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<br />Councilmember Buscher then asked Police Chief Bluml whether he has access to anyone who has <br />previously applied for and successfully received the grant. She suggested that speaking with those <br />departments might help determine the best application strategy, such as whether it is better to <br />request the full amount of funding or apply for a more modest amount to increase the likelihood <br />of receiving the grant. <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml responded that he did reach out to a colleague from Alexandra House who has <br />significant experience writing state-related grants. He explained that she provided helpful insight, <br />although the funding structure of their organization differs somewhat from that of the grant <br />discussion. <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml stated that she explained that there are generally two approaches when <br />applying for grants. In some cases, applicants request the maximum amount. They may receive <br />only a portion of it, while in other cases, requesting a more moderate amount can result in them <br />receiving the full award. <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml added that the grant applications are reviewed by a committee rather than <br />solely by state staff. He also noted that several of the police departments he contacted had <br />successfully received the grant in the previous year and were willing to share their budget <br />proposals and application information. He said that reviewing those examples was helpful while <br />preparing the City’s potential application. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley stated that he supports the proposal and likes the idea of having a two-year <br />opportunity to evaluate the program through the grant. He noted that the City would be able to see <br />how effective the program is before deciding whether to fund the position long term. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley added that while he understands the program would not replace police <br />officers, he believes it could reduce the amount of time officers spend on mental health calls. He <br />suggested this could slow the growth rate of future requests for additional officers. <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml responded that he understood the reasoning and initially considered a similar <br />possibility. However, he emphasized that the program should not be viewed as a replacement for <br />law enforcement staffing. He explained that the City continues to experience growth and emerging <br />public safety challenges that still require trained police officers. <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml noted that recent trends, including East African gang-related activity that has <br />been reported in other parts of the county and has begun appearing in Ramsey, highlight the <br />continued need for traditional policing resources. He stated that while a mental health professional <br />could reduce the number and duration of certain calls, the Police Department will likely still need <br />to hire additional officers. <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml added that in communities where similar programs have been operating for <br />several years, such as St. Cloud, departments have continued to expand their behavioral health <br />programs. He said that, based on feedback from those agencies, Ramsey could eventually develop <br />a dedicated unit for this type of work if mental health–related calls continue to increase. <br />City Council Work Session / March 10, 2026 <br />Page 19 of 21 <br />