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041222 CAC Agenda PacketCitizen Advisory Commission Meeting City Hall, 4401 Xylon Avenue North April 12, 2022 7 p.m. 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. 3. Approval of March 8, 2022 minutes. 4. Emerald Ash Borer update with Shawn Markham, Contract Manager/Forester. 5. Snowman Contest update. 6. May Schedule i. May 10 - No meeting ii. May 17 - Liberty Park clean-up 7. Brainstorming - Ideas to bring attention to New Hope. 8. Parks and Recreation project updates. 9. Other business. 10. Adjournment. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact Susan Rader at 763-531-5152 or sraderCnewhopemn.gov CAC AGENDA ITEMS FOR 2022 AS OF 4/6/22 The following is a tentative listing of major agenda items that have either been assigned to the CAC, a CAC member has asked that the item be discussed, or city staff has asked that the item be discussed by the CAC. April 12 - Emerald Ash Borer update with Shawn Markham, Contract Manager/Forester May 10 - No meeting May 17 - Liberty Park Clean-up; pick up plants for 42nd Avenue pots (?) June 14 - Canadian Pacific Rail Regional Trail additional discussion with Three Rivers Park District staff July 12 - Public Works Update w/Bernie Weber, PW Director and Nick Macklem, Stormwater Specialist/Project Coordinator August 9 - No meeting due to Primary Election September xx - Commissioner Bus Tour? September 13 - Liberty Park Clean-up (no regular meeting) September 19 - Annual Dialogue with Council October 11- Budget Discussion November 8 - No meeting due to General Election December 13 - Note: A meeting may be cancelled if there are no agenda items. On -going • Continue to sponsor Snowman Contest, City-wide Garage Sale • Ideas to bring attention to New Hope • Promotion of existing City programs: In Focus, RAVE, Outstanding Business • Volunteering at P&R/City events Updates • Park/Facility Projects Possible Future Topics • Ice Arena Operations Discussion w/ Mark Severson, Recreation Facilities Manager & Tour • CD Projects including St. Therese Renovation • Organics and HRG Reimbursements, Curbside Cleanup and Load Limits • Police Department - Joint Community Police Partnership • P&R Update • Discussion with Cooper High School students • Follow-up discussion with Three Rivers Park District re: CP Rail Regional Trail (later in 2022 or early 2023) Citizen Advisory Commission Regular Meeting CALL TO ORDER ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES CITY OF NEW HOPE 4401 XYLON AVENUE NORTH NEW HOPE, MINNESOTA 55428 March 8, 2022 New Hope City Hall, 7 p.m. Chair Kulzer called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. Present: Commissioners Jeff Harper, Randy Herman, Jill Kaufman, Scott Kulzer, Carrie Neuburger, Rick Riley Absent: Commissioner Bill Wills Staff Present: Susan Rader, Staff Liaison Brad Kallio, Community Relations/Crime Prevention Officer Commissioner Riley made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 8, 2022 meeting as written. Commissioner Neuburger seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Commissioners Harper, Herman, Kaufman, Kulzer, Neuburger, Riley. Opposed: None. Absent: Commissioner Wills. Motion carried. DISCUSS COMMUNITY Brad Kallio, Community Relations and Crime Prevention Officer addressed RELATIONS AND CRIME the commissioners and conducted a brief PowerPoint presentation. He PREVENTION reviewed that he had been hired to serve as a New Hope police officer and had served in his current position since December 2020. He shared language from the police department's website defining community -oriented policing and commented that it was the responsibility of law enforcement to continue to provide the services traditionally expected of them while also focusing on public communications and building relationships within the community. Officer Kallio commented that the position of crime prevention officer had been in place for many years and reviewed some of the functions of that position. They included National Night Out, DARE, Crime Free Multi - Housing, and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). He mentioned that CPTED was not currently offered but noted that he would be attending training this spring. He explained that Operation ID had been largely discontinued due to advancements in technology but noted that Neighborhood Watch as well as other community events and presentations were still being held. Officer Kallio reviewed some of the crime prevention initiatives he had been working on. They included: • Coffee with a Cop • Meals on Wheels 0 Monthly visits to senior living facilities • Neighborhood/apartment complex community BBQs • Defensive driving instruction • Car seat checks/clinics • Working with and in the schools/teen organizations • Community engagement tools for patrol • Tip411 management Commissioner Riley inquired about Coffee with a Cop. Officer Kallio stated that the purpose was to meet residents for open conversation at various locations throughout the city, including restaurants, businesses, and apartment complexes. Officer Kallio also elaborated on Tip411 and explained that it was an app that had been launched in 2021. He stated that tipsters could remain anonymous and reported that tips ranged from loud parties to the location of criminal suspects. He added that tipsters could always dial 911 in an emergency. Commissioner Harper wondered whether it was designed to specifically report on crimes. Officer Kallio replied that while most tips were of a law enforcement nature, staff had also received tips relating to inspections or public works. Commissioner Kaufman referred to the car seat clinics and thought that the Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) program at New Hope Learning Center might benefit from a collaboration. Officer Kallio replied that he would look into it. He also mentioned that each year the police department received free car seats for distribution through a grant program. Officer Kallio continued his discussion of crime prevention initiatives and noted that additional initiatives included: • New Hope Crime Prevention Fund • Bike Rodeo • Safety Camp • Blue Santa and Santa Parade • Runaway diversion (in partnership with YMCA) • Media releases and interviews • Work with communications coordinator on social media blasts and informational content/safety updates • Work with community development/parks and recreation, imbedded social workers • Business presentations including active shooter training and emergency preparedness/police response training Chair Kulzer inquired whether Officer Kallio served as the main media representative for the city. New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission March 8, 2022 Page 2 Officer Kallio replied that he sometimes served in that capacity for police - related matters, depending upon the nature of the crime. Officer Kallio reported that the police department would soon team up with the cities of Crystal and Robbinsdale to offer Joint Community Police Partnerships that would serve as a bridge between the police department and the community. Commissioner Kaufman referred to Blue Santa and wondered whether the department had considered exploring celebrations for residents of other cultures. Officer Kallio envisioned that the joint police partnerships program might be able to help with that. He added that the Human Rights Commission had also been discussing those types of cultural concerns. Ms. Rader informed the commissioners that Officer Kallio also organized the annual coat drive and toy drive. Officer Kallio announced that he has been working with Commissioner Kaufman to develop school initiatives to strengthen relationships by engaging New Hope officers with students and staff. He envisioned implementing this program in place of DARE and explained that the goals would be to: • Build positive, mutually beneficial relationships • Develop trust and understanding Increase student achievement Officer Kallio stated that he had met with the principal of Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion (RSI) who had agreed to participate. He explained that the model would begin with police interactions during recess, then add in lunch with students and eventually include classroom interactions. Commissioner Kaufman added that they hoped to expand this initiative to neighboring cities as well as the other New Hope schools. Officer Kallio revealed that one of the challenges to his job included buy -in from the police department and commented that it was sometimes difficult to recruit other officers to participate in scheduled activities. He added that buy - in from the community also posed a challenge at times. Officer Kallio also reported that the police department co -sponsored an annual Citizens Police Academy along with the police departments of Crystal and Robbinsdale and commented that it had been well -received. Chair Kulzer recalled a program that had been set up to encourage safe walking at night. New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission March 8, 2022 Page 3 Officer Kallio replied that a program called "You Light Up the Night" had been a collaboration with the Human Rights Commission, in which officers distributed reflective vests and lights. Commissioner Neuburger felt that police communication was sometimes slow following an incident within a neighborhood and wondered how that information could be easily found. Officer Kallio replied that the police department could generate alerts on the Tip411 app. Ms. Rader commented that the CodeRED mobile alert app was also a good resource and noted that citizens could also call the police non -emergency number for information. Chair Kulzer inquired about the Ring doorbell. Officer Kallio commented that it could be a useful tool but noted that the permission of the homeowner was required to contact the service provider. The commissioners thanked Officer Kallio for his presentation. He excused himself from the meeting at 7:47 p.m. SNOWMAN CONTEST Ms. Rader reported that 10 submissions had been received and noted that the UPDATE deadline for entries was March 31. She stated that she would email submissions to the commissioners for voting. She asked that a few commissioners consider attending the council meeting on April 25 to award prizes. She reviewed that the first -place winner would receive a $70 Parks and Recreation gift certificate or $50 cash and the second -place winner would receive a $40 gift certificate or $25 cash. She added that if third place was awarded the winner would receive a $20 gift certificate or $10 cash. BRAINSTORMING — IDEAS There were no new topics to discuss. TO BRING ATTENTION TO NEW HOPE PARKS AND RECREATION Ms. Rader mentioned the playground project at Hidden Valley Park and noted PROJECT UPDATES that the first meeting had been held in February and Commissioner Riley had been in attendance. Commissioner Riley reported that approximately 10-12 households had attended the meeting including four children. Ms. Rader stated that the next meeting would be held on March 9 and would consist of selecting a concept to move forward with. She reported that staff would seek bids for the site work at the council meeting on March 28 and hoped to award the contract for the site work at the end of April. She added that planned site work included the playground container, retaining wall, underground work, and a short trail enhancement. She also mentioned that a New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission March 8, 2022 Page 4 new cement curb container would be installed in the tot area. Ms. Rader reported that Flagship Recreation/Landscape Structures would supply the playground equipment and reminded the commissioners that the vendor was on the state bid list, therefore no other bids would be required. Ms. Rader also reported that parks staff was in the process of removing diseased Ash trees from several parks, including Liberty, Victory, Begin and Civic Center parks. She added that staff had also removed trees from the public works property. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Kaufman shared an update from Cooper High School regarding student governance/student involvement within the community. She reported that the National Honor Society had declined participation due to a full schedule but noted that the student council advisor had expressed interest for the next school year. She stated that she would contact their advisor again in the fall. Ms. Rader provided an update on the city manager position and noted that the city council had met the previous evening and had interviewed two internal candidates as well as two search committees. She announced that the position had been offered to Police Chief Tim Hoyt on a six-month trial basis beginning June 1. Commissioner Riley wondered whether Chief Hoyt would relinquish his role in the police department during the trial basis or would assume both roles. Ms. Rader replied that she was unsure but guessed that the police chief position would either be filled on a temporary basis or existing police department staff would cover most of the workload. Commissioner Riley mentioned the buckthorn removal that had occurred at Northwood Park and wondered when the debris would be removed. Ms. Rader replied that park staff planned to remove it as time allowed. Ms. Rader informed the commissioners that the AM radio tower at Northwood Park had been taken down and would be removed from the park within the next week or so. Chair Kulzer referred to the April 12 meeting and wondered if it would be held in a conference room due to the work session format. Ms. Rader replied that she had not yet heard back from Three Rivers Park District regarding their plan for the April meeting but would let the commissioners know once she had heard from them. New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission March 8, 2022 Page 5 ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Herman made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting of the Citizen Advisory Commission. Commissioner Kaufman seconded the motion. All present voted in favor. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Penny Spitzer Recording Secretary New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission March 8, 2022 Page 6