Minutes - Council Work Session - 01/27/2026

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Mayor Heineman noted that baby boomers are the largest demographic group and will continue to age, indicating that the increase in service calls, particularly medical-related calls, is unlikely to reverse. Fire Chief Kohner explained that call volume fluctuates throughout the year, with minor increases from incidents such as vehicle or dumpster fires, but noted that no single factor drives those fluctuations. He added that the more significant and consistent increases account for the larger portion of overall call growth. Police Chief Bluml presented a high-level Quarter 4 police update, noting that a more detailed analysis will be included in the year-end report. The department responded to 4,094 dispatch calls, a 11% decrease from Quarter 3 and a 7% increase from Quarter 4 of last year. The seasonal decline from Quarter 3 to Quarter 4 was described as typical and attributed to factors including school in session, colder weather, and the holiday period. Police Chief Bluml noted the most common non-criminal calls were medical checks, welfare checks, and property-damage accidents. The most frequent criminal calls were identity theft, theft by swindling, and harassment restraining order (HRO) violations. During the quarter, officers made 79 arrests, with the most common being DWI, domestic assault, and theft or property removal. The department handled 124 traffic crashes, a 68% increase from Quarter 3, which the chief stated is typical for this time of year and largely attributed to deer-related crashes and icy road conditions. Police Chief Bluml clarified a prior reporting error, noting that the most common accident location is Bunker Lake Boulevard and St. Francis Boulevard, not Sunfish Lake Boulevard. The previously reported number of crashes (nine in Q3) was correct, but the location was misstated. In Q4, the intersection recorded four crashes, remaining the location with the most crashes for the year, with 21 total accidents. Additional analysis and contributing factors will be addressed in the year-end report. Police Chief Bluml explained that the department conducted 772 traffic stops in Ramsey during the quarter. At the Chief’s request, the crime data analyst reviewed activity near Highway 10/Alpine and at Jarvis Street, both of which were identified as challenging intersections. For 2025, there were five crashes on Highway 10/Alpine: three property damage, one personal injury, and one motorcycle fatality. Police Chief Bluml also shared a high-level case highlight involving holiday package thefts at the COR Apartments. Using a GPS-tracked decoy package, Flock cameras, and coordinated efforts between officers and investigators, the suspect was apprehended before Christmas, resulting in additional case clearances and assistance to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. The case remains in court. Finally, the Chief provided an update on malicious punishment of a child cases, noting one case in Q4, following three cases in Q3. While overall numbers remain low, the Q3 spike prompted closer monitoring. Councilmember Buscher asked whether the cases involved three separate families. City Council Work Session / January 27, 2026 Page 2 of 10