firefighters for on-call, three are in training, and one has been added. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked what is attributing to the need for more on-call firefighters. Chief Berg stated in 2022, there were 29 on-call firefighters. It works better for scheduling when there are at least 30 on-call folks. It helps to avoid burnout and better serves the employees. In 2021, 29 people responded to 717 calls for service. Commissioner Kragness asked what the cost difference would be between a compassion therapy dog and a police dog. Commander Gruenig stated the two dogs would require similar car outfitting, training costs, and supply needs. There hasn't been a canine unit in Brooklyn Center. A police dog would likely be more expensive for the need for high-level training and a particular breed needed. The training for a police dog is closer to 16 weeks rather than a few sessions and would be about double the cost of a compassion therapy dog. Commission Kpaleh as the significance with the dog. Chief Berg stated when they go to people's homes after a fire, it is likely the worst day of their entire life. The impact of a therapy dog has shown to be extremely positive. He noted several of his recent calls have included children, and he tries to get their minds off the event. Also, there would be a positive impact on the Staff. Chief Berg noted there was a large fire recently at the Crest. People are very lost after such a tragedy and need compassion. The Fire Department rescued a service dog for a man living in the Crest. He added there was another experience he had when he worked with two people who had lost someone in a car accident, and it would have been a great time for a dog to be present. 8/29/2022 Page 3 Commissioner Kragness asked if Chief Berg would always have to be present when the dog is at an incident. Chief Berg stated as the Fire Chief, he responds to all major incidents anyways. His position is salary, and it makes the most sense for him to be the handler. City Clerk Barb Suciu noted there was a comment in the chat which pointed out dogs are used in a variety of inental health settings. There is a lot of research supporting the benefits. The comment was made by Julie B. Kevin S. stated he would like to know more about the differences between the dogs for police and fire. He added he would see the positive impacts of a dog in the Fire Department. Mayor Elliott asked how response times are doing and what the goals are. Chief Berg stated the Department has goals each year. There is a national standard called NFPA for firefighters to respond to a structure fire within nine minutes with 15 responders for 90 percent of the time. New York City.and Brooklyn Center and any rural town all strive for that standard. Chief Berg noted in 2021, for ten of the 25 major fire events, both the personnel and time components were met. In 72 percent of the cases,the time component was met. In 15 of the cases, the personnel component was met. The NFPA categorizes a structure fire as an entire house is on fire or where there was a stove fire where some cabinets were charred. Chief Berg added another standard is to contain a fire within the room of origin. That was met in 13 of the 25 events. However, the Fire Department usually gets the call several minutes after a fire is noticed because the person making the call has tried to put the fire out themselves. Mayor Elliott asked how the 2021 response rates compare with previous years. Chief Berg stated he doesn't have the numbers available, but he could compile the data. However, it is likely to be rather similar. It ultimately depends on when a fire occurs and when a fire is noticed. Commissioner Kpaleh asked how many people can be on-duty. Chief Berg stated the Fire Department has two people on duty every day from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. When the pagers go off,up to 29 people respond to the call. The on-call folks drive from their homes to the Fire Station and then to the scene. In the meantime,there is a truck dispatched from the Station. Mayor Elliott pointed out that some cultures would not see dogs as a benefit. He asked if that has been considered. Chief Berg stated that concern has been considered. The dog will always be on a leash, and it is easy to tell if people are uncomfortable with a dog. Mayor Elliott asked what other comfort techniques have been considered. He explained that Muslim people won't touch a dog. Chief Berg stated he has looked into other options, but he would look into more alternatives. Dr. Edwards noted four new directors are presenting to the Council for the first time for the rest of the meeting. 8/29/2022 Page 4 3b. RECREATION . Director of Recreation Cordell Wiseman explained the mission of the Department is to foster a safe and healthy community and enrich the quality of life for all. Their values include inclusion, equity, quality, innovativeness, and adaptability. Mr. Wiseman pointed out there are several divisions within the Department. Community Recreation Services includes the programs of public health, Beautification and Public Art, Brooklyn Center Food Collective, Community Events (Citywide focused events), and Youth � Development. Special Enterprises includes the Brooklyn Center Heritage Center and Centerbrook Golf Course. Community Center Services includes pool and swimming, fitness �ii center, and membership development and relations � Mr. Wiseman noted Recreation Program Services includes family programs,adult programs,youth programs, youth sports senior programs, and special events. Recreation Administration includes front desk and customer service, department evaluation and data analysis, shelter/room rentals and permits, and marketing/outreach. Finally, Recreation Facility and Property Program Services include parks coordination with Public Works, trail coordination, tournament and leagues, and recreational facilities. Mr. Wiseman showed a table with Department Staffing numbers. They are looking to have 26 Staff inembers in both 2022 and 2023. Budget highlights include increasing resident utilization of the Community Center, utilizing the new Division which includes health programs, youth engagement and empowerment, beautification and public art program, BC Community Food Collective, multi-cultural programming, and evaluation of programs. Mr. Wiseman showed a slide of the Department budget broken up by program and object code. He noted there is an increase in the 2023 budget to allow for a living wage for part-time employees, which costs about $225,000. Additionally, there is a proposed $150,000 study for the new Community Center. There are wages for a part-time artist resident funded by American Rescue Plan Act(ARPA). There are other initiatives funded by ARPA. He added there is a cost of$80,000 for the cost of electricity and gas after issues during COVID-19. Mr. Wiseman pointed out there are three Divisions that operate seven days a week. Therefore, he did some restructuring and hired a new manager. The positions are not new. The Department has been operating at a deficit,which is likely due to the lack of living wages. Mr. Wiseman stated the 29 percent increase in the budget also includes some new positions to address issues the Department has with rentals and other things in the parks. The goal is to be proactive and preventative rather than reactive. There are some other restructuring changes to be made, such as adding a supervisor. There is also a goal to address accessibility issues at the Community Center. There are some new sports programs to promote inclusivity. Mr. Wiseman added membership is a big project to take on. He would like to provide free access to residents. 60 percent of the membership is non-residents. They opened up more hours on Fridays and Saturdays for free use, and the use has gone up. The Department wants to make sure 8/29/2022 Page 5 more residents have access and barriers such as cost and transportation are addressed. Rentals and money recouped from programming could be utilized to create free memberships for residents. It is currently about $36 per month to have a membership. Another option would be to offer a one- time cost for residents to use the space for$25 or $50 just to cover the administrative costs. Mr. Wiseman noted they provided the option of two free weeks of swimming lessons to communities of color. There was a maximum of 50 kids that could sign up. People of color have a high rate of drowning, and the goal was to make them more comfortable with water. They hope to continue offering similar opportunities to better support various cultures. Mayor Elliott thanked Mr. Wiseman for the presentation. He pointed out some residents have expressed concerns about being able to afford a membership. The free or more affordable options offered by the Community Center make a big impact on those who may not be able to afford access otherwise. Councilmember Ryan noted his agreement with Mayor Elliott. The core mission of the local government is to offer services such as recreation. The costs for services revert to property taxpayers due to the ta�c base. The City could look for additional ways to support the Parks and Recreation Department without relying on property tax because it is a regressive tax. With commercial development and outside grants, they could increase their revenue. Mr. Wiseman stated the Recreation Supervisor has been looking at grants and partnership options to continue offsetting costs and offering more affordable programming. Councilmember Ryan pointed out some health insurance plans offer discounts and free health memberships because it would reduce costs for health insurance. That is another option to help support the community and accessibility. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked who the two weeks of free swimming were for. Mr. Wiseman stated it was for children in the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated there should be free swimming for all children. If there is free swimming, it should be offered to everyone that lives in the City. She noted she is white and doesn't know how to swim. Mayor Elliott stated that no children have been turned away. Mr. Wiseman reiterated staff has not turned any children away from the program. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked about which Departments are funded by American Rescue Plan Act(ARPA). She asked if the money is sustainable and if the programs that are being funded through ARPA are sustainable. Director of Finance and Fiscal Services Angela Holm stated ARPA may be used in the Department of Parks and Recreation for arts programs. Mr. Wiseman stated the funds have been considered for the resident artist and health and wellness. Ms. Holm stated the ARPA is a unique pot of money. There are always discussions about the longevity of a program when discussing fund sources such as ARPA. 8/29/2022 Page 6 Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated they should be budgeting for consistent, long-term needs,and ARPA funds should be used for programs that go above and beyond the normal function and services. Councilmember Ryan asked when ARPA funds run out. Ms. Holm stated the funds run out in 2024. There are qualifications for use of the funding. Councilmember Ryan agreed ARPA funds should be used to maximize results. There are several needs in the community, and the Council and Staff need to decide how to create sustainable services and benefits. Dr.Edwards stated they don't use ARPA or other grant funds for long-term or administrative needs as a principle. It is used for a one-time program typically. He pointed out that 60 percent of the Community Center members are not residents of Brooklyn Center. They are looking for ways to offer free services to the 40 percent of users that are Brooklyn Center residents and considering how to increase revenue to be able to afford that option. Commissioner Kragness noted she loves the idea of free Community Center access for residents. The City is trying to be intentional about the benefits and services offered to the community. She added she appreciates the internal promotion that happened in the Parks and Recreation Department. Mr. Wiseman summarized some of the internal promotions that have taken place in the Department. The promotions include additional responsibilities for the individuals. Mayor Elliott asked what the increase in the supplies budget is for. Mr. Wiseman stated the increase in supplies has always had a small budget. Some of the Divisions were combined, so there are decreases in other line items. The Divisions didn't all have a set supplies budget previously, so the money was relocated to the supplies line item. Carmina P. pointed out there was a large increase in the supply budget. She explained she doesn't see where much of the programming happens. There aren't a lot of options for regular participation by youth and families. She asked what is being done about the issue of a lot of money being spent without a lot of programming offered. Carmina P. added she doesn't understand how the State can have such a surplus while the Fire Department and Parks and Recreation Department need more and require an increase in taxes. It is the responsibility of the Council, Commissioners, and Staff to address the issue of the State not distributing its surplus. Carmina P. stated she understands the increase in wages for employees. People deserve a livable wage. However, several employees make too much money. For example, law enforcement earns too much money. Julie B. thanked the City for continuing to consider vulnerable populations and those that don't have as much access to the Community Center. There are families in the community that needs programming such as free swimming lessons, and the City is being very intentional. Kevin S.thanked the Council for following Robert's Rules of Order. He added he and his children have learned how to swim at the Community Center. 8/29/2022 Page 7 Lori M. thanked Mr. Wiseman for the presentation. She asked if Centennial Park Ballfields can be rented and who can rent them. Mr. Wiseman stated they are rented out for games but are also available for public use. Lori M. asked how many acres of the open field are at Centennial Park. Mr. Wiseman stated he doesn't know the answer off the top of his head. Lori M. noted that Centennial Park is used for many events. Also, there is adequate parking. She pointed out the presentation didn't present the option of a farmer's market at Centennial Park. However,it may be under consideration to be held at the Opportunity Site. Centennial Park would be a more convenient location for many residents. Lori M. asked how many incidents law enforcement was called to respond to parks for service calls. Mr. Wiseman stated he didn't know the number, but he could connect with the Police Department. Lori M. stated Centennial Park is a central location for the community. She asked if one of the speakers pointed out a cultural group that has a fear of water. She explained the speakers have been difficult to hear. Mr. Wiseman stated the two-week free lessons were offered to the BIPOC community, but no children would have been turned away from the opportunity. Lori M. asked if Brooklyn Center has considered a splash pad to complement other amenities at Centennial Park, similar to Crystal. Community members need to have the opportunity to play. Mayor Elliott stated questions should be addressed to him and he would allow Staff to answer as needed. Mr. Wiseman stated there has been a study conducted regarding water features such as a pool or splash pad. Mayor Elliott stated Councilmember Ryan would continue presiding over the meeting as Mayor Pro Tem Ryan. Mayor Elliott left at 8:12 p.m. to pick up his daughter. 3c. ADMINISTRATION City Manager Reggie Edwards explained there have been previous discussions with the Council regarding budget, levy, and programming. The Departments are presenting their requests to the Council. Not everything presented to the Council will be approved. Dr. Edwards pointed out that the Department of Administration works closely with all other Departments. The mission of the Department of Administration is to provide citywide support and leadership to internal and external customers. The Council sets policy, and it is the role of the City Manager to implement that. The Council also serves as the Economic Development Authority and the Canvassing Board. 8/29/2022 Page 8 , Dr. Edwards stated there will be two new Councilmembers come the first of the year so funds are requested for training and supplies. Also, there is a small compensation set aside for Councilmembers. There isn't much change in the Council's budget. There is an increase of three percent for salaries, some supply increases specifically for council computer replacements, professional services for meeting minutes and Common Sense, and an increase in dues and memberships. Dr. Edwards noted there are five Divisions within the Department. The Depa.rtment of Administration is composed of the City Manager's Office, Office of the City Clerk, Office of Equity and Human Resources, Division of Information Technology, and Division of Communication and Community Engagement. He added there was some restructuring so the Office of Community Health, Prevention, and Safety is separate from the Departrnent of Administration but this department will continue to report to the City Manager. Dr. Edwards stated the City Manager's Office is composed of the City Manager and two Interim Assistant City Managers. The primary responsibility of the City Manager is organizational leadership. The Interim Assistant City Managers assist the City Manager and lead in citywide projects. Note the City Manager's budget still isn't funding the Deputy City Manager. The Office of the City Clerk is composed of the City Clerk, Deputy Clerk, and Customer Service Specialist. The Clerk's Office manages City records, administers elections, issues business licenses, leads customer service, and responds to public inquiries. Dr. Edwards stated the Office of Equity and Human Resources is composed of the Director, two HR Specialists,and Payroll Technician.This division manages human resource activities including labor relations, equity and inclusion, employee training and development, payroll and benefits administration, and employee recruitment. The Division of Infortnation Technology is composed of the IT Director, IT/GIS Specialist, and an IT Technician. This division plans, manages, and supports the City's technology infrastructure and helps lead city operational efficiency. Dr. Edwards added, finally, the Division of Communication and Community Engagement is composed of a Communication Manager and Community Engagement Specialist,Communication Graphics Specialist, Community Engagement Specialist (part-time), and Neighborhood Engagement Liaisons (part-time). This division manages both internal and external communications, branding and marketing efforts, media relations, and resident and community engagement. Dr. Edwards noted the Community Engagement Liaison changed from four part-time positions to ' two part-time positions with more hours. Overall,there are about 16 full-time employees. There is not currently a Deputy City Manager, and there is not a plan to bring one on in 2023 either. There is hope to add another Human Resources employee. Dr. Edwards explained there has been a lot of turnover and changes amongst Staff over the past ' couple of years. There are multiple new Directors, and it has had significant effects on the ex le he or anization and the culture. It is his oal to remain communit -centered. For am , t g g Y P community was engaged in the hiring process for all of the Directors. 8/29/2022 Page 9 Dr.Edwards noted the increases in the budget for the Department of Administration include a three percent increase in pay and also an increase in the cost of supplies. There was a reduction in the elections budget for 2023 because it is not an election year. Some of the Information Technology services have been rearranged that require an additional cost in 2023. However,it will save money for the City in the long term. Commissioner Kragness asked if the City has not had a Deputy City Manager in the past. Dr. Edwards stated they have had Assistant City Managers. There have only been two Deputy City Managers in the past. Commissioner Kragness pointed out Dr. Edwards had an easy transition from Deputy City Manager to City Manager. Therefore,the lack of a Deputy City Manager may be a risk area should there be a transitory need in the future. Dr. Edwards stated he was in a City Manager position before working for Brooklyn Center. He added the role of a City Manager is not very diverse. He intends to create opportunity and develop two capable individuals and the City Council could choose one of those. He explained in the State of Minnesota with CounTy Managers, City Managers,and Township Managers which is over 2400 units of government, he is the only African American City Manager. The numbers are better for females within the pipeline across the United States, but there is still a disparity. It was fairly intentional to create opportunity both in gender and ethnicity. It does create some challenges but believes the City could operate at a higher level and create opportunities. Mayor Pro Tem Ryan noted he has high regard for both Interim Assistant City Managers. He asked if Dr. Edwards is objectively looking at their capacity to fill the role of Interim Assistant City Manager apart from their regular duties. Every two years the City Clerk has an expeditiously increased workload with elections. In the same manner, the last two years have had tremendous stress on communications with COVID-19 and civil unrest. Overall, there is a concern about not having a Deputy City Manager to take over the role of the Interim Assistant City manager from the City Clerk and the Communications and Community Engagement Manager. He has received comments regarding the responsiveness of the organization and hopes with will continue to be a priority for the organization overall. Dr. Edwards stated at the forefront of his job every day is the responsiveness of the organization and that is something he wouldn't jeopardize at the expense of trying to create opportunity. There is always a balance between creating opportunities and providing services. If there is a need for transitions,there will be a plan to handle that situation. Commissioner Kpaleh asked if the new Councilmember will be in addition to the current Council and if they will receive training. Dr. Edwards stated there will be two new Councilmembers on the first of the year. If they haven't served on the Brooklyn Center City Council previously, they will receive training from Staff. Mayor Pro Tem Ryan noted he would be leaving the Council at the end of the year, and a replacement will be chosen by vote. 8/29/2022 Page 10 I Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked if the legal budget presented is only for the Administrative Department or for all Departments. Dr. Edwards stated the legal budget is for all Departments. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked Staff to provide a breakdown of legal services by Department. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson explained each Councilmember meets with the City Manager once a month. However, she and Dr. Edwards have not found a common time to meet in recent months. She stated a year ago she agreed to have two Interim Assistant City Managers but is wondering how long they will be interims and how many cities of similar size have the same structure as Interim City managers. She asked who would be able to step into the shoes of Dr. Edwards tomorrow if something happened to Dr. Edwards. She stated she disagrees with the two interims and is concerned with stringing two employees along during this time. Dr. Edwards stated there is the potential for one of the two Interim Assistant City Managers to become a permanent Assistant City Manager. 3d. POLICE DEPARTMENT Brooklyn Center Police Department Commander Tony Gruenig stated the mission of the Police Department is to protect and serve in a manner that preserves the public trust. He explained there are multiple Divisions within the Department. Commander Gruenig stated the Administration Division provides the overall leadership and management oversight of the Department and ensures that proper funds and resources are allocated as efficiently as possible to aid in the reduction of crime and life safety issues. Commander Gruenig noted the Investigative Division handles approximately 1,000 felony-level cases that need an advanced level of police investigation beyond field-level information gathering. The work includes advanced-level evidence recovery and applying those results to aid in suspect identification, such as DNA and physical property evidence. The Division also moves the investigation from probable cause to beyond a reasonable doubt. The Investigative Division also works in direct partnership with Hennepin County Attorney's Office, Hennepin County Child Protection Services, Hennepin County Adult Protection, and CornerHouse Child Advocacy and Interview Services. Commander Gruenig explained the Patrol Division is the primary responder to 911 and emergency calls for service. Each year, the police department handles nearly 37,000 public safety incidents, which amounts to about 100 calls in 24 hours. The Patrol Division has three part-time units that work together with the patrol officers to ensure that the best quality of service is delivered for each call: Domestic Abuse Response Team (DART), the Emergency Operations Unit (EOU), and Hostage Negotiation Team (HNT). Commander Gruenig stated the Community Services Division has seven primary approaches to building partnerships within the community and promoting a city-wide collaborative approach to eliminating crime including the Crime Prevention Program,the Multicultural Community Liaison, 8/29/2022 Page 11 and Joint Community Police Partnership (JCPP), an Embedded Social Worker from Hennepin County, a Juvenile Unit,the Commercial Area Street Crimes Unit, the Police Cadet Program, and Crime Analysis. He pointed out there are several open positions in the previously listed programs. Commander Gruenig added the Support Services Division prepares all police reports in a format that can be used for review and dissemination of crime information and reports accurate crime data to the state of Minnesota from the records that are generated by our agency. Each year, the Police Department processes nearly 5,000 detailed reports. The Support Services Division fulfills all data requests made by the public, media, or other public safety partners. Commander Gruenig stated the Police Department has been authorized for 64.64 Staff,49 of which are sworn, officers. In 2022, three positions were frozen. They were not funded in 2022 or 2023. There are currently 35 police officers, including both the Chief and the officer that was sworn in last week. Mayor Pro Tem Ryan stated he thought there was a placeholder in the budget for the three , positions. Dr. Edwards stated Staff froze the positions by not funding the three positions because that is how the Council directed the Staff. It would cost about $300,000 to unfreeze the roles. Mayor Pro Tem Ryan asked if money could be in a contingency should there be candidates. His priority is community safety. A recent presentation from the Police Department showed that crime rates are higher than ever. Mayor Pro Tem Ryan explained when he started working with the local City government, there was also a high crime rate. He worked with colleagues to get four more positions and an additional federally funded position and also promoted neighborhood watch groups, which improved the crime rates. Mayor Pro Tem Ryan pointed out public safety has to be addressed. It is the role of the Council , to provide a safe community for its residents. There are not many candidates because police work ��, has an image issue. Brooklyn Center should continue to incentive potential employees with ' programming and lateral hires. Some people believe police officers are paid too much, but the I salaries have to be competitive to get the best candidates. � Commander Gruenig added there was a slight budget increase for the social worker due to some changes in the County's program. Commander Gruenig noted there were several highlights for the Department in 2022. Benchmark Analytics software has been set up to streamline the process of reporting and sharing the use of force, pursuit, and complaint information. The program has allowed police to ' be �' more efficient and transparent in those areas. The Police Department continues to ensure '�, mandates are met and officers receive the training required by the MN POST Board. The �I standards set forth have to be met annually for our officers to be POST licensed and certified by j the State of Minnesota. Due to low numbers, it has been difficult to provide additional training. Commander Gruenig added diversity training has been incorporated into the subject matter '� presented at the biannual department in-service training. Brooklyn Center is a very diverse city I 8/29/2022 � Page 12 � and this type of training would reflect how we build trusting relationships with the community that we serve. Brooklyn Center continues to have success with our embedded social worker which was established in 2021. There have been some issues with consistent staffing from the County. The current social worker has made a lot of progress and created alternative options for law enforcement to respond to all calls. Lastly, the Department continues to reach out to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC) to assist with improving community trust, data analysis, retention, and diversity recruiting. Commander Gruenig stated budget highlights for 2023 include body-worn camera replacement and interview room camera replacements. It will be paid for over five years. Currently, about 20 percent of cameras are not working. Fixing or replacing cameras costs around $1000 for each camera. Also, the battery life of the cameras has deteriorated, and the cameras are over five years old. Therefore, it is necessary to replace the cameras. Commander Gruenig stated they are trying to work with the other Departments to better utilize funds. The Police Department is collaborating with the Fire Departrnent to obtain a communications van. It will be a salvage truck with an emergency operations command post. Also, some other police equipment needs to be replaced. Commander Gruenig noted there are several Departmental goals for 2023. The Department hopes to stabilize department staffing levels and address diversity and equity in hiring. Actions include continuing to offer a lateral incentive but include making it competitive with other agencies, continuing to keep the job application city and Post Board sites open longer to attract good solid applicants,expedite the hiring process due to surrounding agencies competing with a faster process to attract applicants, and go out to High Schools and Colleges to educate and attract individuals that still want a career in law enforcement and promote Brooklyn Center. Commander Gruenig stated more Staff training is also a goal for the upcoming year. There are plans to incorporate Diversity Training into the annual in-service curriculum, increase Staff knowledge and training related to crisis intervention, and educate the community with Public Service Announcements (PSAs) at community events and or speaking engagements. Comma.nder Gruenig stated the Police Department has a goal of increased neighborhood engagement. They plan to engage with local watch captains to address neighborhood issues and promote city resources, continue to host small neighborhood area meetings with the assistance of City Funds and continue to a partnership with other departments to continue to come up with response plans in emergencies, and to add members to create a Community Engagement Team. This team will help build a trusting relationship between the Community and the Police Department. Commander Gruenig added the final goal for 2023 is increased transparency. The Department will implement a data dashboard on the City website,continue to reinitiate and expand department social media accounts, and utilize other social media outlets to address incidents to the public and city council promptly. 8/29/2022 Page 13 Commander Gruenig stated the body-worn cameras are a pretty big ask, so that is a decent portion of the budget. The capital outlay line item is for the joint vehicle with the Fire Department. There is a need for new computers as a supply category. Commissioner Kragness asked what other challenges the Department faces due to Staffing issues. Commander Gruenig stated the Department has trouble filling shifts and responding to 911 calls for service. There are minimum Staffing levels that have been lowered to allow for officers to have time off. When an officer goes to training, it creates an even larger deficit. The Department also can't continue to offer overtime as that is not beneficial for the mental health and well-being of the officers. Commissioner Kragness asked if the response times have increased. Commander Gruenig confirmed response times have gone up. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson noted there was a labor study that needs to be completed and then there will be a possibility of unfreezing the positions. She added the Department is authorized for 49 sworn officers. She asked how many officers the proposed budget allows for. Commander Gruenig stated the labor study is almost complete. The preliminary report shows calls for service have gone up significantly and the Staffing levels have gone down consistently since 2017. There should be another report within 60 days. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson stated what she has heard from community members and , Staff that there have been more calls for service and slower response times. She asked how many ' sworn officers the proposed budget allows for. Dr. Edwards stated the proposed budget funds 46 positions. There was a question from the audience. Mayor Pro Tem Ryan asked for the community member to share their question with him after the meeting due to the late hour and out of respect to Staff. He explained the community member would receive a response within a day or two. Julie B. stated there is a lot of speculation and concern from community members regarding the frozen police positions and what it means. If the three additional positions were funded, the Department is not at a place to take on more than the ten openings throughout the next year because the training process takes a long time. Commander Gruenig stated the Police Department can hire and train about four police officers every four months. That means in 2023, the Department could take on 12 more officers. There are ten funded positions unfilled and three frozen positions, two of which could likely be filled in 2023. Julie B. asked if that many positions could have been filled in 2022. Commander Gruenig stated they can train four officers in four months. 8/29/2022 Page 14 Mayor Pro Tem Ryan asked for the community member to share their question with him after the meeting due to the late hour and out of respect to Staff. He explained the community member would receive a response within a day or two. 3e. COMMUNITY PREVENTION HEALTH AND SAFETY Office of Community Prevention, Health, and Safety Interim Manager LaToya Turk showed a slide with the organizational structure of the Office of Community Prevention,Health, and Safety. The mission is to ensure a coordinated public health-oriented approach that relies on diversity and an evidence-based approach to public safety, health, and economics for residents and business owners in the City. Additionally, the Office provides leadership, support, coordination, and evaluation throughout the Enterprise and community in the areas of health,prevention, and public safety. Ms. Turk stated the Office of Community Prevention,Health and Safety have Divisions to address each of the key focus areas: prevention, health, and safety. The Department uses a culturally- aware approach with a diversity lens. The Office promotes community-led safety solutions. Ms. Turk stated the Office is new, and there will be a benchmazking guide developed as a new analyst Staff inember is brought on. The Office will pilot the grant-funded alternative response models and implement a community-based youth intervention pilot model. The goals for 2023 include seeking out equitable initiatives. The Office will also work to fill the permanent committee as called for in the Duante Wright and Kobe Dimock-Heisler Community Violence Prevention and Safety Act. Dr. Edwards added there is a contingency line of$125,000 to start building the capacity to sustain the grant-funded programs by year three. By the time the grant is over, there should be $300,000 available to continue the programming. The amount of money saved and budgeted in the future will determine what programs the City can afford. Mayor Pro Tem Ryan stated he doesn't want to get into too much discussion at the late hour. There will be several recommendations from the Implementation Committee. Staff could evaluate the suggestions to help determine the fiscal constraints. Councilmember Lawrence-Anderson asked what coordination is happening. Ms. Turk stated the Office is working with Police and Fire Departments to address the increase in service calls. The Office of Community Prevention, Health and Safety is also working with public works with planning and with Recreation to connect with youth and Health on the Go. There is coordination with the Communications Team to ensure information is available to diverse communities. Carmina P. stated since the program is funded for two years through grants, she asked if it is possible to seek out more grant funding down the line. Dr. Edwards pointed out Staff sought out the current grants, and they are continuing to seek out grant funding to continue the programming. There are some leads for future grants and the possible extension of upcoming grants. Councilmember Lawrence Anderson asked if there is another budget meeting before it is voted on. 8/29/2022 Page 15 She noted concerns about the levy. Dr. Edwards stated he considered the levy opinions of the Council. 4. 2023 BUDGET OVERVIEW—FOLLOW UP 5. FUTURE BUDGET DISCUSSIONS Sa. SEPTEMBER 12—RECOMMENDED PRELIMINARY LEVY AND BUDGET Sb. SEPTEMBER 26—ADOPT PRELIMINARY BUDGET 6. ADJOURN There was a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Ryan to adjourn the meeting. There was not a quorum present, so the motion was unable to be voted on. Mayor Pro Tem Ryan adj ourned the meeting at 9:42 p.m. STATE OF MINNESOTA) COLTNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) The undersigned,being the duly qualified and appointed City Clerk of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of the City Council from the City of Brooklyn Center Joint Work Session with Financial Commission held on August 29, 2022. 2. That said meeting was held pursuant to due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its September 26, 2022, Regular Session. "�� City Clerk Mayor 8/29/2022 Page 16