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felt the current compensation no longer reflected the significant time commitment required for <br />meetings, committee assignments, constituent communications, and preparation. <br /> <br />Mayor Heineman informed the Council that Councilmember Olson, who had departed earlier for <br />a family matter, supported revisiting compensation, based on their conversations before the <br />meeting. <br /> <br />Councilmember Specht expressed less enthusiasm for increasing compensation, stating he did not <br />believe the current difference justified a significant adjustment. <br /> <br />Councilmember Buscher discussed the considerable time councilmembers devote to City business <br />outside regularly scheduled meetings and noted that modest compensation can help ensure public <br />service remains accessible to residents who might otherwise find the financial commitment <br />difficult. <br /> <br />Councilmember Stewart noted that the current compensation is less than what many residents <br />spend on their monthly household expenses and supported increasing it accordingly. <br /> <br />Following the discussion, the majority of councilmembers expressed support for increasing annual <br />compensation to $10,000 for councilmembers and $12,000 for the mayor. Staff was directed to <br />prepare the appropriate action for future Council consideration. <br /> <br />2.05: Waterfront Park Security Cameras <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml presented a proposal to install security cameras at the new Waterfront Park. <br />He emphasized that Ramsey's park system is one of the City's greatest assets and stated the <br />discussion centered on protecting both public investments and park users rather than responding <br />to widespread safety concerns. <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml explained that the Police Department currently uses portable cameras for <br />temporary investigations and maintains a limited number of fixed cameras at Elmcrest Park. The <br />proposed system would provide higher-quality, permanently installed cameras that monitor <br />activity throughout the new waterfront park. The cameras would assist officers investigating <br />vandalism, property damage, illegal dumping, assaults, and other criminal activity while also <br />serving as a deterrent. <br /> <br />Police Chief Bluml recommended using cameras manufactured by Flock Safety because they <br />integrate with the Department's existing systems, provide user-friendly investigative tools, and <br />allow officers to efficiently locate relevant video without manually reviewing hours of recordings. <br />He emphasized that the proposed security cameras differ from license plate reader cameras and do <br />not perform facial recognition. Instead, they allow investigators to search video using descriptive <br />characteristics, such as clothing or objects, while preserving human decision-making throughout <br />every investigation. <br /> <br />The Council discussed balancing public safety with privacy considerations. <br /> <br />City Council Work Session / June 23, 2026 <br />Page 5 of 7 <br />