031224 CAC Agenda PacketCitizen Advisory Commission Meeting
New Hope City Hall, 4401 Xylon Ave N
March 12, 2024
7 p.m.
1. Call to Order.
2. Roll Call.
3. Approval of February 13, 2024 minutes.
4. Welcome new commissioner James Yazvec.
5. Community Development department update with Director Jeff Sargent.
6. Park assignments.
7. Discuss 2024 agenda items.
8. Brainstorming — Ideas to bring attention to New Hope.
9. Parks and Recreation project updates.
10. Other business.
11. 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
ROLL CALL
CITY OF NEW HOPE
4401 XYLON AVENUE NORTH
NEW HOPE, MINNESOTA 55428
February 13, 2024
New Hope City Hall, 7 p.m.
Chair Kulzer called the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Present: Commissioners Jeffrey Harper, Randy Herman, Jill Kaufman,
Scott Kulzer, Carrie Neuburger, Bill Wills
Absent: None
Staff Present: Susan Rader, Staff Liaison
Brad Kallio, Community Relations/Crime Prevention Officer
APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Wills made a motion to approve the minutes of the January 9,
2024 meeting as written. Commissioner Harper seconded the motion. Voting
in favor: Commissioners Harper, Herman, Kaufman, Kulzer, Neuburger,
Wills. Opposed: None. Absent: None. Motion carried.
POLICE DEPARTMENT Brad Kallio, Community Relations/Crime Prevention Officer addressed the
UPDATE commissioners. He reported that Chief Hoyt was at the state capitol testifying
on behalf of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program and was unable to
attend tonight's meeting.
Officer Kallio conducted a brief PowerPoint presentation and began by
reviewing crime statistics in Hennepin County for the first three quarters of
2023. He noted that New Hope's statistics closely matched Hennepin County
as a whole and reported that homicide, aggravated assault, sexual assault, and
robbery were down by an overall average of 11%. He also mentioned that
property crimes including burglary and larceny were down while there had
been an increase in arson and motor vehicle thefts. He noted that motor
vehicle thefts were up 32% in the county and commented that many of the
incidents involved keys left in vehicles or unoccupied running vehicles. He
added that most of those offenders were juveniles.
Chair Kulzer wondered whether carjacking was categorized as aggravated
assault.
Officer Kallio replied yes and noted that there would probably be additional
charges including motor vehicle theft.
Community Engagement and Crime Prevention was then discussed. Officer
Kallio reviewed some of the community engagement efforts. They included
community barbeques, Copsicles, Meals on Wheels, and National Night Out
(NNO). He commented that over 70 neighborhoods had participated in NNO
in 2023. He also reported on Safety Camp, a three-day camp for kids in grades
3-5, and the Community Police Academy, which was held annually in the fall
in cooperation with the cities of Crystal and Robbinsdale.
Chief Kallio also mentioned other community engagement programs
including Blue Santa, a special holiday event for children in need, an annual
coat drive, Treehouse teen support, a trunk or treat event, Coffee with a Cop,
and a partnership with Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion school. He explained
that once per week he and Chief Hoyt interacted and had lunch with the
school's fifth graders. He also mentioned that he served as the proxy liaison
for the Human Rights Commission.
Officer Kallio then reported on some of the City's crime prevention efforts
which included utilizing social media and CCX media for crime notifications
and offering scam prevention programs. He stated that the Crime Free Multi
Housing program, a program designed to reduce crime in multi -family
dwellings, was currently being updated.
Officer Kallio mentioned a new program, Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design and explained that this program consisted of surveying
properties to identify areas of concern. He also reported that he served on the
board of the New Hope Crime Prevention Fund, which solicits donations from
residents and holds fundraisers to serve programs like Safety Camp, Bike
Rodeo and K-9 officers. He added that he also served on the board of the
Minnesota Crime Prevention Association and was a National Child Passenger
Safety certified safety seat technician.
Officer Kallio next reviewed new programs and reported that the Police
Explorers program had been restarted after several years and was now a
cooperative program with the cities of Crystal and Robbinsdale. He stated that
the program was open to ages 13 to 20 and currently consisted of 13 members.
He also mentioned the new bike unit, which was comprised of six to eight
officers, who would attend community events and occasionally patrol.
Office Kallio announced a new Growth Through Opportunity internship
program for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. He
explained that two individuals would be selected for the internship, which
would run from June through August. He added that the program was
designed to offer life and job skills and noted that participants would intern
with the police, parks and recreation, city hall and public works departments.
Officer Kallio also reported on the Joint Community Police Partnership (JCPP)
and Embedded Social Worker programs. He explained that both positions
were cooperative partnerships with Hennepin County. He informed the
commissioners that Christina Gillespie served as the liaison for the JCPP,
which was created to improve communications between law enforcement and
multicultural residents. He also noted that Ms. Gillespie had worked to
establish an Adult Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC) as well as a
Cooper Student MAC to further build connections.
New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission February 13, 2024
Page 2
Lastly, Officer Kallio discussed the Faith in Blue program, a collaborative with
six or seven local churches who expressed interest in offering support to the
police department. He added that a community breakfast was being planned
for the fall.
Commissioner Kaufman inquired about the Student MAC program.
Officer Kallio replied that he had only met with that committee a few times
thus far but commented that he was impressed with their involvement.
Commissioner Kaufman noticed that Chief Hoyt had recently met with
County Attorney Mary Moriarty and wondered about the City's relationship
with that office.
Officer Kallio informed the commissioners that Chief Hoyt currently served as
the president of the Hennepin County Chiefs of Police Association. He
commented that there appeared to be some frustration among the cities
regarding the county attorney's office.
Commissioner Neuburger wondered whether there were typically any officers
around Cooper High School at the end of the school day.
Officer Kallio replied that one of the officers, a former SRO, spent a lot of time
in that area throughout the school day.
Chair Kulzer asked whether that officer could enter the building if a fight
broke out during school.
Officer Kallio replied yes but expressed concern over the delayed entry versus
already being present in the building.
Commissioner Neuburger commented on the number of speeding drivers
along Del Drive at the end of the school day.
Officer Kallio thought about placing a speed trailer at that location.
The commissioners thanked Officer Kallio for his presentation. He excused
himself from the meeting at 7:34 p.m.
DISCUSS 2024 AGENDA Agenda items were reviewed. Ms. Rader pointed out that the Three Rivers
ITEMS discussion scheduled for April was still tentative but should be decided by the
time the commissioners met in March.
Chair Kulzer confirmed Liberty Park cleanup for the May meeting and
planting the 42nd Avenue planters later that month.
BRAINSTORMING — IDEAS Ms. Rader reported that staff had not received any submissions for the
TO BRING ATTENTION TO snowman contest thus far.
NEW HOPE
New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission February 13, 2024
Page 3
PARKS AND RECREATION Ms. Rader reported that outdoor skating rinks were closed for the season. She
PROJECT UPDATES mentioned that because of the warmer weather parks staff had been able to
replace some of the park signs but noted that Dorothy Mary Park would keep
its wooden sign. She added that parks staff had also been able to trim trees
and remove diseased trees from the boulevard.
Commissioner Kaufman wondered if plants would be added around the park
signs.
Ms. Rader replied that staff would not plant around the signs but noted that
those spaces could be planted by park adopters.
OTHER BUSINESS Ms. Rader made the following announcements:
James Yazvec had been appointed to the Citizen Advisory
Commission.
Accounting Technician Andrea Phinney had been selected as the new
city clerk/treasurer.
The summer brochure was scheduled for delivery the first week of
March.
ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Neuburger made a motion to adjourn the regular meeting of
the Citizen Advisory Commission. Commissioner Herman seconded the
motion. All present voted in favor. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at
7:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Penny Spitzer
Recording Secretary
New Hope Citizen Advisory Commission February 13, 2024
Page 4
CAC AGENDA ITEMS FOR 2024
AS OF 3/1/24
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.
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