Minutes - Council Work Session - 03/24/2015

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Councilmember Shryock suggested making this strategic initiative broader, leaving out the County Road 5 comment, and just indicating: `Develop a Plan for Congestion and Safety Improvements' and then using County Roads 5 and 47 as bullet points. Councilmember Kuzma asked if the Council had requested staff address the County Road 5 issues with Anoka County. City Administrator Ulrich answered in the affirmative and noted that County Road 5 does funnel into County Road 47. Bill Kingston, 15760 Andrie Street NW, suggested focusing on the issues of congestion and safety, creating consistent initiatives, and not zeroing in on County Roads 5 or 47. The Council agreed to keep Tactic 15 relating to County Road 5 separate and asked staff to determine if there is a tactic related to County 47 that can be accomplished within this time period. Councilmember Johns stated the issues with County Road 47 relate to aesthetics and also congestion. City Administrative provided an explanation of the Strategic Initiative to Maintain the Safety of the Community and related Tactics 17, 18, 19, and 20. Councilmember Johns asked about the Residential Rental Licensing Program. Community Development Director Gladhill reviewed the current City requirement for rental licensing if there is a shared hallway. Councilmember Riley asked about Tactic 17, Consider Cameras Around the City and Parks to Enhance Safety and Security, and asked whether it was a real problem. Police Chief Katers stated there are currently two cameras in the Elmcrest tunnel as a result of repeated vandalism in the same location. The question is whether to expand that to other areas of repeated vandalism, such as in parks to aid with prosecution and restitution. In addition, the cameras create a sense of security. Councilmember Riley referenced Tactic 19 and asked if other cities have a Drug Task Force. Police Chief Katers reviewed the membership of the joint Task Force and stated Ramsey is one of the only cities of its size without a Drug Task Force. He stated this was listed in last year's budget but had been cut so he would ask that it be included for consideration in the next budget. He stated support to maximize collaboration with the Drug Task Force by allocating staff. Mayor Strommen supported re- characterizing that collaboration from a reactive approach to a proactive approach, which would be one of the outcomes and describe the difference in service. City Council Work Session / March 24, 2015 Page 6 of 9