WS 2004 10 25
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
OCTOBER 25, 2004
Mayor Furlong called the work session to order at 5:35 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Furlong, Councilman Ayotte, Councilman
Labatt, Councilman Lundquist, and Councilman Peterson
STAFF PRESENT: Todd Gerhardt, Justin Miller, Todd Hoffman, Paul Oehme, Bruce
Dejong, Matt Saam, and Kelley Janes
UPDATE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT EVALUATION.
Don Davis and Dick Setter presented their review of the 2005 Police Contract. Don
Davis stated the city was getting a good buy for their tax dollars and receiving good
service. In addressing the sheriff s request for 4 additional personnel, he recommended
that the city look at adding 2 additional officers, mainly for traffic detail patrol. In
reviewing the investigative services being offered to the city currently, they did not feel
the city was lacking or losing investigative services today. Dick Setter agreed with the
recommendation of2 additional personnel as opposed to 4. He suggested that the city
stagger the hire times of the new deputies and suggested putting the allocated funds into a
pool for additional services when needed. He explained what the phrase "policing by
community standards" means. Councilman Ayotte stated he was not in total agreement
with the recommendation and expressed the need to document response times, mandated
services, criteria for ranking of officers, interface between City Council and Chanhassen
public safety department, model for services and self analysis/ self improvement of the
department. Councilman Lundquist expressed concern with the dollar amount of the
proposed budget coinciding with the amount requested with the contract. Don Davis
explained how they looked at the personnel model and how to integrate new hires into the
system. Councilman Lundquist reiterated that he wanted to make sure the sheriff s office
was not looking at the dollar amount budgeted but was addressing the needs of
Chanhassen. Councilman Labatt asked about the officer ratio and how that compared to
neighboring communities. It was explained how ratios are different than with private
police departments. Councilman Labatt asked for clarification on the number of officers
assigned to Chanhassen and if Sheriff Olson and Sergeant Olson were included in the 11
sworn officers count. Sheriff Olson clarified his recommendation on the ratio numbers,
and stated the number of officers assigned to the City of Chanhassen is a philosophical
call made by the City Council on what type of service is the goal of the city. Todd
Gerhardt explained that the city has good measurable tools to establish benchmarks,
impacts that will be made with additional deputies, and what impacts have been made to
date. Sheriff Olson explained how he uses the problem oriented policing (POP) manual
as a tool. One of the biggest issues in the city of Chanhassen is juvenile crime and how
his office is addressing that problem. Councilman Peterson stated the importance of not
chasing the numbers, but would like to get more "stakes in the ground. He stated he
didn't agree with the statement of getting good value as value was not his first priority,
City Council Work Session - October 25,2004
but the safety of the citizens. Mayor Furlong thanked Don Davis and Dick Setter for the
work they've done and reiterated the need to continue to justify the numbers but feels the
citizens feel Chanhassen is safe and the deputies are providing a high quality of service.
Todd Gerhardt asked Don Davis to review with the City Council the next steps in the
process. He explained that an open house is tentatively scheduled for November 18,
2004 and explained how the open house will be facilitated and who and what will be
involved. Before the council recessed, Councilman Labatt asked Sheriff Olson to
provide an update on a seminar they had attended addressing terrorism and specifically
psychology of suicide bombers in Israel and how that country is addressing the problem
of terrorism.
The work session was recessed at 6:50 p.m. It was reconvened at 8:50 p.m.
2005 BUDGET:
PUBLIC WORKS/ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.
Paul Oehme gave a power presentation on the proposed 2005 budget asking for
additional hours for the GIS Tech position and additional temporary summer help to
address weed control. Mayor Furlong asked if there were other means to address weed
control, i.e. contractual services. Councilman Lundquist asked about the water
operations enterprise fund and what happened from the previous year. He also asked if
the city has looked at contracting out the garage work at public works. Mayor Furlong
asked about the cost of not getting the work done by additional GIS hours. Councilman
Peterson asked for clarification on tabs for city vehicles.
PARK AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
Todd Hoffman gave a power presentation for the Park and Rec Department. He stated
the biggest complaint they received this past year was the port-a-potties that were
removed from city parks and how the city addressed the issue. Mayor Furlong asked if
health insurance numbers were included in the budget numbers, how revenue numbers
compared with expenditures at the Rec Center, and what's the expected affect from
Lifetime Fitness on the Rec Center. Regarding self supporting programs, he asked staff
to explain how they evaluate programs that aren't self supporting and how often they're
reviewed.
Before the close of the meeting, Mayor Furlong asked if there was consensus among the
council for the desire to hire 2 additional deputies for the sheriff s department, stating he
would like to give the sheriff s office direction now to begin the hiring process rather
than waiting until January 1 st. The council concurred with the Mayor. Councilman
Ayotte asked for information on the disposition of prosecution cases. Todd Gerhardt
stated he would address that question at his quarterly meeting with Sergeant Olson and
Elliott Knetsch.
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City Council Work Session - October 25,2004
Mayor Furlong adjourned the work session at 9:50 p.m.
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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