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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230803 - PSAC Minutes August 17, 2023 Public Safety Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes Present: Commissioners: Dolores Pemble, Gary Stevens, Melissa Blackstad and Theresa Auge` City Staff: Chief Fire Chief John Townsend and Deputy Chief Bryan Schowalter Guest: Mary Nehring Chair Pemble called the meeting to order at 6:26 pm. 1. A motion made by Commissioner Stevens and seconded by Commissioner Blackstad to approve the amended agenda. Motion passed unanimously. 2. A motion made by Commissioner Auge` and seconded by Commissioner Blackstad to approve the July 20, 2023, minutes. Motion passed unanimously. Welcome/Introductions: City staff and commission were introduced. Police Update: • Hiring Update: The department has one police officer candidate in background and two other candidates with pending interviews. Of the pending candidates is our Community Service Officer who takes his post exam on August 18, 2023. • The new marijuana law went into effect on August 1st. The new legislation leaves many unanswered questions. The hope is that the 2024 legislation session will address this topic. • Rivertown Live will be early next month. The host for this event is pondering a “smoking section”. • Definition of “permit to purchase” and “permit to carry” was provided. Fire Update: • Hiring update: 4 new Firefighters have been in training for two weeks. They are working a variety of shifts dependent on their medical training schedules. Paid on Call applications are closed, and those 8-9 candidates will be moving into the interview stage. Some of the paid-on call applicants are graduates of the Fire Academy. There is 1 remaining opening for a full-time firefighter. • Booya is scheduled for September 9th. Members of the commission are invited to assist with this event. Proceeds from the Booya go back to the community, in the form of scholarships and Hastings Family Services. Old Business: • National Night Out. The commission discussed the NNO event. Pros and Cons were drafted. The event was the highest attended event thus far. Overall, the commission valued the orderliness of the event planning. Leaving the commission to handle food and donations. Suggestions for next year included: Hotdogs: 450 Hotdog buns: 450 Individual bags of chips: 425 Bottles of water: 400 (keep 1 case for the end of the event for emergencies) Culvers Coins: 400 Sweet Treats (individually wrapped worked great): 400. Boats should be the larger version to allow for all items to be contained in the boat. Allow venders to set up in the shade along the west side of the ice rink not mandated to ice rink. Big trucks: Tennis, School Bus, Fire Ladder Truck and 4H etc. worked well along the road. Animals were in the shade! Need a sign at the pavilion which thanks our sponsors! • Siren Update. This topic was tabled. New Business: • MN Marijuana Law: DC shared, city council has requested our Parks and Rec Commission to review the law and draft some recommendations. Currently there is no ordinance regarding smoking in our parks. • New Member: Mary Nehring will be installed at the September meeting following the approval of her appointment by the city council. Next Meeting: September 21, 2023. Secretary Auge` will not be at this meeting. Adjournment: A motion was made by Commissioner Stevens and seconded by Commissioner Blackstad. The meeting was adjourned at 7:33 pm.