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021324 CAC Agenda PacketCitizen Advisory Commission Meeting New Hope City Hall, 4401 Xylon Ave N February 13, 2024 7 p.m. 1. Call to Order. 2. Roll Call. 3. Approval of January 9, 2024 minutes. 4. Police Department update with Chief Tim Hoyt and Community Relations & Crime Prevention Officer Brad Kallio. 5. Discuss 2024 agenda items. 6. Brainstorming — Ideas to bring attention to New Hope. 7. Parks and Recreation project updates. 8. Other business. 9. Adjournment. If you are unable to attend the meeting, please contact Susan Rader at 763-531-5152 or srader@newhopemn.gov Citizen Advisory Commission Regular Meeting CALL TO ORDER CITY OF NEW HOPE 4401 XYLON AVENUE NORTH NEW HOPE, MINNESOTA 55428 Chair Kulzer called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. January 9, 2024 New Hope City Hall, 7 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Jeffrey Harper, Randy Herman, Jill Kaufman, Scott Kulzer, Carrie Neuburger, Bill Wills Absent: None Staff Present: Susan Rader, Staff Liaison Sarah Larson, West Metro Fire -Rescue District Chief APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Wills made a motion to approve the minutes of the December 12, 2023 meeting as written. Commissioner Kaufman seconded the motion. Voting in favor: Commissioners Harper, Herman, Kaufman, Kulzer, Neuburger, Wills. Opposed: None. Absent: None. Motion carried. APPROVAL OF 2023 ANNUAL A motion was made by Commissioner Herman to approve the 2023 Annual REPORT Report as written. Commissioner Neuburger seconded the motion. All present voted in favor. Motion carried. WEST METRO FIRE -RESCUE Chief Sarah Larson addressed the commissioners and reported that 1,909 calls DISTRICT UPDATE for service had been received between January 1 and November 30. She further explained that 799 of those calls had occurred in Crystal, while 1,047 were in New Hope. She added that many of New Hope's calls had been to the local nursing homes. Chief Larson informed the commissioners that the West Metro Fire -Rescue District (WMFRD) had received a SAFER grant through FEMA to cover the cost of hiring three full-time firefighters. She explained that the positions would be fully funded for three years and reported that a hiring process had recently been completed and those individuals would start on February 26. She added that all three of the individuals had previously been paid -on -call firefighters with WMFRD. Chief Larson reported that Police and Fire Command staff met quarterly and had recently discussed the active shooter training that had taken place at New Hope Church as well as a few other topics including calls for service and 2024 emergency management training. She added that emergency management training with Police, Fire and City Hall staff was conducted two times per year. Chief Larson highlighted a few of the many public events and community outreach programs that had been held in 2023, including WMFRD's 2511, anniversary open house on July 6 and the Tri-City Santa Parade on December 9. She also reported on their involvement with the Be a Santa to a Senior program, an annual event that collects gifts for residents of Good Samaritan and North Ridge care centers. Staffing was then discussed. Chief Larson reported that there were currently eight full-time staff and 58 paid -on -call firefighters, seven of whom were currently on a leave of absence. She added that the district would be hiring and training additional paid -on -call firefighters in 2024 and explained that a class of 10 individuals would attend firefighter academy training along with recruits from the cities of Plymouth, Golden Valley, and Maple Grove. She also reported that a pinning ceremony had been held in December to promote apprentice firefighters from the class of 2021 to the rank of firefighter. Chief Larson shared photos of live fire training and mass casualty/active threat training conducted in 2023 and briefly discussed the importance of hands-on training. She also displayed a photo of one of the four new engines that had been leased and placed into service in 2023. She reported that all four of the old engines had been sold at higher than anticipated prices. Chief Larson briefly reviewed fire prevention inspections within the city and stated that staff's goal was to inspect all commercial buildings every three to five years. She added that some facilities were required to receive annual inspections including liquor stores, gas stations, and places of assembly. Fire prevention education was then discussed, and Chief Larson noted that programs were conducted at every elementary school in New Hope and Crystal. She also reported on the Adopt a Hydrant program, in which residents adopt a hydrant near their home and keep it clear of snow in the winter. Finally, Chief Larson reported that 35 fire investigations had been conducted in 2023 compared to 50 in 2022. She briefly reviewed some of the incidents that had been investigated. Commissioner Wills wondered about the financial feasibility of leasing rather than purchasing the new engines. He also inquired about the length of the lease. Chief Larson felt that it had made financial sense as prices and interest rates had been lower at that time. She added that the lease would run for 10 years, followed by the option to purchase with a balloon payment or return the vehicles. Commissioner Kaufman asked whether the SAFER grant positions would be retained and funded after the grant had expired. Chief Larson replied that staff would utilize the three-year period to determine the value of those added positions and commented that if retained, those positions would need to be funded through WMFRD. New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission January 9, 2024 Page 2 Commissioner Kaufman also wondered how buyers had been found for the used engines. Chief Larson replied that WMFRD had contracted with Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, a company that specializes in buying and selling used fire trucks and equipment. Audience member Rick Riley wondered why New Hope did not wrap its fire hydrants as some neighboring cities did. Chief Larson replied that the intended purpose was to reduce corrosion, but staff had determined that it had a limited effect. Chair Kulzer mentioned the live fire training and wondered how the neighborhood had been notified. Chief Larson replied that nearby residents would receive written notification and noted that it would also be posted through social media and other outlets. Mayor Hemken requested the floor and asked Chief Larson to discuss the steps that are taken leading up to live fire training. Chief Larson explained that the first step would be asbestos abatement followed by the removal of all fixtures and appliances. Extra sheetrock would be placed in targeted burn areas and was sometimes placed along a property line to assist with containment. Commissioner Neuburger inquired about emergency management training. Chief Larson explained that for the past two years senior staff from WMFRD and the cities of New Hope and Crystal had participated in lecture -based training presented by the State of Minnesota. Commissioner Harper inquired whether all firefighter positions were currently on an on -call basis. Chief Larson replied yes and noted that firefighters must live within six minutes of a station, but those who lived within four minutes would receive a hiring preference. She also mentioned that those who were selected would receive 200 hours of training during their first year. The commissioners thanked Chief Larson for her presentation. She excused herself from the meeting at 7:31 p.m. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Commissioner Wills nominated Scott Kulzer to serve as Chair in 2024. Commissioner Neuburger seconded the motion. There were no other nominations. All present voted in favor. New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission January 9, 2024 Page 3 DISCUSS 2024 AGENDA ITEMS BRAINSTORMING - IDEAS TO BRING ATTENTION TO NEW HOPE Chair Kulzer nominated Randy Herman to serve as Vice Chair in 2024. Commissioner Neuburger seconded the motion. There were no other nominations. All present voted in favor. Commissioner Kaufman nominated Carrie Neuburger to serve as Secretary in 2024. Commissioner Harper seconded the motion. There were no other nominations. All present voted in favor. Chair Kulzer noted that a police department update was scheduled for February 13. Commissioner Kaufman informed the commissioners that she had reached out to Cooper High School staff and the student council president but had not received a response regarding a joint clean-up project. She suggested postponing this topic for the immediate future. Following a brief discussion, Ms. Rader stated that she would attempt to schedule a Community Development update for the March meeting, and tentatively schedule an Emerald Ash Borer update for the June meeting. No new ideas were brought forward. PARKS AND RECREATION Ms. Rader informed the commissioners that there would not be a playground PROJECT UPDATES equipment replacement project in 2024. She added that outdoor fitness apparatus might be added this summer at Northwood Park, near the playground. She stated that parks staff would install the concrete pads. Ms. Rader also mentioned a few other planned projects including some court surface repairs, trail improvements at Victory Park, and minor improvements at the Ice Arena and Golf Course. Chair Kulzer inquired about flooding outdoor rinks. Ms. Rader stated that staff were scheduled to flood rinks this weekend, as colder weather had been in the forecast. OTHER BUSINESS Ms. Rader reported that a Winter Golf event would be held on January 27. She also mentioned that open skating attendance numbers were up at the arena. Chair Kulzer noted the city clerk's upcoming retirement and wondered what that would mean for elections. Ms. Rader replied that the end date was open and noted that the city clerk planned to train the new hire prior to officially retiring. New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission January 9, 2024 Page 4 ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Herman made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting of the Citizen Advisory Commission. Commissioner Neuburger seconded the motion. All present voted in favor. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 8 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Penny Spitzer Recording Secretary New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission January 9, 2024 Page 5 CAC AGENDA ITEMS FOR 2024 AS OF 2/1/24 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. February 13 - Police Dept Update with Chief Hoyt & Community Relations and Crime Prevention Officer Kallio March 12 - Community Development Update with Director Sargent April 9 - Three Rivers Parks 2 People Initiative (tentative) May 14 - Adopt a Park? Plant planters later in month? June 11- EAB Update with Shawn Markham, City Forester July 9 - August 13 - No meeting September 10 - Adopt a Park? September 16 - Council Work Session September TBD - Commissioner Bus Tour? October 8 - November 12 - No meeting December 10 - Budget Update *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 • Adopt a Park (2x/year) Updates • Park/Facility Projects Possible Future Topics • Community Development update • P&R update • THC Ordinance update/discussion • PW 10-year pavement management plan • Cooper High School students