Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-27-2023 City Council Work Session Packet CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula Councilmembers Connie Buesgens Kt Jacobs Rachel James Justice Spriggs Interim City Manager Kevin Hansen City Hall—Shared Vision Room, 3989 Central Ave NE Monday, November 27, 2023 5:00 PM AGENDA ATTENDANCE INFORMATION FOR THE PUBLIC Members of the public who wish to attend may do so in -person, or by using Microsoft Teams Meeting ID 280 601 143 229, Passcode a2ei67. For questions please call the Administration Department at 763- 706-3610. Auxiliary aids or other accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request when the request is made at least 72 hours in advance. Please contact Administrat ion at 763- 706-3610 to make arrangements. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL WORK SESSION ITEMS 1. Presentation by BCA Deputy Superintendent of Investigations Scott Mueller regarding BCA’s Violent Crime Reduction Unit. ADJOURNMENT Auxiliary aids or other accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request when the request is made at least 72 hours in advance. Please contact Administration at 763-706-3610 to make arrangements. 1 ITEM: Presentation by BCA Deputy Superintendent of Investigations Scott Mueller regarding BCA’s Violent Crime Reduction Unit DEPARTMENT: Police Department BY/DATE: Chief Lenny Austin/Nov 16, 2023 CORE CITY STRATEGIES: (please indicate areas that apply by adding an “X” in front of the selected text below) _Healthy and Safe Community _Equitable, Diverse, Inclusive, and Friendly _Trusted and Engaged Leadership _Thriving and Vibrant Destination Community _Strong Infrastructure and Public Services _Sustainable BACKGROUND: As mentioned in the Police Department’s 2024 CHPD budget presentation, CHPD staff is recommending the start of a partnership with the BCA, and assign a Columbia Heights Police Officer to the BCA Violent Crime Reduction Unit in 2024. Scott Mueller, BCA Deputy Superintendent of Investigations, will be attending the Columbia Heights City Council Work Session on Monday, November 27, at 5pm to provide additional information about the BCA Violent Crime Reduction Unit. The BCA Violent Crime Reduction Unit was implemented as part of the state’s response to combating the spike in violent crime that has occurred over the last few years, specifically since 2020. The Violent Crime Reduction Unit is part of a larger state crime reduction strategy. Part of this strategy includes the BCA initiating a partnership with local agencies to provide support across the state investigating violent crimes, violent criminal organizations, carjackings, auto thefts, and disrupting plots o f mass violence before they occur. The Violent Crime Reduction Unit has had success in reducing violent crime working with local, state, and federal partners, as well as community groups. However, the current staffing for this unit is challenging because all the agents and analysts assigned to this unit were drawn away from other BCA investigative activities which impact on the BCA’s delivery of services to the rest of the state. One of the ways that the BCA is looking at increasing the staffing of the unit is to partner with local agencies of first ring suburbs of Minneapolis and St. Paul, by offering the opportunity to assign officers from these agencies to the Violent Crime Reduction Unit. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: This is an excellent opportunity for the Columbia Heights Police Department, and it is staff’s recommendation to enter into a Joint Powers Agreement with the BCA once the final JPA document is ready for City Council review. CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MEETING AGENDA SECTION WORK SESSION ITEM MEETING DATE NOVEMBER 27, 2023 2 Item 1.