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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019 09-04 CCM Financial Commission Joint Work SessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL/FINANCIAL COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND STATE OF MINNESOTA JOINT WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 4, 2019 CITY HALL — CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council/Financial Commission Joint Work Session was called to order by Mayor Elliott at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Elliott stated tonight's meeting would include preliminary budget presentations fiom the Police Department and Fire Department. ROLL CALL Mayor Mike Elliott and Councilmembers Marquita Butler, April Graves, and Dan Ryan. Councilmember Kris Lawrence -Anderson was absent and excused. Also present were Financial Commissioners Tia Hedenland, Taneshia Kragness, and Abate Terefe. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Police Chief Tim Gannon; Fire Chief Todd Berg; and Director of Fiscal & Support Services Nate Reinhardt. APPROVAL OFAGENDA There was a motion by Councilmember Ryan and seconded by Councilmember Butler to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion passed. POLICE DEPARTMENT Police Chief Tim Gannon gave a presentation on the staffing, budget, and goals of the Police Department, which maintains strategic partnerships with surrounding area agencies to assist with crime prevention. He reviewed current staffing levels, including 3 Division Commanders, a Support Services Manager, 7 Sergeants, 5 Detectives, a School Resource Officer, Juvenile Officer, and Auto Theft Officer. An internal Investigator position is being proposed for a 1 -year assignment to focus on higher-level crimes. Chief Gannon stated two new Patrol Officers are proposed for 2020, in addition to the existing 28 Patrol Officers. He added civilian positions include a Crime Prevention Specialist, Administrative Assistant, and 8 Records Technicians. He noted between 10-12 Community Service Officers are employed on a part-time basis. Chief Gannon stated the Administrative Division, for which he has the responsibility, ensures proper and efficient allocation of funds and resources. He added the Investigative Division makes evidence recovery and works with Child Protection Services as well as other judicial and administrative staff to handle all levels of crime investigation. He noted the Patrol Division responds to public safety calls for service, and the units work together to ensure best practices. A Community Liaison embedded with Patrol Officers is a Hennepin County employee. Chief Gannon stated the Police Department is focused on crisis intervention and mental illness crisis conflict management and mediation. Policies are posted online and available to the public to increase transparency. A strong Facebook presence is maintained. Community Service Officers attend events and activities, many of which are youth events, to interact with the City's youth in non- enforcement opportunities. The Police Explorers are a group of local youth who are interested in a career in law enforcement. Chief Gannon stated the Police Force works closely with the Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC), a group of citizen volunteers, through monthly communication meetings to review community issues and information. Chief Gannon stated the Police Cadet program fosters potential officer candidates and provides financial assistance with the agreement that they will become Brooklyn Center Police Officers when they graduate. He added eight cadets had been hired over the last ten years of this successful program. He noted they are required to stay in Brooklyn Center for a minimum of three years. Chief Gannon stated he serves on the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance Board of Directors. He added a dedicated Youth Officer provides direct family support and administers juvenile diversion programs, including the Big Brother and Big Sister programs. Chief Gannon stated a dedicated patrol team focuses on commercial zones within Brooklyn Center and works in partnership with Metro Transit. Chief Gannon reviewed annual operating performance objectives. He added there were 376 crimes in Brooklyn Center and 362 crimes in Hennepin County, per 100,000 population, which is the first time that the City has been above the average, mainly due to new reporting requirements. He noted the goal is to be 10% below the average. Chief Gannon stated the City of Brooklyn Center is 9% below the county average for burglaries. Chief Gannon stated the Youth Diversion program is a priority for the Police Department and is currently in the 3 0-40% range with 103 referrals. He stressed the importance of ensuring the success of this program. He added Northern Star Diversion had provided services for several years. Councilmember Graves asked whether every eligible youth is offered a referral, and how many are interested. She added some youth might not recognize the value of referral as it is not a requirement. Chief Gannon stated there are criteria for eligibility based on the level of crime and whether they have completed the diversion program. He added it is often difficult to get in contact with the youth and their families, but the majority want to participate. He noted some youth might not live in Brooklyn Center and would not be eligible for the diversion program. Page 2 9/04/2019 Councilmember Ryan asked whether the City should advocate for a County -wide diversion program that would remove barriers for youth for completion of these programs, like location and transportation. Chief Gannon stated a juvenile diversion initiative is proposed at the County level that would get all cities within the County to participate in a consistent diversion program. He added City Staff had proposed similar initiatives with Crystal and Brooklyn Park to establish a cohesive program. He noted this would be beneficial because the repercussions of crime would be the same across City borders. Chief Gannon stated body -worn camera compliance is being initiated in 2019. The Police Department maintains a less than 5% failure rate when recording does not happen. He added a portion of every police interaction is recorded. Mayor Elliott asked whether there is an audit process. Chief Gannon stated the Fire Department complies with the State -mandated audit process, which occurs every two years. Videos are retained, and footage is classified. Random checks are also completed using computer-aided dispatch to ensure that footage is being recorded. Councilmember Ryan requested that residents provide their name and address when they comment. Mayor Elliott stated he would take that under advisement. The resident asked whether it is a City policy that she must provide her name and address. Mr. Boganey stated a determination was recently made that a person who comes before the City Council to speak cannot be mandated to identify themselves. Chief Gannon stated he is requesting two additional Patrol Officers for a total cost of $174,876, which was included in a staffing report submitted to the City Manager and Finance Director. The resident stated the Police Department should focus its funding on officer training rather than hiring more Police Officers. She referred to a recent incident involving a Police. Officer and an autistic resident. She noted the problem is lack of proper training. Chief Gannon stated he does not believe the Police Officers are undertrained. He added that Police Officers undergo crisis intervention training and incident de-escalation. He noted additional staffers are required to successfully handle mental health calls as they take a lot of time, resources and officers, and residents want to see more of a police presence. The resident stated 63% of Brooklyn Center's residents are people of color, and more police officers are not what the community needs. She added they want to have a positive relationship with the Police Department. She noted other communities have citizen interventions to help de-escalate mental health crises. She asked whether citizens could receive CPI training as well as CIT training and collaborate with police officers. Page 3 9/04/2019 Chief Gannon stated the City of Minneapolis has a co -responder model, but the mediators are trained professionals that are collaborating within the Police Department. He added a mental health provider would not be involved in every police interaction, as they would not have appropriate training for potentially unsafe situations. He noted CIT is the standard for training at the national level. Chief Gannon stated Hennepin County has indicated that they will only pay a portion of the Liaison salary. He added this position has been instrumental in bridging the gap between police and citizens. He noted Hennepin County also intends to cut funding for the Cadette program, which will be funded entirely by the City. Commissioner Hedenland asked whether there will be funding for this program by Hennepin County in the future. Chief Gannon stated he understands that this will be the funding mechanism going forward. Chief Gannon stated Hennepin County had experienced numerous fiscal challenges. He added it is appropriate for the City to pay its fair share of the Liaisons who work for Brooklyn Center. A resident asked whether the Community Liaisons live in Brooklyn Center. She added they could not understand the community well enough to do the job if they do not live in Brooklyn Center. Chief Gannon stated Hennepin County selects the liaisons. He added the City could request that Hennepin County recruit Brooklyn Center residents to be liaisons in Brooklyn Center. Mayor Elliott asked whether the City is involved in the hiring process. Chief Gannon stated the County puts out the job posting, and the City is involved in the interview process. Councilmember Ryan stated he was involved in the MAC for many years, and they do a good j ob of community engagement and bringing people. He stressed the importance of involving youth from each of the communities. A resident stated that the selection process for MAC volunteers should be less intimidating. She added she has attended meetings and applied to be on the committee, but she was concerned that the meetings are held at the Police Station. She noted there would be more young people if the process were not so intimidating. Councilmember Graves agreed that the process is intimidating. She added people would feel more willing and empowered to speak up if the space is more inviting, and feedback is welcome. Chief Gannon stated general operating expenses include drug testing kits and upgrades to the simulator gear lockers for more secure storage, as well as funding for correct video evidence labeling and coding for the Investigative Unit. Chief Gannon stated an increase of $8,000 is requested for cell phone forensics training. He added the Police Department already has the necessary software but hopes to increase the pool of trained officers. Page 4 9/04/2019 Chief Gannon stated the proposed budget includes funding for sexual assault training, that provides insight into the mindset of the victim. He added this is very important training and a maj or focus in law enforcement. He noted it is his goal to have all the officers certified in sexual assault training. Chief Gannon stated the proposed budget includes $500 for expenses related to recruiting new officers. A request for $500 for uniform closets shelving is also included, as well as funds for general building maintenance and upgrades. Chief Gannon stated officers are often called to fill a gap in Social Services, such as mental health intervention calls. He stressed the importance of developing relationships with residents, and one way this is being done is by having officers interact with students at Earle Brown Elementary during recess. Commissioner Hedenland asked whether there are any bike cops in Brooklyn Center. Chief Gannon stated the Police Department has bikes, but due to staffing, they are not used as much as they would like. Mayor Elliott asked whether the officers change their appearance when they interact with youth and residents. Chief Gannon confirmed this, adding they wear a soft polo shirt with a logo and cargo pants. He stated this is a good first step for recess and an open gym. Mayor Elliott asked what kind of mental health services the Police Department has currently. Chief Gannon stated the Department has retained an on-call mental health professional, as well as a, debrief agent to discuss aftermath and resolution with officers. Funding is allocated for anonymous professional health services. He noted he respects and supports the officers, and there is a level of trust on both sides. Mr. Boganey stated it is possible to obtain verification of costs associated with professional health services. Commissioner Abate Terefe asked whether the officers are covered for mental health services under their insurance through the City. Chief Gannon stated the Employee Assistance Program is an option that has been utilized, but the police officers require more specialized support related to law- enforcement. He added they would also have to claim it on their insurance, and the Police Departments wants to preserve their anonymity. Councilmember Graves asked whether the Police Department has a process for recommending mental health services for officers who suffer secondary trauma and if they are encouraged to seek help. Chief Gannon confirmed this. Councilmember Graves asked how many officers live in Brooklyn Center. Chief Gannon stated there are several Police Department staff members who were boar and raised in Brooklyn Center and are currently residents. He added there are challenges to living in the community where they patrol. Page 5 9/04/2019 Councilmember Graves asked whether there is data regarding the number of complaints that have been made against officers, whether they were resolved, and what criteria are used in the complaint process. Councilmember Graves requested clarification regarding data retention and body -worn cameras, which are included in the budget. She added she would support getting more information on police interactions. Chief Gannon stated data related to stops, searches conducted, the age of the individual and other information can be collected using a software program that the officers already have. Mayor Elliott asked whether the Police Department has a relationship with ICE. Chief Gannon stated ICE agents are more engaged at the County level. Councilmember Graves asked what steps are taken to recruit and retain younger, more diverse Police Officers. Chief Gannon stated officers are recruited and work within the organization toward culture -based goals. He added females in positions of authority have been successful. He noted there are many challenges to African American officers in terms of community interactions. Mayor Elliott asked how CIT incorporates training for encounters with autistic people. Chief Gannon stated CIT includes autism spectrum training, identifying mental illness or disability, communication, and de-escalation. FIRE DEPARTMENT Fire Chief Todd Berg stated he is new to the Fire Chief position but has been with the Brooklyn Center Fire Department for over 30 years. He added the goal of the Fire Department is emergency preparedness and the protection of lives and property during emergencies. The Fire Department has four full-time employees and 24 paid -on-call employees, all of whom are members of the community. A 2 -person duty crew staffs the West Fire Station 7 days a week from 10:00 a.m. — 10:00 P.M. Chief Berg reviewed the Fire Department's strategic functions, including Administration, Fire Preventions, and Operations. The Fire Department responded to 1420 calls for service in 2018, and 921 calls for service to date in 2019, which is up 9% from the previous year. Firefighters are asked to attend over 200 hours of emergency preparedness training. Councilmember Ryan asked whether the Fire Chief is still responsible for the City's comprehensive emergency response. Chief Berg confirmed this, adding it is a regional response managed by Hennepin County and requires some updates. Chief Berg stated the Fire Department Staff consists of a full-time Fire Chief position, a full-time Deputy Chief, full-time Fire Inspector/Public Education Specialist, and full-time Administrative Coordinator, as well as seven paid -on-call Officers and 21 paid -on-call Firefighters. He added he hopes to add five paid -on-call Firefighters each year until the maximum charter of 40 Firefighters is reached. Page 6 9/04/2019 Mayor Elliott asked how the Charter is established. Chief Berg stated the Charter was established in 1949. He added recruitment is a high priority for the Fire Department, as it is difficult to recruit and retain firefighters as they all work full-time jobs elsewhere. He noted he is considering a "ride - along" program for potential firefighters. Councilmember Graves asked whether there is a cadet program. She added there might be young men and women who have just graduated from high school looking for a part-time position that could lead to a career. Fire Chief Berg stated the Explorers Program is similar to a cadet program. Councilmember Butler asked whether the Fire Department employs Brooklynk interns. Chief Berg confirmed that there had been Brooklynk interns at the Fire Department for the past 3-4 years. Councilmember Graves asked whether the Fire and Police Departments work together to recruit new staff. Chief Berg stated they are two very different career paths, and it would be difficult to recruit together. He added he hopes to work closer with MAC to involve the Fire Department to be more of a reflection of the community. Chief Berg stated, concerning performance objectives and standards, response time is below the target of 9 minutes due to coding of the different types of fires. He added the Fire Department had met response time 76% of the time. Chief Berg stated the Fire Department had developed a partnership with Century College, which offers Firefighter training programs twice a year. He added the Fire Department continues to implement a public awareness campaign, offering home safety surveys, distributing and installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for residents, and offering hands-free CPR training in collaboration with the Police Department. The Fire Department conducts fire preparedness training at elementary schools during Fire Prevention Week, the first week in October. Over 1200 students are educated and impacted by this program. Fire prevention and fall safety training is offered to older adults. Chief Berg stated an annual emergency management tabletop exercise is planned involving City Staff, which is a practice simulation during which an emergency operations center and an incident command is opened, and key decision -makers are identified. Mr. Boganey stated Mayor Elliott would be invited to attend that event. Chief Berg stated the proposed budget increase of 7% includes the purchase of the second set of fire gloves for each firefighter. This is a necessary cost of $4,000 that will increase the safety and longevity of the firefighter's equipment. Chief Berg stated the emergency preparedness budget increased 239% from 2018, due to the proposed one-time purchase of a portable message board for approximately $18,000. He added the message board would facilitate communication with residents and could be used by many different departments, including snow emergency notifications and other restrictions. Page 7 9/04/2019 Councilmember Graves stated collaborative outreach and engagement might produce a bigger payoff. She added innovative ways to work together could be considered, including engaging with college students who might have more flexibility in their schedule. Councilmember Graves stated it makes sense for Fire and Police Department to be recruiting at the highschool. She added many young people are looking for jobs, and this type of career might not be something they have considered. Mr. Boganey stated the Fire Department's paid -on-call model is the most cost-effective way of providing Firefighting services. He added it is the majority model in Minnesota, but it is increasingly difficult to recruit and retain qualified on-call Firefighters and will continue to be a challenge. He added if new recruitment ideas and methods are not successful, the City will have to move away from the paid -on-call model. Chief Berg stated he has a lot of ideas, including tuition reimbursement and student housing. Councilmember Graves stated Police Officers have a generally positive presence in Brooklyn Center, but they inevitably come up against real and imagined perceptions of police. She added Firefighters do not have those same issues. She added the two Departments working together could benefit employees as well as improve the overall image of public safety. Mayor Elliott stated an agreement dealing with attrition could be considered. Mr. Reinhardt provided a 10 -year staffing summary for the City Council's review, as requested at a recent meeting. Councilmember Ryan thanked Mr. Reinhardt for putting together the comparison, which was very helpful, and reflects demands made on City Staff. Mayor Elliott asked whether there is data on part-time seasonal employees. Mr. Reinhardt agreed that could be provided, but it depends upon the time of year. He added there are 230-250 seasonal employees at any given time. Mr. Boganey stated City Staff intends to come back with a balanced budget that falls within the 6% increase levy limit. He noted this would be presented at the Budget Work Session on September 16, 2019. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Councilmember Graves and seconded by Commissioner Ryan to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center City Council/Financial Commission adjourned at 9:18 p.m. Page 8 9/04/2019 STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY 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 September 4, 2019. 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 October 14, 2019, Regular Session. Ci clerk Mayor Page 9 9/04/2019