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<br />Councilmember Musgrove asked what the reason was. <br /> <br />Finance Director Lund replied that officer is dedicated strictly to the driving under the influence <br />so that takes time away from the department. <br /> <br />Police Captain Bruml stated they were fortunate to have that position for two of the fiscal years <br />and it has been great for the department and the officers to get dedicated time when they are just <br />out looking for drunk drivers, speeders, people not wearing their seat belts. But with staffing issues <br />and call increases, Chief Katers made the decision to not put in for the grant so they could have <br />more people taking calls for service right now. <br /> <br />Councilmember Musgrove asked if they would try for it next year potentially. <br /> <br />Police Captain Bruml replied the other factor is that there is a cycle generally of getting the grant <br />for two years, being denied on the third year and then getting it again for two years. He stated it <br />wasn’t for sure but he thought they may not have been given it this year anyway. <br /> <br />Mayor Kuzma commented he knew the contracts were negotiated but stated his concern is with <br />inflation as high as it is, he asked if there would problems with the lease contract with other cities <br />poaching Staff because they are only at 3% or 3.5%. He asked if an adjustment would need to be <br />made at some point and if that is something that needs to be talked about today. <br /> <br />Finance Director Lund replied it is a contract settlement and she wasn’t sure what other cities <br />across the board are locked into contracts too because a lot of cities were up at the same time. She <br />stated in about 2025 when contracts are over is probably when there will be a big request to get up <br />to market. <br /> <br />Police Captain Bruml commented with the last recruitment they had a very low level of number <br />of applicants, only seven came to first interviews with final being down to three people. He stated <br />the way cities are handling that now is with money. Down payments are being given to come. He <br />stated he didn’t think Ramsey’s Police Chief was in favor of that because it is perpetuating the <br />problem and stealing from other agencies but it is something they are aware of and trying to make <br />sure Ramsey is still an attractive department. He stated he thought they were with some of the <br />other incentives but cities like Maple Grove offer a lot more money and are getting officers that <br />way. <br /> <br />Administrative Services Director Lasher commented that January 1, 2023 the starting wage starts <br />at 75% of the pay scale rather than 70% of the pay scale so the City is bumping employees up <br />sooner which should help. <br /> <br />Mayor Kuzma stated he wanted to bring it up because he thought they were going to get caught in <br />a big market rate adjustment. Since they are talking budgets it is something they want to have a <br />contingency plan on. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / July 12, 2022 <br />Page 8 of 12 <br /> <br />