HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-21-19 PSAC Minutes
City of Hastings
Public Safety Advisory Commission (PSAC)
Meeting Minutes
November 21, 2019
Hastings City Hall
Commissioners Bryon Ascheman, Russ Rohloff, Jesse Starkson, Melissa
Blackstad and Dolores Pemble.
Present:
: Police Chief Bryan Schafer, Fire Captain Jamie Stevens, City Administrator
Dan Wietecha and City Attorney Dan Fluegel.
City Staff
1. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chair Commissioner Ascheman.
2. Police department update provided by Chief Schafer:
Conditional job offers have been extended to three police officer candidates.
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An update was provided on the Department?s new command vehicle? It was
acquired from the City of Minneapolis in October and has been put in service
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after being wrapped.
Chief Schafer updated the Commission on preliminary budgeting process for
2020 that will include one new officer, two new squad cars, updating the
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department?s training room and new body cameras?
Chief Schafer updated the Commission the Department?s annual staff meeting
and ongoing efforts to provide staff physical and mental health opportunities.
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The Commission expressed its interest in assisting with these ongoing
efforts.
Finally, Chief Schafer recently returned from the International Association of
Chiefs of Police annual conference in Chicago. He reported that the
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conference was very good with topics focusing on crisis intervention and
mental health.
3. Fire department update:
Fire Captain Jamie Stevens reported that four new paid-on-call firefighters
had been hired and are currently going through the training process. Captain
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Stevens provided an overview of the training process for new firefighters.
The process for hiring a new fire chief is moving forward.
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Medic 2 has returning from being remounted and is back in service.
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4. Discussion regarding Side By Side Vehicle Ordinance
City Attorney Dan Fluegel brought to the Commission a request from the City
Council a request to review the City Ordinance §70.02 dealing with operation
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of motorized golf carts and four wheel side-by-side vehicles on City Streets.
The current ordinance allows such vehicles to be operated by a disabled
person with a permit.
At a recent City Council meeting a resident asked the City to consider
amending the City ordinance to allow operation of such vehicles on City
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streets by non- disabled individuals.
Dan Fluegel provided a history of the ordinance. Chief Schafer discussed his
concerns about allowing vehicles to be driven on City streets. The
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Commission members discussed various reasons for and against a change to
the ordinance. Chief Schafer will obtain additional information on this issue
from the League of Minnesota Cities and surrounding communities and bring
that back to the Commission at its January meeting.
5. Old Business
The Public Safety Committee of the City Council will discuss the Tobacco 21
issue at its next meeting on November 25 and the Commission is encouraged
to attend.
Chief Schafer updated the Commission on the Department?s wellness efforts.
Commission members are encouraged to reach out to the community for
individuals to fill the vacancy.
6. Next meeting date:
Next meeting date will be January 16 at 6:30 City Hall.
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