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Councilmember Stewart inquired about the financial interests in other homes, clarifying that the <br />program should prioritize homeowners with no other properties. <br /> <br />Planning Manager Larson confirmed that the program would not penalize those with financial <br />interests in other homes if they were likely heirs. <br /> <br />Councilmember Stewart questioned the identification requirements for preferred participants. <br /> <br />Planning Manager Larson explained that it would apply to seniors living in the home. The program <br />would consider the combined finances of all residents in the home to determine eligibility. <br /> <br />Councilmember Riley expressed concerns about the complexity of the matching contributions and <br />repayment plan. <br /> <br />Planning Manager Larson suggested simplifying the repayment plan by stating the percentage <br />repaid if the house was sold within a certain period. <br /> <br />Mayor Heineman confirmed that the title company would identify the lien, making the <br />administrative work easier. <br /> <br />Planning Manager Larson indicated that staff would revise the language to reflect the Council’s <br />preference that homeowners contribute to the program. <br /> <br />2.02: Discussion Regarding a Police Department Staffing Change <br /> <br />Administrative Services Director Lasher introduced the discussion on Police Department staffing <br />changes. She explained the long-term internship program for Community Service Officers (CSOs) <br />and the challenges of retaining them. <br /> <br />Administrative Services Director Lasher explained the Council was asked to consider retaining a <br />current CSO who was likely to be hired by another agency if not retained by Ramsey. <br /> <br />Administrative Services Director Lasher and Police Chief Bluml discussed the savings from the <br />CSO position and the potential need to add a patrol officer in 2027. <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml emphasized the importance of retaining talented CSOs, noting the challenges <br />of finding good police officers. <br /> <br />The Council discussed the potential impact of retaining the CSO on the 2027 budget and the <br />department’s staffing needs. <br /> <br />Mayor Heineman highlighted the importance of making decisions to avoid future vacancies in the <br />Police department. <br /> <br />The Council reached a consensus to add a Patrol Officer position to the budget in 2026. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / May 12, 2026 <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />