2026-09-23 - Public Safety Committee
Summary
Based on uploaded captions in live-caption style; names and numbers may be misheard.
- Format: Chair Anika Bowie ran a cross-departmental summer recap on youth programs and public safety, with Vice Chair Molly Coleman, Rebecca Noecker, Nelsie Yang and HwaJeong Kim present and Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson excused. Parks and Recreation, Fire and EMS, the Office of Neighborhood Safety and the Police Department each presented; there were no votes. The police presentation was shortened for time.
- Parks and Recreation: Staff reported 184 recreation center incident reports from May 1 to September 4, with 48% public-safety related and 3% involving substance use. Staff described "teen takeovers" promoted on social media, centered on Frogtown this summer, with young people coming from suburbs as far away as Stillwater and Burnsville. One event drew more than 100 youth and 15 park staff plus police and sheriff's deputies. The approach: share flyers with partners, add staff, engage youth and call 911 when a site is out of control. A fire department presence at Como pool entrances helped cut down on takeovers there. Parks also converted a vacant manager post into a youth violence prevention and public safety role. See Teen Takeovers Response.
- Fire and EMS: Staff outlined school visits, social media, live fire demonstrations, CPR training for city employees, and the Safe Haven program of free smoke and carbon monoxide alarm installation. Grant funding for Safe Haven was cut in 2026, and supplies now come from donations by the Red Cross and an alarm manufacturer, with no guarantee going forward. Vice President Yang argued such programs should be built into the city budget. See Project Safe Haven Smoke Alarm Funding.
- Office of Neighborhood Safety: The director reported its Familiar Faces team helped house unsheltered residents in July and August, and its Project PEACE team has taken 27 youth referrals since June 1 from parks, schools, police and probation, including children under 13 who can no longer be charged under a new state law. The office has 26 grant applications for the 2027 neighborhood safety community council round and ran an eight-week paid trades internship with the police department and a trades academy. Members asked for a recap of past grant recipients and an annual review. See Office of Neighborhood Safety Youth Referrals.
- Police: The commander of the traffic and pedestrian safety unit reported a youth soccer program serving about 60 students at two sites, over 400 community events with 84,000 participants and 3,000 pounds of donated food, nearly 5,000 documented proactive contacts from June to August, six Safe Summer Nights with more than 2,000 positive youth contacts, 11 walk-to-school events, and a pedestrian safety campaign with about 2,500 stops and 175 tickets for failure to yield. A car seat program lets families with a citation get education, and sometimes a seat, and have the violation dismissed.
- Next: October will be the committee's last meeting of the year, on the fourth Wednesday; members invited suggestions for 2027 topics.
Issues discussed
- Teen Takeovers Response
- Project Safe Haven Smoke Alarm Funding
- Office of Neighborhood Safety Youth Referrals
Sources
Video
Transcript
These are uploaded captions in live-caption style; names and numbers may be misheard.
Transcript
07:59Broke off. Vice Chair Coleman.
08:06However, Johnson.
08:09Councilmember Toast.
08:11Councilmember Kym. Kuzma maker
08:17here. Remember, getting here?
08:26There are 6 members present.
08:27One absent member Johnson is
08:28excused. Item number one is Sr
08:3626 dash, 2, 0, for community.
08:37First public safety cross
08:38departmental Summerview.
08:42Wonderful. Tank you so We are
08:46here having our public safety
08:47committee meeting,
08:48particularly on the communi.
08:53>> summer recap. And I just
08:54want to just give some
08:55context, particularly for
08:57meeting cause we as you see in
08:58your materials, we have
09:01several packets from each
09:03department. And as we are, you
09:05know, nearly a month into the
09:07school year and answering the
09:08fauci's. And I really wanted
09:09to take the time and the
09:11opportunity to really reflect
09:12on our youth programs. You
09:16know, here the council in our
09:18committee meetings, we've had
09:19a robust conversations
09:22recreation hours, staffing
09:24city programs, whether they're
09:25reaching the people that need
09:26them the most. So with that,
09:30that is why. And by did police
09:32fire parks and also office and
09:34neighbors safety here to
09:35provide a recap of summer
09:37recap of our cities community
09:38first public safety framework
09:41and learned, you know, from
09:42some of the work that they've
09:44been doing, also addressing
09:45some of the service gaps. And
09:49also giving them the
09:50opportunity to see how are
09:52carrying some of the lessons
09:52from this year to next year.
09:55Also want to recognize
09:57Councilmember Kim and her
09:58office for hosting the Youth
10:00Summit or the Youth State
10:02address.
10:03>> In the gathering, a lot of
10:04that important information.
10:08This committee meeting provide
10:09some live like a high-level
10:11picture of some of the things
10:13that the young people have
10:13talked about, that they
10:15appreciate what what are city
10:16provides also, we have 4
10:20presentations here at your
10:22seat. So we have order. I want
10:23to make sure folks can follow.
10:26Well, so we have the same
10:31Parks and Rec. We're going to
10:32happen. Speaker director and
10:32director. Guess who is here?
10:35The second speaker will be
10:38from the fire and emergency
10:39medical services with
10:39assistant Chief Jeremiah Milk.
10:41With us and Deputy Chief Jamie
10:44Smet and our 3rd prison
10:46presenter will be the Office
10:46of Neighborhood Safety. What
10:50director toy of fxes pix of
10:54will be presenting as well.
10:56And then lastly, we'll have
10:56our police department
10:58commander Jeremy Ellison here.
11:02And I just want to also
11:02highlight we have here, Molly,
11:06from the listening house.
11:06She's the executive director.
11:09I will not be presenting today
11:10but open for a follow-up
11:11meeting after this committee.
11:14And there's some materials
11:15included in your packet. last
11:20closing statement here before
11:21we get started, we only have
11:23one hour and I just want make
11:24sure every department has the
11:25opportunity to present. I am
11:28asking for council members to
11:29hold their questions and
11:32comments during the end of the
11:34presentation. So not the
11:35entire presentation. But each
11:37department I will open up the
11:39floor to have more of a focus,
11:41you know, round of questions
11:42towards the end of each
11:46department's presentation. And
11:47our goal here is so listen to,
11:48you know, not only just
11:50activities but really get
11:51opportunity to understand the
11:54services. And like I
11:54mentioned, no, most
11:55importantly, this is going
11:56focus on impact. So we're
11:58going to start with our parks
12:00director to get going here. So
12:02welcome. curious, thank you.
12:06Councilmember Bowie Council
12:07just want to recognize
12:09everyone in the room park
12:09staff on SPD
12:13>> We all work very hand in
12:14hand throughout the summer
12:15months on a lot of cross
12:17departmental work and you'll
12:18see that flow troughout each
12:20presentations. So just want
12:21acknowledge that up front as
12:24you can see from the title
12:25slide here. You see fire in
12:26our politics team who worked
12:28together this summer, which
12:29will will talk about more
12:30upcoming slide. But a great
12:31example of collaboration and
12:32partnership. Just a quick scan
12:36on the agenda, jumping right
12:38into it on our public safety
12:38approach on. We're always
12:42preparing for marrying safety
12:44concerns. Those ae ever
12:46evolving, especially in rec
12:47centers with the things that
12:48we But it's important for us
12:50parts to maintain strong
12:51partnerships with public
12:52safety agencies, specifically
12:55the ones I previously
12:56mentioned, but also the Ramsey
12:56County sheriffs and others
12:58downtown alliance, different
13:00groups on. We don't want to be
13:04reactionary to behavior when
13:04it comes to young people. We
13:05want to be engaging. So we
13:06want to try and work with and
13:09bringing their behaviors until
13:10more positive environment and
13:13then adjusting operations to
13:15protect all park users. So
13:17that compromises programming
13:18is passive parks, regional
13:19parks or just overall
13:22structured uses the space on.
13:24That is something that we
13:24would develop a safety action
13:26plan for and then connecting
13:29young people, a trusted adult
13:29and opportunities. So if
13:31they're not in programs, not
13:33wreck centers are not a part
13:34of any formal program. What
13:35can we do to engage that? It
13:38may not be through like the
13:39rec centers at the end of the
13:40day, but maybe there's a
13:41nonprofit partner, someone
13:42else that we work with that
13:44provides a service or program
13:45young person. They want to
13:45participate in. And then
13:48learning from incidents. No
13:49one incident is the same. So
13:52how we continuously improve
13:53with our rec center spaces in
13:54our parks basis. Here's a
13:59quick snapshot of just
14:00recreation center incidents
14:02from May 1st to September 4th,
14:03as you can see for stats 184
14:05recreation Services. Incident
14:07reports. 48% of those were
14:09public safety related. So you
14:11see fights teen takeovers
14:12police presence for a variety
14:14of reasons. abuse towards
14:15Stafford, just general
14:17disruptive behavior that
14:19disrupts the orderly operation
14:19of a wreck center that we like
14:21to say. And then 3% involve
14:26substance use so that the
14:27vaping inside a restroom or a
14:28building on things that we see
14:28on occasion. There's been a
14:34lot of conversation about teen
14:34takeovers this past summer. I
14:37want to spend some time
14:37talking about that we learned
14:41a lot about those events,
14:43specifically the smmer at a
14:44lot of different rec centers.
14:45But it is a national trend
14:46that is happening in cities
14:46across the country. Very much
14:51centered around the Frogtown
14:52neighborhood this We've seen
14:53plan teen takeovers.
14:57communicated promoted through
14:58Snapchat or other social media
14:59platforms. I will say what
15:00we're thankful for is
15:04sometimes our young people are
15:05right track staff, even let
15:06the let us know about those
15:07flyers on what that allows us
15:10to do is to shared across
15:12different Lets police that
15:12sheriff's that's fire in us
15:16another. So we're very much in
15:17sync and how plan those. But
15:21not every promoted team
15:23takeover happens. Sometimes
15:24they fizzle out or they just
15:25don't happen and not every
15:28takeover rsults and unsafe
15:29behavior. Some groups simply
15:30gather to recreate like any
15:33other visitors.
15:34>> I think what's fascinating
15:35about these youth takeovers
15:37are not Saint Paul specific. A
15:38lot of these young people are
15:39coming from the suburbs as far
15:40as Stillwater, Burnsville
15:42Maplewood to can be site.
15:46Arriving in a variety of ways.
15:47Sometimes parents are dropping
15:48them off, sometimes are coming
15:51in Ubers Lime scooters. As you
15:52guys know, transportation
15:56options are these days. it's
15:56been fascinating to watch, but
16:01a key take away as we prepare
16:02for every reported take over
16:03while recognizing that each
16:03event in crowd just different.
16:07And then looking at our
16:09approach. So a three-part
16:10approach mention the flyer
16:11that might circulate within
16:13social media platform or
16:14across channels.
16:15>> Sharing that information
16:16with public safety partners,
16:20adjusting our staffing and
16:20building operations, using
16:21private home community center.
16:22As an example for one of these
16:25teen takeovers, I think we the
16:26staff upwards to 12 to 15
16:27people for one event. That's
16:30just park staff and does not
16:31include and staff and other
16:32folks that were on site today.
16:37I obviously identify
16:38opportunities to engage youth.
16:40I will just be flat out and
16:41want that. There are some that
16:42do not want to be engaged. So
16:44there are folks, young people
16:46that a lot more challenges in
16:48that regard. Although try and
16:50work through and then
16:52supporting our frontline staff
16:52to the ever evolving are
16:54changing conditions of these
16:55events on their very dynamic.
16:57And that happened fast real
16:58tough.
17:02>> Park on the crowded
17:04conditions, all and staff
17:06engage when say staff engaged
17:07directly with youth. If we
17:08have to go into what we call
17:08in our world, a secure too.
17:12>> essentially locked the
17:13building in key programs and
17:14everything else running while
17:16stuff outside sorts itself out
17:17as what we will do. The wrk
17:21with young people to
17:22understand their plans and
17:23redirect on safe behavior,
17:25that it is very much a team
17:26effort between all the
17:26entities that I mentioned. But
17:29our goal is to maintain safe
17:32operations for when using the
17:33Parker facility and when it
17:34becomes unsafe. That's when
17:35law enforcement and others
17:38Show up to support us and they
17:40may stay on site for a while
17:41until things kind of calm
17:42down. But it is a very
17:46interesting scenario when you
17:48have upwards of 100 kids on
17:50the site not clear intentions
17:53of So again, a collaborative
17:58response externally. You'll
17:59see when we reach out to the
18:01police, the neighborhood
18:03safety office, Ramsey County
18:04Sheriff's Saint Paul Fire
18:05Department internally within
18:07parks that goes that
18:09communication chain goes all
18:09the way up to me from our area
18:11supervisor level all the way
18:12up to leadership so all
18:15different touch points
18:15depending on the specific
18:17location. But teen takeovers
18:18happening. So again just a
18:26quick snapshot and preparing
18:28for the day, scheduling
18:28additional staff citing staff
18:29from other rec centers having
18:32parks leadership on site and
18:33if needed adjusting building
18:34schedules or modifying
18:37programs on for the potential
18:38impacts that we may encounter.
18:44during a bent on, as I
18:47mentioned, where where
18:47president actively monitoring
18:49conditions on onsite one
18:51available as myself managers,
18:52area supervisors. We monitor
18:54the crowd size behavior, the
18:56conditions on toys group in
18:58the onus outreach staff
18:59provide additional engagement,
19:01Ramsey County stations
19:02theirselves on site and
19:05depending on their
19:05availability and location but
19:09also the most important thing
19:10is to call 9-1-1. When we feel
19:12that the site has no longer
19:13contained or what we would
19:14call out of control. And
19:18that's based on what is
19:19happening in real time. Not
19:19simply the fact that we have
19:20100 young people on the site
19:21right? So this is a snapshot
19:26of what we learned from a 3
19:29event week where we saw
19:31difference teen takeovers
19:32being promoted on within. A 48
19:34hour span Frogtown community
19:35center and then again on
19:35Friday at Oxford. So if you
19:38look at Tuesday, crowd grew to
19:39more than 100 youth. We have
19:42multiple fights on the
19:43property and in the
19:44neighborhood and essentially
19:45what we were able to do is get
19:47them off of park property. But
19:47then they would go down to the
19:48gas station and convenience or
19:52go go down to the McDonald's.
19:52And it was just kind of this
19:54game of moving. comes between
19:57parks police and other
19:59entities. But you can see for
20:01you for carrying bear spray or
20:04mace spray. they repeatedly
20:05last in the crowds became more
20:08agitated. As I mentioned, we
20:09had 15 park staff on site in
20:13addition to on and sheriff's
20:13office stuff on SP PD did
20:18amazing job. I'm not Tuesday,
20:19responding early and often
20:20throughout the neighborhood.
20:21As addition additional fights
20:24occurred again utilizing tat
20:269-1-1, service for us and
20:28continuously calling as things
20:30developed, then you'll see on
20:32Thursday crowd remain below
20:3450. There are some youth that
20:36appeared intoxicated. There's
20:36a little bit of reckless
20:39e-scooter riding throughout
20:39the playground in the park
20:41that other park users. And
20:42again, our partners providing
20:44support then continuous
20:45monitoring. got a little bit
20:49more ahead of the Friday one
20:50because we got the fire ahead
20:52of time on that. We're able to
20:52do some things. But and this
20:56one, we were able to catch i
20:56earlier as PPD arrived on
20:58site, include the property on.
20:59So that worked out well for
21:03that Friday. But a very
21:05interesting snapshot that week
21:06of kind of the variation of
21:07how these teen takeovers can
21:08happen in terms of crowd size.
21:12But I'd say Tuesday that
21:13Tuesday at Pralltown was
21:14probably the most stressful on
21:17and a good case Kind of how we
21:18approach these things in the
21:18future. So what is working
21:25early awareness and youth
21:26engagement are making a
21:27difference. As I mentioned
21:29earlier, sometimes are right
21:30track in turn. There are
21:31others will will tip us off to
21:32some of these things. And
21:35we've adjusted our programming
21:38to engage. Young people are
21:39trying provide some positive
21:40outlets when they are on site.
21:43But as I said not everyone
21:43wants that level of engagement
21:44and it's clear that our staff
21:48really good intuition. And who
21:49is there for something
21:49positive versus who is not?
21:54The key between the parks in
21:55on a staffer, building
21:55relationships with young
21:56people, learning more about
21:57their plans, trying to
22:00redirect behavior and
22:01identifying patterns on
22:02potential conflicts that might
22:03arise when everyone's on site.
22:06The onus team does a great job
22:08of identifying youth that we
22:10already throughout the
22:10neighborhood or throughout the
22:11city. And as I mentioned with
22:14young people coming from
22:15outside te neighborhood, we
22:18have a good inkling say it's
22:18like we don't know these kids
22:21and that kind of raises an
22:22eyebrow sometimes when we see
22:23a convergence of a lot of
22:24young people that we don't
22:24immediately recognize us.
22:27Day-to-day recreation center
22:28users. Another example or case
22:35study of preventing teen
22:37takeovers specifically within
22:38the aquatic space has been a
22:40partnership the summer between
22:41the aquatics team, the Saint
22:42Paul Fire Department. So last
22:44summer we had a lot of what I
22:44would call a takeover events
22:48for young people would show up
22:50in mass, jumped the provide
22:52all sorts of different
22:54challenges for defeat and his
22:55team at Como full
22:56specifically. So we had to
22:57think differently this summer
22:58about how we showed up. And
23:01one thing we talked about his
23:02pending aquatic, some fire
23:03kind a team to have more of
23:05dedicated presence at entry
23:06are outside in the parking
23:07lot. And just engage young
23:09people and families as they
23:10come in. So it's like I think
23:11it says a lot when you have a
23:14uniform around that is just
23:16saying, hey, how's it going,
23:17having the firetruck kind of
23:17stationed out there just shows
23:21that that. We're all on the
23:21same page and how we operate
23:24every day And it was really a
23:27strong success. We stay
23:28connected with visitors
23:29monitored emerging concerns
23:32identified potential dangerous
23:33situations being planned or
23:36promoted. And so those things
23:37never really formulate
23:38throughout the summer because
23:38of the presence that we had
23:40there. And if we did have a
23:43minor conflict, we are able to
23:43intervene proactively and
23:44discourage any unsafe behavior
23:48But results in a significant
23:50reduction in the severity and
23:51recurrence of of teen
23:52takeovers. That same poll
23:53pool, something that we had a
23:54lot of struggle with last
23:55summer. And just outlining the
24:02aquatics response team
24:04approach continuous engagement
24:05with our families and young
24:06people prohibiting face
24:10coverings class containers,
24:10obviously weapons or any type
24:11of smoking or vaping, you
24:14know, focusing on the face
24:15coverings in the in the heat
24:16of summer. a young person
24:17shows up with what we call in
24:18the wreck centers, ice tea and
24:22that kind of raises red flag
24:24for us. So we want to make
24:24sure that we get those things
24:28going in our monitor. And
24:32practical aberration in parks
24:34and rec spaces. Just want to a
24:34shout out to fire on high heat
24:37days, bringing the fire truck
24:37out. And fire truck across the
24:43and giving it a chance for
24:46young people and families to
24:48cool off the wreck. Senators
24:49obviously have air
24:49conditioning other things, but
24:50we're bringing these to pass a
24:52parks on to give young people
24:55chance to enjoy the water get
24:57away from the heat. So another
25:00a good partnership there in
25:01terms of opening a fire
25:03hydrant, hydrate partnering
25:04with our mobile wrecked teams
25:04to make things happen. Office
25:09of Neighborhood Safety Use
25:11this as a segue to the next
25:12group. But just again, want to
25:14know that their partnership
25:16has been instrumental in our
25:17work and how they show up
25:18every day whether that
25:19stationing some of their staff
25:21and he wrecked centers across
25:22the city or just building
25:23relationships with Rex
25:24understaffed for young people
25:25in community like the
25:28crossover o or staff help us
25:29collaboratively support
25:30behavior and young people
25:31across the city. I think I got
25:35the I got the note from you to
25:37wrap up. So I will pass this
25:39along to the next presenter,
25:40which I think is fire. Bfore
25:51leave cause. That's have a
25:53question from Councilmember
25:54shooting. Vice President.
25:56>> Yang and as any other
25:57questions or comments before
25:59we transition, OK
26:02councilmember jokes.
26:03>> chair bully Director
26:04Rodriguez, I want to say thank
26:04you for your presentation and
26:07also educating us about the
26:09teen takeovers. I it in my
26:10word. I haven't.
26:12>> Seen the teen takeovers
26:15happen. I've seen more so a
26:18lot to together morning.
26:19Organize me. It's like field
26:19trips or maybe there.
26:22>> At Fayetteville Regional
26:22Park, Jefferson surge of water
26:25activity. Either way, it's you
26:26know, I am I always encourage
26:27us to to continue investing a
26:30programming for you. Think
26:31about the connection you've
26:32between our aquatics team and
26:36even you know that those type
26:37of programming opportunities
26:37available for our use because
26:38when we can keep them occupied
26:41and provide them the sort of
26:42really important programming
26:44overall or maybe even like,
26:46you for them employment, which
26:48exactly what we did the right
26:48track. That's how can ensure
26:51that the I am moving away
26:54from, you know, the unsafe
26:54behavior or they're just funny
26:56ways to be really productive
26:57thing growing and learning
26:57every single day. And so I'm
26:58really invested in that. I
27:00wanted to gve a shout out to
27:01the aquatics team in the space
27:02here. Thank you for joining us
27:06to and it was morning because
27:08I haven't seen the team take
27:10takers happened in my word. I
27:11was wondering if you can
27:11educate us on what hours is
27:14that usually happening?
27:17Because I see her Tuesday
27:19Thursday, Friday. Those are
27:21school days and I'm pretty
27:21sure maybe this happens more
27:23so during the summer time, So
27:25if you can give a better
27:27contacts that really helpful.
27:28Yeah, councilmember yea, that
27:29is a great question. Sometimes
27:30are times on the fly or
27:32sometimes they're not. So I
27:33don't think there's really a
27:34pattern in terms of time. But
27:35for the ones that I provided
27:36examples, those are probably
27:37around.
27:38>> Gathering around 3.34
27:40o'clock and then into the
27:41evening. So very Until about 9
27:45o'clock on the wreck center
27:46closes. kind of a continuous
27:47deal on. We have mostly
27:49centered around frogtown the
27:51summer and there's a couple
27:51blips that failing early on.
27:53But we got out of those with
27:55PD and other. So on those kind
27:57of centered in the Frogtown
27:58neighborhood. And I don't
27:58think there's any specific
27:59reason for that. I think that
28:00is just why they they chose a
28:03location and kind of stuck to
28:04and just wanting l share to
28:06close. My thoughts is a really
28:08appreciate the approach that
28:10you all yu know, staff
28:13directing are leading our
28:13departments have when it comes
28:14to addressing this.
28:15>> You're not coming from
28:16angle. We are saying, hey,
28:17let's let's figure out a way
28:19to to criminalize such as
28:21Stephen. It finally is the
28:22Punisher youth here. But
28:24Marceau figuring out how we
28:25can be prevented at how we can
28:27be educating them as well
28:29about safety and the best way
28:30to go about convening with
28:32each other in public because
28:33the most important thing is
28:34really making sure that they
28:36are safe in our come in our
28:37public spaces. Thank you.
28:41Thank you up and you're going
28:43transition to ask for
28:46>> Director save some
28:47questions and trying to
28:48understand these teen
28:49takeovers a little bit more.
28:50What do you think?
28:54>> I What do you think it is
28:56that young people are in need
28:58of when are that they're
29:00getting from these when they
29:02want to do the teen. These
29:04teen takeovers.
29:04>> I'm glad that, you know,
29:05Parks is trying to provide
29:07alternatives or other spaces.
29:11I don't know if the point of
29:13some of these takeovers order
29:14about where they just they
29:15don't, you know, want to do
29:16organized activities. But do
29:18you have anything you could
29:20share with us about your
29:21understanding of them?
29:23Excited? You know, I mean, it
29:25was a long time ago that I was
29:26a teenager. But this was
29:26really something that we
29:27didn't necessarily sunshine
29:27understand. Councilmember,
29:31just it's agreat question.
29:32It's probably a multi layered
29:33answer. Honestly, I do think
29:34there's a strong social media
29:36element to this and be able
29:37to, you know, film and say,
29:38hey, we did this at this park
29:39for this location.
29:42>> I do think that they see
29:43the power in numbers. And, you
29:45know, when they're in that
29:46larger crew kind of feel,
29:47quote, unquote, on invincible,
29:48right, like no one can tell me
29:49what to do and kind of
29:51>> power in numbers on. I
29:53think our our drivers, but
29:55also think they're just young
29:57people that need to be
29:58redirected, right? And none.
30:00Like I said, it starts at the
30:02rec center once again, you
30:03know, moved off the recs
30:04center property. It's like
30:05we're gonna go to the gas
30:05station and we're going come
30:07in there. So I do think
30:09there's in a flat coolness and
30:12other things, but also like
30:13social media piece thanks.
30:17>> Have a question. Just
30:18inspired by that. And, you
30:21Director Andy, always talked
30:21about, you know, kind of these
30:25teen takeovers. I just want to
30:26just say, shout out to now
30:28your department, but also your
30:31staff in the crossover with
30:32fire and police Whenever these
30:37takeovers hppened, everyone
30:38is communicated with that
30:39information. So want
30:40appreciate like how you've
30:44been able to manage and engage
30:46everyone, even from the
30:47council all the way down to
30:49the parents. But along that
30:51question around just and I
30:54appreciate just like what the
30:54people just people need like,
30:57what are they looking for?
31:00Have there been any
31:00conversations around like
31:01changing are designing
31:03programming now that we see
31:04like, you know, some young
31:06people are wanting these viral
31:08moments. There's this trend
31:10going on of like showing up to
31:12a location and that all teen
31:14takeovers are no dangerous.
31:18But, you know, can you speak a
31:20little bit too? Now
31:21programming and also I want
31:23highlight we have Pro Frankel
31:25hears. Well, I know there's a
31:26new position that was designed
31:27speak a little bit more about
31:29the community for Safety.
31:34Manager program manager role
31:35that actually. Well, I'll just
31:38stop right there. So want to
31:40want to keep going another
31:43Councilmember believe those
31:43are those are great questions.
31:45I would just say that. Yeah,
31:47the program and engagement
31:47something that we continuously
31:49look at, right. So like Jean
31:50and her staff at Frogtown.
31:52>> Kind of continuous ways to
31:53be innovative and how we
31:56engage these young people. If
31:56that's things that we things
31:58on the site that we can
31:59activate when there is a large
32:01crowd that might gather there
32:02tension or keep them occupied
32:03a positive way likwe will do
32:04it. But there is a balance
32:07there and it goes it goes back
32:08to intent. And what some of
32:08young people are there for.
32:11But it is just something that
32:12we're just going to
32:13continuously have to adjust
32:15and kind of react to on. But
32:16yeah, we're always looking for
32:17innovative program ideas or
32:17how we can get those young
32:20people engaged in positive
32:21programs are even right track
32:22or other things down the line
32:24on and address your second
32:27question. Yes, we took an
32:30existing manager vacancy
32:31within parks on and change
32:31that roll up a little bit too
32:34focus more youth violence.
32:35Prevention are Awakenings
32:37program and kind of an overall
32:39public safety strategy.
32:39Obviously, that is But at the
32:42forefront of our work for the
32:43last few years. So we felt it
32:45was important to on dedicated
32:47position to that work that can
32:49essentially be the liaison to
32:50some of these groups here and
32:51others and build out a
32:51framework across our
32:52department.
32:55>> Wonderful. Any other last
32:55comments or questions before
32:56we transition. Perfect. Thank
32:57you so much. So now going to
33:04transition a NASCAR fire
33:05emergency services to be here.
33:07Assistant Chief Jeremiah Milk
33:08with us and also that the
33:10Chiefs met. Thank you so much
33:10for being here. I'm just gonna
33:11let you take it away. Thank
33:12you. Good afternoon.
33:15>> Chair believe president, a
33:16Kurd distinguish Council
33:17members. For a A fire and EMS.
33:23Our objective is to increase
33:24player safety awareness
33:24Curtis, among residents,
33:25students and businesses. It's
33:28a fault of proactive public
33:29education. Hands-on
33:30demonstrations, country
33:31resources. So we'll go through
33:32kind of what we do annually
33:33and where we've come and then
33:35we'll take questions at the
33:40Saint Paul Fire uses Facebook,
33:45Instagram formerly Twitter to
33:46timely fire safety messaging.
33:50We create content calendar
33:51that aligns with national
33:52campaigns Fire Prevention Week
33:52which is coming up here in the
33:53will to 3 weeks. Daylight
33:56Savings. Time to remind
33:56everyone change your
33:58batteries. short videos
34:01infographics and for for
34:01spotlights to increase
34:03engagement topics include
34:05kitchen fire safety space
34:08heater. Safety smoke carbon
34:08monoxide alarm tips. Fire
34:10exits rules for families and
34:11seasonal hazardous. Our school
34:17reach consists of visits.
34:19Pre-K through 8th grade to
34:20teach age appropriate fire
34:22safety. We usually have that
34:24up and try as many schools as
34:25we can during our fire
34:26prevention week in October. It
34:28kind of goes hand-in-hand with
34:29what you see later as far as
34:33the a school fire drills that
34:34we do annually for every
34:35single school in the city of
34:36Saint Paul. And that's done
34:40September October, early in
34:40November, we have a of fish by
34:42then. also provide take home
34:44fire safety worksheets in-home
34:45exit, real plans. We encourage
34:49the students, especially the
34:50young use to talk to parents
34:51to get on the same page for
34:52fire exit strategies and to
34:54kind of market are safe haven
34:57program. It's because safe
35:03haven, we promote a free
35:05installation of smoke alarms
35:07cover. But but I that actors
35:08and stovetop fire stops prior
35:10high-risk areas or underserved
35:12communities in few years ago,
35:15we had a higher number of fire
35:18fatalities in the city. And
35:19one things that stood out to
35:19us was that every single fire
35:22that happened that year. I was
35:23preventable. A lot of leaf on
35:25that. They did not have
35:26working smoke alarms for
35:27whatever reason, but it was
35:30rental or homeowners as we
35:30made it a priority to really
35:33push that to prevent any fire
35:37fatalities or injuries in our
35:38city. I would encourage others
35:41to visit the safe online, but
35:45every community, but that we
35:45go to to materials. We do
35:49speak with the residents
35:50inside them up. And then that
35:52program is run by on-duty
35:52crews respond to the home and
35:55they'll sit down those place.
35:56All the smoke detectors,
35:56carbon monoxide alarms put new
35:57ones. And if they do not have
35:59them and they also don't talk
36:00to the family will have an
36:02exit plan to plans being point
36:04outside and called 9-1-1. But
36:06get out of the hosts is the
36:06most important thing. A
36:11community events and outreach.
36:13This is where the the
36:14partnerships and collaboration
36:15comes in with with partners
36:17here today with parks with
36:19place it on we attend safe
36:22summer nights national. They
36:23do. It would block parties you
36:23summer camps day cares. We
36:26give aay educational
36:28materials off. We do fire
36:30safety trivia. We partner the
36:33National Fire Sprinkler
36:37Association and will do fire
36:38demonstrations. is a kitchen
36:39fire and it shows what not to
36:42do. So have think majority
36:43people in this room and seeing
36:44that we have a fire and you
36:46pour water on it. What that
36:47does. You just went from a
36:48stovetop fire to an actual
36:50structure fire. We also a
36:52side-by-side showing u a
36:53sprinkler of a living room and
36:58how that controls. The does
37:00not grow and and the
37:02side-by-side other. What does
37:03not have a sprinkler. We start
37:04fire fast. That does go up.
37:05All it takes for the smoke
37:06alarm to go off and just kind
37:09of shows a difference and how
37:10we keep our residents safe. We
37:15partner with parts as you
37:15heard from Rodriguez for
37:18uniform presence at pools
37:21during the summer season.
37:22We're looking forward to
37:23continued partnership. We
37:24think that that even if it's
37:28late to the personnel, have
37:29someone in uniform gauge with
37:32the EU is a positive influence
37:35and helps keep audiences
37:36stone. And we're seeing the
37:36results of that. We also
37:40provide CPR training for other
37:42departments in the city. So
37:43far we have completed with
37:44public works and we don't the
37:45Como Zoo employees. We have
37:47straining set up for the
37:48mayor's office and also for
37:49our administrative staff the
37:51fire department. But we're
37:52more than willing to come city
37:55Hall. So also I think support
37:56the more people know CPR, the
37:58better as I spoke out before,
37:58Staples EMS is he's the best
38:02EMS and the state. And we're
38:02on the cutting edge and a lt
38:03of different areas, haven't
38:06are city employees know CPR is
38:07a huge factor. Start CPR.
38:09Early gives that individual
38:10best chance for survival. Live
38:15fire demonstrations. We talked
38:16about this, the kitchen
38:16trailer to the side by side
38:19grease fire, danger,
38:20sprinkler, speaker system
38:21effectiveness and working
38:21smoke alarms that's the key
38:24prevention. Fire center
38:29training. We offer hands-on
38:29training for residents,
38:30businesses and city staff.
38:33pretty via beyond. Should have
38:36a fire extinguisher. He's the
38:37past technique, pull squeeze,
38:38a sweep, put that fire before
38:40it grows into a structure.
38:41Fire. Fired real oversight
38:45evaluation. We're partnering
38:48with schools, senior housing
38:48businesses and multifamily
38:51buildings, overseen evaluate
38:51annual semi-annual fire drills
38:54and we will hold Q A with with
38:59the folks over at high rise
38:59generally speaking a lot of
39:02the people may be elderly or
39:02might speaking our language
39:04maybe we make sure we do the
39:05fire drill and we bring
39:06everybody together. We talk
39:07about what went well, what
39:11work well with management
39:12needs to do to make sure they
39:13have safe exit routes and then
39:14kind of give them tips on
39:18fastest way out and why it's
39:19important to get all the way
39:19to a fire clears. In
39:24conclusion. This comprehensive
39:26plan empowers safe, offered a
39:27plan to reduce fire related
39:28injuries and deaths by
39:29creating safer, better
39:30prepared community through
39:32strategic outreach,
39:33demonstration, education and
39:35direct Service. Saint Paul
39:36Fire and EMS will cntinue to
39:37lead the regional public Fire
39:40safety education. As take this
39:41moment to point out were
39:44accomplished this with our
39:44Deputy Fire marshal. We have
39:48had a richer right track in
39:50turn the last 2 years ago
39:50using light duty or on duty
39:52companies. judge dismissed do
39:53excellent job doing this. You
39:55know where? We're just
40:00generally reactive with the
40:0270,000 runs and a 1, 1, calls
40:03coming in and we react. We go
40:04in. We mitigate the boat
40:05through community risk
40:06reduction fire prevention for
40:09education we need to do. We
40:11need to be intentional. We are
40:13being intentional will get a
40:13note and that and addressing
40:15the youth and the elderly in
40:17our communities and that's
40:17want to recognize Chief Smith
40:18for being one person in our
40:22department acting as a P the
40:23fire marshal and the kind of
40:24take on this responsibility,
40:25partnerships that we've gained
40:28over the last couple years
40:29with the state Fire Marshal's
40:31Office with the National
40:32Speakers Association and with
40:33the other city departments.
40:36That's what's carrying this on
40:37and making this heavy lift a
40:37little bit more manageable.
40:39just want to thank Chief Smith
40:40our work thank you.
40:46>> I I appreciate I don't.
40:47This is really, really
40:48important to us because as
40:50we're talking about the budget
40:52we're often talking about just
40:53the cars, right, but the
40:54preventative work and
40:55education is s important. So
40:58that is another reason why now
40:59we want to do a summer recap,
41:01but we also wanted to have 2
41:02point. Oh, conversation around
41:05no other essential parts of
41:06the fire department. I have a
41:09question, but I'm going to
41:10yield cause out. We have
41:13council member Cam council
41:15president maker announced
41:15council vice president. You
41:16think okay. So Councilmember
41:20Kym.
41:20>> Great. Thank you. I
41:20appreciate it. of Project Safe
41:21Haven. Home safety visits,
41:25there's a promotion of the
41:28free installation of smoke
41:30alarms and the CO detectors in
41:31the Camp Fire hits. And if I
41:34recall correctly, one of the
41:35times that you came up to talk
41:36about your community
41:38engagement efforts while the
41:40staffing with something that
41:41we had funds for the supplies
41:43itself was donated or the
41:44foundation gave money for it.
41:47Can you speak a little bit
41:48about? I know it's such in the
41:49comparison of the budget.
41:50Tense be a nominal amount, but
41:51I just want to lift up the
41:54like the supplies that are
41:56part of this effort are not
41:58funded to the city presently,
42:01but is obviously a very
42:01important part of the
42:02community, engagement and
42:02education for fire safety in
42:04our community. Can you speak a
42:05little bit about where the
42:05supplies are coming from and
42:09general understanding of how
42:10much it cost. Yes,
42:14Councilmember thank you for
42:16that question. You're right.
42:17The supplies for this program
42:18are not within our budget. And
42:20so we've had to go outside and
42:22the grant funding or donations
42:23are grant funding for this
42:24program. This year was cut.
42:28>> And 2026. So what I had to
42:30do was go out and saying
42:32partnerships with the Red
42:34Cross and cut the fire alarm
42:37manufacturing company to
42:38donate a large amounts
42:40ongoing. Also 500 donation of
42:43500 smoke alarms. And kit is
42:44I'm sorry. the Red Cross is an
42:49ongoing donation to supply our
42:51program? So those 2
42:52organizations are supplying
42:53you know, throughout this
42:54whole year and hopefully going
42:57forward. But there's there's
42:58no guarantee. It says, you
42:59know, as long as we can keep
43:00those those those parts, it's
43:02going as long supplies last as
43:03well. Because as you know, Red
43:04Cross's donation fund that as
43:05well.
43:09>> Thank you. And we have
43:10counsel present Thanks. Madam
43:12Chair, thanks so much for the
43:13presentation. I will say I've
43:13seen those lve fire
43:15demonstrations and every time
43:16I'm standing at my kitchen
43:17stove and I get the teen that
43:20board of standing there and
43:21watching my pot. I think about
43:25that entire trailer going up
43:25in flames and I get a lot less
43:26board very quickly. So thank
43:27you for that. I was curious.
43:30You mentioned the CPR training
43:31for city staff and I was just
43:31thinking given that the bulk
43:33of our calls are for EMS, not
43:36for fire. Does the department
43:37are has have you considered
43:39doing any more community-based
43:40either CPR, other kind of
43:42medical either for state or
43:44even prevention and thinking
43:45exercise and thinking, you
43:49know, annual checkups,
43:51education related to the Mets
43:52work that the best department
43:52and the state does.
43:53>> Great question. Council
43:56Preston Acre. Yes, we I did
43:58not hit on it, but I would
44:03remark last rate as right one
44:04of the spring or hitting
44:04city's youth for that. And we
44:07have the EMS academy. So we
44:08kind of construct on that for
44:10you is to open doors for them
44:12to see what's out in the
44:13public safety avenue. And we
44:14are now just getting into more
44:20community-based training. We
44:20Deputy chief of Brittany
44:22Baker's leading the charge on
44:24that aspect working closely
44:24with Deputy Smith providing
44:29CPR classes to provide CPR
44:29training, providing that first
44:33aid education. And again,
44:34we're doing everything we can
44:36as team of one was kind of
44:39leading into you know, doing
44:40whatever we can with what we
44:40have available for resources.
44:41But yes, we are getting on to
44:44those places. High rises are
44:47community homes and kind of
44:48try to hit a larger population
44:49at one time. Again, that's we
44:52go out and offer it. And then
44:56it's it's voluntary for who
44:57comes down. It actually takes
44:58But yes, we are doing Thank
44:59you.
45:02>> And then question from a
45:03council vice president things
45:05Tripoli. Well, I just want to
45:06thank you all so much for the
45:08incredible work that you do
45:09it. I love to getting a
45:10refresher about the and the
45:11school outreach that you do.
45:14>> And I can definitely tell
45:15you, it makes a huge
45:15difference. At least a huge
45:16positive and they can push her
45:17kids my own as he just started
45:20Pre-K. And just went after his
45:21teacher that he shared about
45:23wanting to be a firefighter
45:25and say, you know, got to see
45:27the first electric egine got
45:27many rough firefighters,
45:28including our E.
45:30>> You know, I'm getting
45:31introduced to union members as
45:32well from the firefighters
45:33union. And so it's just been.
45:37>> Fantastic. Offer off and i
45:38the slide about the school its
45:40rendering, the for the high
45:42school sessions focused on
45:44careers in fires MS. Do you
45:46have any sort of and data or
45:50just even lake seen overly
45:51what? How has that translated
45:54into students? Actually, you
45:56don't graduating or maybe like
45:57they're still in high school
45:58and they actually do pursue a
45:59path of being a firefighter
46:01and maybe have join academies.
46:05>> But that's for best place
46:06for thing. That's a great
46:06point. Thank you for the first
46:07part of that. The second part
46:08of that is I can get you the
46:09information. We do have data
46:10on that. And I want to point
46:14out that you say poll you that
46:16have come through the most
46:17Academy and the EMT. Are you
46:20Klass into the Qatar? I'm a
46:22lot of them have come on and
46:24join Derby last and eventually
46:27got to the academy come
46:28firefighters for Saint Paul
46:29Fire. But we also have members
46:30that come through that and
46:32have our firefighters and
46:35cities in the metro area. We
46:35have members have come through
46:37that now. Our doctors, our PA
46:39is a practitioners. We have
46:40some that come through EMS
46:42Academy and joined the Saint
46:43Paul Police Department. So I
46:46think it's important that we
46:49open show the opportunity open
46:50the door for youth and show
46:53what's there and let them get
46:54that eperience get older. I
46:55like to see what's best for
46:57But it is a is a positive,
47:00program that we're running so
47:00proud of that and great to
47:04hear that. It great. Thank you
47:04so much for sharing that and
47:07>> I can't say enough how how
47:10important outreach is. I when
47:13I think about experience
47:14echoing that sentiment out
47:15refugees, the very traditional
47:17>> jobs I always heard from
47:19the parents are even or
47:20others. These booklets spoke
47:23of was become a teacher, a
47:25doctor, a lawyer like
47:25literally those 3 all the
47:26time. And there's actually so
47:29many more opportunities out
47:30there when it comes to the
47:30occupations. And I I often say
47:34if it knew about trade
47:34schools, for example, I
47:35probably would have gone into
47:36that. But I didn't know it
47:39until I tell you just started
47:41know, doing a lot of plitical
47:42worked about like 10 over 10
47:45years ago. And so there's I
47:46really believe that there's a
47:47lot of missed opportunities
47:49and we don't make the sort of
47:50investment that efforts into
47:50our committees, especially
47:53communities that are
47:54marginalized in from commutes
47:55of color, imager, effigy
47:55committees. And I want to
47:57thank you offer your work and
47:57that and just wanted to add
48:01to. also so much more work
48:02that you ought to like. You
48:03also even teach parents how to
48:06correctly installed their car
48:08seats to and on. The list goes
48:08on and on about how you've
48:10really made an impact in our
48:13communities and I I appreciate
48:15your question. Customer can
48:16about funding question. 4 even
48:20programs like project Safe
48:21Haven. Because my recollection
48:22is that these grant funded
48:27programs and for, you know,
48:28some folks, I think think it
48:31will fire education. That's
48:33all that should be like extra
48:33work or special projects. But
48:37I I am complete disagree on
48:39that because when we can make
48:40sure especially in committees
48:43about that are areas to cut
48:45poverty or maybe don't have
48:46access to this sort of
48:48information when they do get
48:50them information and they can
48:51apply it to the everyday
48:52lives. That's how we can
48:52prevent fires are crises. And
48:57it also really alleviate that
48:58burden workload to off of our
49:00firefighters. Insight really
49:01believe there's a connection
49:01there. And so to me, these are
49:06not should shouldn't be grant
49:07funded pojects but actually
49:08should be bilt into our city
49:10budget in definitely wanted to
49:12need that. something really
49:13important to me because I
49:14would love to see Steven Eke
49:17have together craps what it
49:19looks like for us to be
49:20building this into our city
49:21budget as a way to protect and
49:23invest communities here in
49:24Saint Paul. S.
49:27>> vice president thank you
49:28very much. We appreciate your
49:29support in the wrist reduction
49:31because that intentional. Both
49:32that been a priority for city.
49:33And we're grateful that you
49:34got into the political arena.
49:38Thank you.
49:39>> Absolutely. Thank you so
49:40much for question. We have one
49:41more question here going to a
49:42time. Check. Are people K
49:45going 10 minutes after because
49:45we still have presenters. If
49:49not, I would advise Just
49:49follow up. So if you want, so
49:54I was just going to suggest
49:55that they consider Priya had
49:57any for 3 and four-year-olds
50:01to start the yes, I love the
50:02recommendations. I make sure
50:04it's taking notes is sounds
50:04like there's a lot of support
50:06and investment around a fire,
50:07education prevention. Thank
50:10you so much for your time.
50:11This is really, really
50:12important. I know when had our
50:15budget retreat some months
50:16ago, fire education was top of
50:19our list. So I'm happy w had
50:22some time to actually hear
50:23from you all as you heard from
50:25across the the table. There's
50:26a lot of interest also was
50:27give a shout out. My brother.
50:28He was he's been a Saint Paul,
50:32lifeguard and he loved the
50:34fire so much that he got his
50:36EMT license and he's also on
50:38pathway to becoming hopefully
50:40squash my fingers, a
50:42firefighters. So but there's a
50:44lot of return on investment
50:46and you have built those
50:46relationships inside of our
50:47schools in our community. So
50:48thank you so much for your
50:50time.
50:51>> Thank you, chair. But we
50:51have turn over
50:54>> yes, we're going to get
50:56rolling here. We have our next
50:58speaker from Office of
50:58Neighborhood Safety. Director
51:01Toy. That's a bong. And we
51:07have a 10 minutes. I know you
51:09have kind of a condensed
51:12presentation. Again, we'll
51:13hold questions the and and I
51:14know the police has a pretty
51:17short presentation as well.
51:21Thank you. Chair. A bully.
51:25>> Council president maker
51:27Vice-President Yang, thank you
51:27for having me. So I'll dive
51:32right into And within the
51:35office of neighborhood safety,
51:36if you will, we have to
51:39departments. family faces,
51:41Project Peas and Neighborhood
51:41Safety Community Council. I
51:46familiar faces. We have
51:47outreach workers and case
51:49managers reach workers. Go on
51:50at the word that works with
51:54our unsheltered population.
51:56They Hot spots downtown and
52:03University Avenue corridor.
52:07They go out and build
52:08relationship with our
52:10unsheltered build a poor,
52:11established relationships.
52:16Gained their trust and provide
52:17them basic needs food.
52:21Temporary shelter,
52:21transportation. When they
52:26build that relate the
52:28relationship with our shelter
52:29and then they do warm hand off
52:31to our case manager who
52:33continues ongoing care. The
52:36goal is to get them into
52:40stable housing, safety
52:41wellness and resolving
52:42criminal justice touch points
52:45which if you have a warrant
52:48you're not qualified to cut
52:50into housing. So our team
52:51works closely with the courts
52:54to take care of the war. And
52:55so they're qualified to get
52:56into housing. In the month of
53:00July. Our family or face U.S.
53:02was able to. Find permanent
53:07housing for 7. 2 wrecked it.
53:11Why? I just want to make sure
53:13that you are having a
53:14presentation. There are slides
53:15here. Just we offense.
53:17>> The yeah. We see the
53:19opening like, OK, make sure
53:19following. Thank you.
53:23>> In te month of July are
53:25Familar faces team was able to
53:27find permanent housing for our
53:31unsheltered. I know it's not
53:34in a slide. In August, we
53:36found people are able to haul
53:376 unsheltered. And they
53:40continue to. Work hard.
53:45They're out there every
53:46provides providing resources
53:47for our unsheltered. And then
53:50we have our project peace and
53:51daily life coaching outreach.
53:58Director Rodrigues talk about
54:00our partnerships. We have
54:01strong partnerships parks and
54:03Recs Saint Paul public
54:04schools. Saint Paul Police
54:08Department, along with the
54:09Ramsey County Juvenile.
54:12Probation office. And we are
54:14currently in talks with county
54:15attorney's office with the
54:18Justice Family Department
54:20about the new law change that
54:24took effect August But you all
54:26staff under the age of 13
54:27cannot be charged with a
54:29crime. So what happens to
54:32those juveniles? So our our
54:34team are working with the
54:34county attorney's office to
54:35get referrals from from them.
54:41>> Since June 1st, we've
54:42received 27 referrals from
54:44parks and Recs. Saint Paul
54:45Public Schools, Saint Paul
54:46Police Department and
54:46probation.
54:48>> By cutting those referrals.
54:51What we're seeing is. We're
54:55seeing the same kids that's
54:58causing. That that are causing
55:01problems in different spaces.
55:04And we have dive deep into
55:07that. Well, why are they
55:08viewing? Why are they causing
55:09all these problems? What do
55:11they need help with not just
55:12work with that. You've and we
55:12work with the family to
55:14provide resource, we have
55:18couple to an that are going to
55:20therapy because what they're
55:24going to, what we're finding
55:25out and they they need much
55:27more resources and ask can
55:28provide. Our outreach team
55:34goes out into parks and recs
55:35on a daily to establish
55:38rapport. Now that school
55:39started be in the schools to
55:42check in on that. that have
55:45been referral to us. So we do
55:45the complete wrapped around
55:47again. We not only worked with
55:51that. You have and also work
55:51with the families. We work
55:52schools, parks and Recs. We
55:54share a lot of information if
55:56it happened and parks and rec
56:00space them will notify the
56:02school. It's going to follow
56:02them into the school board.
56:04Vice versa. So we do share a
56:05lot of information and it's
56:06working. And we have for life
56:10coaches for life coaches.
56:12Continues to work, be provide
56:16the location services. For
56:19example, there was a shooting
56:21house gt shot out. With one
56:26of our juveniles was referred
56:27to us. We were able to
56:30relocate them for the time
56:30being until police can
56:33investigate. So they feel
56:34safe. O our project. Pieces
56:42were in a lot of spaces.
56:43again, we're in parks and
56:43Recs. But tabling and sharing
56:48information regarding our work
56:48in the office and the
56:50neighborhood safety community.
56:56Provide additional support in
56:58large gathering by engaging
56:58with youth and community
56:59members. The list of events
57:01that we attended 6 safe summer
57:03nights. court, the teen
57:07takeovers, assistant parks and
57:07Recs. To street fall events
57:11other.
57:16others. Again, I have to
57:23recognize our partnership with
57:24Parks and Recs. Saint Paul
57:26public schools called Police.
57:30We want to be the bridge that
57:32ties departments together so
57:33we can better service, our
57:34youth and their family and the
57:35community.
57:42Then we have our neighborhood
57:44Safety Committee counsel there
57:45continues to be pushed.
57:47Current team is hoping to
57:48create a task force on the
57:49council to Focus. And
57:54recruiting efforts along with
57:54community-based organization
57:57on for applications that open
57:59and close and September 13 for
58:02the 2027. 0. And as partner
58:05that went live, there wre 26
58:07applications. For
58:12organizations will be avoided
58:12$40,000. Each. Over past few
58:22months are familar faces. Our
58:25project peas have been going
58:26out in the community to show
58:29our visibility and support.
58:32For or for our unsheltered.
58:35And we will continue to do
58:36that. There's one program
58:41worth mentioning that time.
58:42The slides were also we
58:44partnered with the Saint Paul
58:46Police Department right track
58:47and the Minnesota traits
58:48Academy. It was a 8 week
58:50summer program where we
58:55introduce be the Same public
58:58school students at this and
58:59introduce them to the fields
59:00that rate. One day we can take
59:02him take him to plumbing
59:07heating the next table,
59:09introduce them to effect
59:09Rishon electrician jobs in
59:12that electrician and then real
59:14thing. So to to introduce them
59:17to the jobs in the in the
59:18traits. It's a paid internship
59:19program at the end of the
59:21program, we offer free driver
59:22said. that open up to
59:28questions. Wonderful. Thank
59:30you so Directed kind of to
59:31break
59:32>> Thank you. Chair bully.
59:34>> I really appreciate the
59:37presentation today. Director,
59:39I was wondering if would you
59:41people to send the council
59:42information about the onus
59:45partnership?
59:46>> That that program number.
59:47What year? We started that.
59:48So, for example, if we had it
59:50for 2026 and they were
59:51recipients of it, I don't
59:52recall. Those were and what
59:54the results of that work was.
59:57So if you can just do for
1:00:00example, get 2026 may be sort
1:00:01of recap on that that be
1:00:04helpful. And then also maybe
1:00:05I'd say, like te first year
1:00:08we launched that until Have
1:00:09the results
1:00:15>> He offered billboard for
1:00:18recipient, JK Face to face.
1:00:26And I forgot the other 2 for
1:00:27the 26. My apologies. That's
1:00:31okay. Yeah.
1:00:31>> Just just like a follow-up.
1:00:32Email it to us to be Sure.
1:00:32Thank you. Any other
1:00:34questions. So we are 25, I
1:00:42just want to say I appreciate
1:00:43the presentation that was
1:00:44going to my follow-up question
1:00:46is, well, I know in
1:00:46Twenty-twenty 6, there was RFP
1:00:50that went out and this year we
1:00:51did a good job to make sure
1:00:55organizations received that
1:00:57outreach. I think as a
1:00:57standard practice, I would
1:00:58like to see or some annual
1:01:02review that comes to us that
1:01:04way. We don't have to always
1:01:06coordinate these public safety
1:01:08committee meeting updates and
1:01:09we can have opportunity to
1:01:11really just here are real time
1:01:12when certain investments, our
1:01:15resources, our development of
1:01:16programs moving frward. So if
1:01:20we don't have other questions,
1:01:21I'm just gonna close out here.
1:01:24Also just want to say
1:01:26Commander Ellis and I my
1:01:26apologies. I know we had
1:01:28requested a across apartment
1:01:30to review really our
1:01:32priorities from my office was
1:01:34really from office in a bridge
1:01:34safety in parks. I'm going to
1:01:37ask that in the sake of time
1:01:40that we are not going to hear
1:01:42from the presentation. It does
1:01:46because we.
1:01:46>> I follow up and I invite my
1:01:47colleagues follow up with you,
1:01:49particularly.
1:01:49>> As we have already heard
1:01:53from police regarding the safe
1:01:55summer nights and there's
1:01:57anything so detail that
1:02:00council members want to ask
1:02:01after reviewing the
1:02:03presentation. But I think, you
1:02:04know, just getting have some
1:02:08and puts her head nods from
1:02:10from council. didn't seem like
1:02:12there support a half
1:02:13additional 10 minutes. If that
1:02:16change, they can stay after
1:02:17concert. if this okay. But
1:02:20felt think I was trying to
1:02:21read the room that I
1:02:24appreciate. Thank you. Thank
1:02:24you. I should is asked a
1:02:27question.
1:02:28>> So Commander Ellis and I
1:02:30have about 10 minutes here on
1:02:32the clock. take it away here.
1:02:51>> Good afternoon, everybody.
1:02:52Thank you for the time today.
1:02:53My name is Jeremy Ellis. And
1:02:54I'm currently serving as the
1:02:55commander of the traffic and
1:02:56pedestrian safety unit as well
1:02:57as the a cap unit. And I was
1:03:01really want to thank you for
1:03:02the opportunity to be here
1:03:03today. Just to share. Step at
1:03:04will be as quick as I can. I
1:03:04know time is precious here.
1:03:07But it's difficult to shorten
1:03:08this presentation down some of
1:03:09great work. But thanks to our
1:03:12partners have also been able
1:03:13to share some of that. So I
1:03:15want to start out just
1:03:16highlighting the great example
1:03:17of the strong partnership that
1:03:18the police department has
1:03:20between or a cap unit and P J
1:03:23the soccer program started
1:03:24several years ago at
1:03:26McDonough. cuple of our a cop
1:03:28officers started that they're
1:03:29and last year we were able
1:03:30expand that. So now we're
1:03:32doing work both at McDonough
1:03:32and Mount Airy.
1:03:36>> we have approximately 60
1:03:37participating used every year
1:03:40and we've had really great
1:03:41opportunity engage.
1:03:44>> With our police officers,
1:03:44our pathways programs or are
1:03:48community liaison officers in
1:03:49a parking enforcement officers
1:03:51as well. But the real value
1:03:52here isn't necessarily just
1:03:55the soccer. It's our
1:03:56employees, building
1:03:56relationships with kids. Their
1:03:59parents.
1:04:00>> And the residents and
1:04:00becoming familiar trusted
1:04:01faces in the community. It
1:04:04shows that public safety is
1:04:05also about investing in the
1:04:06young people and building
1:04:07relationships before there's a
1:04:08problem. Again, do continues
1:04:14to be one of our biggest
1:04:15opportunities to connect with
1:04:15residents of people hosting
1:04:18over 400 events. 84,000
1:04:20participants as well as
1:04:22donating over 3,000 pounds of
1:04:24donated food to Community
1:04:24Keystone Community Services. I
1:04:28know everybody's well familiar
1:04:28with that. So and the other
1:04:32thing, I think everybody in
1:04:32this room knows is our
1:04:33officers are out there every
1:04:36day. There's community Our
1:04:38community engagement doesn't
1:04:39just happen events from June
1:04:42through August, we had nearly
1:04:435,000 documented case numbers
1:04:44of proactive contacts. And
1:04:48it's not only about what and
1:04:49that's just what we were able
1:04:49to count. But there's many
1:04:52more everyday conversations
1:04:53that don't make it into those
1:04:54numbers. The important part
1:04:57isn't the numbers. It's our
1:04:58employees both sworn and
1:04:59professional staff being
1:05:03visible, accessible and
1:05:04proactive, engaging with our
1:05:06residents were given them an
1:05:06opportunity to talk with us
1:05:07before a problem exists. safe
1:05:12summer nights. I know everyone
1:05:13is well aware. Those we had 6
1:05:15events scheduled this year
1:05:15with 2 additional special
1:05:18events and we were able to
1:05:19partner with many different
1:05:22media organizations as well as
1:05:23different departments within
1:05:24the city. And I think that's
1:05:26important because some of the
1:05:27most valuable interactions
1:05:28that we have out there again,
1:05:29as when nothing's happening,
1:05:30right? It's positive contacts.
1:05:33Kids get to meet our officers
1:05:33in a positive environment. and
1:05:37our officers get to families
1:05:38and communities that they
1:05:38serve. We were able to to more
1:05:46than 15 different events with
1:05:47her bike truck. We are by caps
1:05:49at multiple different events.
1:05:50We had more than 2000 positive
1:05:51contacts with youth in Saint
1:05:53Paul. Again, this is really
1:05:55about creating positive
1:05:55relationships with the kids
1:06:00showing that meeting officers
1:06:00in different settings. So the
1:06:02interactions to help make our
1:06:04officers familiar and
1:06:06approachable and those
1:06:08relationships have value long
1:06:09after events. One of the other
1:06:13fun things we've been able to
1:06:15do is participate with public
1:06:16schools in the walk to school
1:06:17events. We did 11 of those in
1:06:19May. We have more scheduled
1:06:20for October for the Walk to
1:06:23school day the events get
1:06:24officers another opportunity
1:06:25to interact with students,
1:06:26parents and school staff and a
1:06:27positive setting. It's also a
1:06:30chance to reinforce pedestrian
1:06:33safety and healthy safe ways
1:06:34to get kids to school. I know
1:06:39many of you are familiar with
1:06:39this. The staff from a
1:06:40pedestrian safety campaign.
1:06:43It's another way of combining
1:06:44both community engagement
1:06:45along with public safety. We
1:06:48will forte with multiple
1:06:49different community groups as
1:06:49well as District Council
1:06:51throughout Saint Paul to
1:06:51educate drivers and
1:06:52pedestrians on Minnesota's
1:06:55crosswalk. Laws w've
1:06:56conducted over. 2500 traffic
1:06:58stops. But we only issued 175
1:07:01tickets for failed to yield to
1:07:02pedestrians. And the
1:07:04relatively unknown low number
1:07:05of citations as intentional
1:07:06because our focus really was
1:07:06an education. That's here. We
1:07:11citations for most the most
1:07:12egregious violations. Also
1:07:14want to thank everyone here
1:07:15who participated in the
1:07:18pedestrian safety video that
1:07:19we did earlier this We had a
1:07:21very challenging start of the
1:07:22year for pedestrians. And I
1:07:23think the message was very
1:07:24timely really apreciate work
1:07:27that went into that. So thank
1:07:27you. Finally, child passenger
1:07:32safety work is a good example
1:07:35of the partnerships we have
1:07:35working directly with
1:07:37families. We have a really
1:07:39strong partnership with
1:07:40Regions Hospital. It's allowed
1:07:40us to conduct quarterly Kersey
1:07:43clinics as well as special on
1:07:45throughout the year. In fact,
1:07:46we've got one coming up this
1:07:46Saturday over at them village.
1:07:51But Spp really working closely
1:07:53with these partners. It's
1:07:54allowed us to provide car
1:07:55seats during traffic stops
1:07:56when officers encounter.
1:07:58>> Kids who are not properly
1:08:00restrained. It's also allowed
1:08:01us to do one-on-one work with
1:08:04families. So if a family
1:08:05receives somebody in family
1:08:06receives a citation for a
1:08:07child passenger safety seat,
1:08:09restraint violation, we set up
1:08:12one-on-one appointment with to
1:08:13the education, sometimes
1:08:13provide them with a seat and
1:08:16then we give them a letter
1:08:16that they can take to a
1:08:18hearing. Officer and get that
1:08:21the child violation dismissed
1:08:22and not have to pay a fine. So
1:08:24again, the goal is not simply
1:08:26enforcement. Its education,
1:08:28providing resources and making
1:08:29sure that our kids are safe.
1:08:33In closing public safety is
1:08:34not just about responding when
1:08:35something goes wrong. It's
1:08:36about being president,
1:08:40building relationships,
1:08:41investing in our young people
1:08:42and helping create stronger
1:08:43communities before problems
1:08:44occur. Again. Want to thank
1:08:46the committee for the
1:08:47opportunity to share a little
1:08:48bit about the great work that
1:08:48your police department is
1:08:50doing.
1:08:50>> We really appreciate all of
1:08:51your support.
1:08:55>> Thank you for that
1:08:56comprehensive and timely
1:08:58presentation. I see a hand up
1:08:58here. We have to council
1:09:01president maker and council
1:09:02virgil's and then
1:09:04Councilmember Ken, thanks,
1:09:06Madam Chair. I'll be brief. I
1:09:07just want to thank you so
1:09:08much. Grander for not only the
1:09:09work that you need, but also
1:09:10the way that you personally
1:09:11are an example of
1:09:14>> the kind of customer
1:09:15service and the kind of
1:09:17approachability and
1:09:17responsiveness that we want in
1:09:18our entire department always
1:09:21just so admirable to see the
1:09:22way that you personally take
1:09:24time to respond to constituent
1:09:24e-mails that I sent you with
1:09:26care with intention. It just
1:09:30well in our department. And so
1:09:31I think it's really important
1:09:32to I want to recognize you
1:09:33publicly for that. Thank you.
1:09:34I love what I do. council just
1:09:39year. can do some things for
1:09:41the presentation. I really
1:09:42appreciate this less said side
1:09:44about.
1:09:44>> Car seat safety. I didn't
1:09:47know I didn't know about this
1:09:49program where you can, you
1:09:50know, you get a citation, but
1:09:51you'll be offered education
1:09:53and possibly a car seat. I
1:09:57think that that's car seat.
1:09:58Safety is so important. And as
1:09:59a parent to through. Almost
1:10:02every level, a car seat, if
1:10:06It's a it's it's it's
1:10:07difficult to continue to
1:10:09transition and no one to
1:10:10transition and be ready with a
1:10:10new car seat. And so I'm glad
1:10:11that we have this resource
1:10:13available to our community
1:10:15because seen other kids
1:10:16sometimes not have the more
1:10:17maybe not be in the right
1:10:18seat. And I think a lot of
1:10:21that is because car seats are
1:10:23are expensive. There's so many
1:10:25different types and just
1:10:26understanding how they're
1:10:26supposed to be used its net.
1:10:30It's not totally straight
1:10:30forward or simple. So thank
1:10:31you for that.
1:10:33>> Thank you. And to be fair,
1:10:35it was about a it was a 40
1:10:37hour class on how to install a
1:10:38car and no idea how much they
1:10:40want to learn if you see it
1:10:45unless it was at a community
1:10:48meeting person about a problem
1:10:49property and one of the data
1:10:49sets we talked about was the
1:10:529-1-1 calls.
1:10:52>> But also the subset of
1:10:53those that are considered
1:10:55proactive visits. And I think
1:10:56this is just a really great
1:10:58example of linked data that we
1:10:59don't capture around. Like the
1:11:00kinds of proactive. Is it that
1:11:01we're doing in our community
1:11:02outside of like the patrols
1:11:03that are out?
1:11:05>> So I just really appreciate
1:11:06the kind of comprehensive
1:11:08missing no way that is
1:11:08identifying.
1:11:10>> Just like not just the
1:11:12value, but the importance of
1:11:13the engagement and the
1:11:15engagement or education like
1:11:17on. are just just talked about
1:11:17Rayland same our fire
1:11:18department, right engagement
1:11:19in terms of the opportunity to
1:11:21educate and better our
1:11:22community so that they're
1:11:23better can make better
1:11:24decisions. So I just really
1:11:25appreciate the information.
1:11:30>> And you BP sorry. I just
1:11:32like to every thing.
1:11:35Commissioner I do want to say
1:11:36that it's i's very rewarding
1:11:39and just like so impressive
1:11:41scene, you move up in their
1:11:41rings because they do from
1:11:42Burt 10 years ago during a
1:11:43stop for me wth you family
1:11:47village and at the impact of
1:11:50that program is its
1:11:51lifesaving. And so really glad
1:11:53that we invited to be a part
1:11:54of this year. Thank you.
1:11:55Appreciate it. Questions or
1:11:58comments. Just want to say
1:12:03thank Like I mentioned before,
1:12:06we know we really requests
1:12:09grown and parks and we're
1:12:10always so grateful whenever
1:12:11police has opportunities too.
1:12:14>> Engage. W learned so much
1:12:17today. I am just like not only
1:12:18so hnored as a council
1:12:20member, but also the
1:12:21opportunity to just like learn
1:12:22about all the different
1:12:23programs and how we can be a
1:12:26resource, whether it's the
1:12:27right newsletters social media
1:12:30campaigns. Art is even, you
1:12:31know, out reaching at
1:12:32community events. So again,
1:12:34thank you for all the work
1:12:35that you do it. So this has
1:12:37been such a robust
1:12:39conversation. I already and
1:12:41see some follow-ups and it
1:12:44will also make sure we can
1:12:45follow up with you as well. So
1:12:47what of that? so thank you. I
1:12:52do want to share as well for
1:12:55next month in October will be
1:12:55our last public Safety
1:12:58Committee meeting. It's going
1:12:59to be the 4th Wednesday of the
1:13:03month ad myself and vice
1:13:06chair Coleman have been
1:13:07talking about discussion. So I
1:13:08do want open up from now until
1:13:12December. If you have certain
1:13:14you want the public Safety
1:13:16committee to explore next year
1:13:17in 2027. Please send that to
1:13:20you. They're my officer
1:13:22councilmember comments office
1:13:23as well. And with that, we are
1:13:23adjourned.