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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />CITY OF RAMSEY <br />ANOKA COUNTY <br />STATE OF MINNESOTA <br />The Ramsey City Council conducted a City Council Work Session on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at <br />the Ramsey Municipal Center, 7550 Sunwood Drive NW, Ramsey, Minnesota. <br />Members Present: <br />Also Present: <br />Mayor Ryan Heineman <br />Councilmember Kirsten Buscher <br />Councilmember Michael Olson <br />Councilmember Eric Peters <br />Councilmember Chris Riley <br />Councilmember Dan Specht <br />Councilmember Shanna Stewart <br />City Administrator Brian Hagen <br />Public Works Director Bruce Westby <br />Finance Director Diana Lund <br />Fire Chief Andy Winkel <br />Police Chief Brad Bluml <br />Community Development Director Stephanie Hanson <br />Parks and Assistant Public Works Director Mark Riverblood <br />City Engineer Hfaedh Hlel <br />Administrative Services Director Colleen Lasher <br />City Attorney Amanda Johnson <br />1. CALL TO ORDER <br />Mayor Heineman called the City Council Work Session to order at 5:30 p.m. <br />2. TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION <br />2.01: Quarterly Update from Fire and Police Departments <br />Police Chief Bluml presented a combined first- and second-quarter 2026 Police Department <br />report to provide a broader overview of activity during the first half of the year. He reported <br />dispatch activity increased approximately seven percent over the same period in 2025, with <br />8,348 calls for service, representing about 500 additional calls. Medical calls remained the <br />department's most common non -criminal response, followed by welfare checks and animal <br />complaints. At the same time, theft of movable property, theft by swindle, and misdemeanor <br />domestic assault continued to be the most common criminal offenses. Officers made 176 arrests, <br />slightly fewer than the previous year, with warrants, domestic assault, theft, driving while <br />intoxicated, and driving after cancellation as inimical to public safety accounting for the majority <br />of arrests. He also discussed concerns involving suspected gang activity connected to East <br />African juveniles and young adults, noting Ramsey investigators had identified local individuals <br />City Council Work Session / July 28, 2026 <br />Page 1 of 12 <br />