WELCOME TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE FOR NOVEMBER 12, 2025. I'M JASON CHAVEZ, THE CHAIR OF THIS COMMITTEE. BEFORE WE BEGIN THE MEETING, I WANT TO OFFER A FRIENDLY REMINDER TO ALL MEMBERS, STAFF, AND THE PUCK THESE MEETINGS ARE BROADCAST LIVE TO ENABLE GREATER PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION. THESE BROADCASTS INCLUDE REAL TIME CAPTIONING AS A FURTHER METHOD TO INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF OUR PROCEEDINGS TO THE COMMUNITY. THEREFORE ALL SPEAKERS NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THE RAIL OF THEIR SPEECH SO THAT OUR CAPTIONERS CAN FULLY CAPTURE AND TRANSCRIBE ALL COMMENTS FOR THE BROADCAST. WE ASK ALL
SPEAKERS TO MODERATE THE SPEED AND CLARITY OF THEIR COMMENTS. I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL SO WE CAN VERIFY A QUORUM FOR THIS MEETING. >> COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> PRESENT. >> RAINVILLE. >> PRESENT. >> CHOWDHURY. >> PRESENT. >> PALMISANO. >> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR WONSLEY. IS ABSENT. CHAVEZ. >> PRESENT. >> WE HAVE FIVE PRESENT. >> WE HAVE A QUORUM. I'LL REMIND MY COLLEAGUES, WE'LL BE USING SPEAKER MANAGEMENT TODAY. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU'RE SIGNED UP, IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM. ITEM ONE IS APPROVING THE
LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE REQUESTING INFORMATION RELATED TO OPIOID OVERDOSES AND OPIOID ANTAGONISTS FOR BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS TO POSSESS OPIOID ANTAGONISTS. ITEM TWO IS APPROVING A FEDERAL
GRANT RELATED TOWARDS -- RELATED TO THE TOWARDS ZERO DEATH INITIATIVE AND AUTHORIZING A CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF CRYSTAL. THREE IS REFERRING TO STAFF AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT PUBLIC DATA REPORTING. FOUR IS SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING TO DECEMBER 3rd TO CONSIDER AN
ORDINANCE RELATED TO LEAD PAINT. FIVE IS A PUBLIC HEAR FOR OFF-DUTY CITY RESOURCE REPORTING. SIX IS SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR DECEMBER 3rd TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO SMALL BUSINESS AND UNDERUTILIZED
BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM. SEVEN IS PUBLIC HEARING FOR DECEMBER 3rd, TO CONSIDER APPOINTMENTS TO THE MINNEAPOLIS CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION. COLLEAGUES, ANY DISCUSSIONS OR ANY ITEMS ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO PULL FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION?
I'LL PUT MYSELF ON QUEUE AND TALK ABOUT ITEM NUMBER ONE, WHICH IS THE OPIOID OVERDOSE AND POSSESSION OF T NALOXONE. WORKING TO WORK WITH STAFF REQUIRING THE POSSESSION OF NARCAN IN CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS
IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS, AS A WAY TO HELP REDUCE OVERDOSE DEATHS AND TACKLE THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC. THIS WOULD BE A LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE WE HOPE TO GET BACK SO WE CAN TAKE ACTION AT COUNCIL NEXT YEAR. IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS, I'LL MOVE FOR
APPROVAL AND I'LL FIRST CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER RAINVILLE. >> THANK YOU. WOULD THIS INCLUDE THE COST, MR. CHAIR? >> THIS WOULD GO TOWARDS STAFF. THE STAFF WOULD BRING BACK A REPORT ON THIS. IF YOU'RE REQUESTING THAT, I GUESS I CAN
FOLLOW UP WITH STAFF TO SEE IF THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED. IF NOT, NOT OPPOSED TO ADDING THAT AT FULL COUNCIL NEXT WEEK. >> THANK YOU. >> SO I GUESS THAT'S FOLLOW UP FOR ME. TO FIGURE OUT IF A LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE WOULD TALK ABOUT COSTS. BUT I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.
AND I GUESS THE ASK TO THE ADMINISTRATION THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE DIRECTIVE. IF NOT, WE CAN CODIFY THAT AT FULL COUNCIL NEXT WEEK. >> THANK YOU. >> ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT. I'LL MOVE APPROVAL OF THESE ITEMS. SEEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION ON THE MOTION, ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. OPPOSED SAY NAY. ANY ABSTENTIONS? THOSE ITEMS CARRY. OUR NEXT ITEM IS A PRESENTATION RELATED TO PUBLIC RESTROOMS. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A STAFF DIRECTION THIS PAST JUNE WITH THE
LEGISLATIVE POLICY AND RESEARCH DIVISION TO GET US STARTED. WELCOME. >> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CHAVEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE. MY NAME IS ASHLEY I'M FROM THE POLICY AND RESEARCH TEAM AND I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT ON STAND ALONE PUBLIC RESTROOMS. THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR AN OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT PUBLIC RESTROOM SITUATION IN MINNEAPOLIS. A LANDSCAPE REVIEW
OF MUNICIPAL STAND ALONE RESTROOM PROGRAMS, AND A REVIEW OF APPLICABLE REGULATORY AND ZONING CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAND ALONE PUBLIC RESTROOMS IN MINNEAPOLIS. A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO RESTROOMS. PUBLIC RESTROOMS.
UK COMPANY, 2021, ESTIMATED THERE WERE EIGHT PUBLIC RESTROOMS PER 100,000 PEOPLE IN THE U.S. AS YOU CAN SEE, MINNEAPOLIS WAS ESTIMATED TO BE AT 18 PER 100,000 PEOPLE. AND MADISON, WISCONSIN AT 35, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST CITY IN THE
COUNTRY. A LITTLE HISTORY ON PUBLIC RESTROOMS. BY THE 1970s, THERE WERE MORE THAN 50,000 COINED OPERATED PAY TOILETS IN AMERICA'S URBAN CENTERS. THE RISE OF THE AUTOMOBILE AND DECLINE OF DOWNTOWN LED TO THE CLOSURE OF MANY OF THESE RESTROOMS. AND
THIS, ALONG WITH COSTLY UPKEEP, LED TO THE REMOVAL OF M MANY PUBLIC RESTROOMS IN THE SUBSEQUENT DECADES AS THEY FELL VICTIM TO VAPID L VANDALISM. NOW PRIVATE BUSINESSES OFTEN FILL THE GAP.
THE LACK OF PUBLIC RESTROOMS CAN NEGATIVELY IMPACT PUBLIC HEALTH. ESPECIALLY DURING HEALTH OUTBREAKS SUCH AS COVID-19 AND OTHER DISEASES. SOME PEOPLE SEE THE LACK OF PUBLIC RESTROOMS AS A SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUE. AS ALL
GROUPS OF PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO PRIVATE RESTROOMS. A 2021 BLOOMBERG ARTICLE STATED THAT WHO GETS ACCESS TO THE BATHROOM REALLY COULD BE SUMMARIZED AS WHO SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC
SPACE AND PUBLIC DISCOURSE. MOVING ON TO SOME KEY HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE REPORT. THE FIRST HIGHLIGHT IS PUBLIC RESTROOMS STRATEGY. MANY OF THE CITIES REVIEWED COMPLETED A PILOT
PROGRAM PRIOR TO INSTALLING MORE PERMANENT RESTROOM OPTIONS. SOME PILOT PROGRAMS WERE COMPLETED AFTER THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC RESTROOM STRATEGY. AND SOME COEXISTED AS THE STRATEGY WAS DEVELOPED. LONGER RANGE PUBLIC RESTROOM STRATEGIES CAN MAKE IT EASIER TO INCORPORATE
FUTURE RESTROOMS INTO LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT PLANNING. SECOND, RESTROOM MODEL SELECTION, AS SEVERAL CITIES EMPHASIZED ADDRESSING PUBLIC RESTROOM NEEDS IS NOT A ONE-SIZE-FITS ALL APPROACH. INCREASING PUBLIC RESTROOMS WILL LIKELY REQUIRE A COMBINATION OF
MODELS AND PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE NEED. THIS MAY INCLUDE STAND ALONE PUBLIC RESTROOMS, INCENTIVIZING ACCESS TO PRIVATE BUSINESS RESTROOMS, PORTABLE RESTROOM TRAILERS, OR EVEN MULTISTALL BRICK AND MORTAR RESTROOMS. AND VERY SMALL
CHOICES CAN BE USED AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF A RESTROOM STRATEGY. THIRD, DETERMINING RESTROOM LOCATIONS. CHOOSING THE PHYSICAL LOCATION WILL BE IMPACTED BY MULTIPLE FACTORS. NUMEROUS CITIES STRESS THE NEED FOR THE LOCATION TO BE NEAR HEAVY FOOT TRAFFIC AND HIGHLY
VISIBLE. HELPING PEOPLE LOCATE THE RESTROOM EASILY AND DECREASES THE CHANCE OF NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS BY INCREASING MONITORING FROM THE GENERAL PUBLIC. CITIES OFTEN CITE RESTROOMS IN PARKS, EVEN WITHIN DOWNTOWN AREAS. AND SOME WITH
LOCATIONS IN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, PRIMARILY SIDEWALKS AND/OR PARKING LANES. LOCATION IS IMPACTED BY UTILITY CONNECTION NEEDS AND THE FOOTPRINT SIZE OF THE MODEL. A FOURTH HIGHLIGHT IS MONITORING AND ATTENDANT OPTIONS. NUMEROUS CITIES STRESSED THEY FEEL THE
SUCCESS OF THEIR RESTROOMS HAS BEEN CONTINGENT UPON THE PRESENCE OF ATTENDANTS. OR AT LEAST MULTIPLE DAILY MONITORING AND CLEANING TIMES. EVEN WITHIN THE SAME CITY, THE LEVEL OF NEED FOR EACH RESTROOM CAN VARY. SOME MAY BENEFIT GREATLY FROM
INCREASED MONITORING AND CLEANING. WHILE OTHERS MAY REQUIRE FEWER RESOURCES, DEPENDING ON USAGE, LOCATION, HOURS OF OPERATION. A FIFTH HIGHLIGHT IS THE COST. THERE ARE MANY PREFABRICATED STAND ALONE PUBLIC RESTROOM OPTIONS.
COSTS VARY BETWEEN AND WITHIN MODELS. DEPENDING ON A VARIETY OF THINGS, INCLUDING RENTING VERSUS OWNING THE MODEL, LEVEL OF SERVICE, NUMBER OF STALLS, ADDITIONAL AMENITIES, WINTERZATION NEEDS, AND OTHER FACTORS. INSTALLATION COSTS
ALSO VARY, DEPENDING ON WHERE THE RESTROOM IS LOCATED AND WHETHER THE RESTROOM IS CONNECTED TO UTILITIES. AND ONGOING OPERATIONAL COSTS, AGAIN, VARY. DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF SERVICE PROVIDED, ATTENDANTS, MONITORING, CONNECTION TO UTILITIES. AND,
FINALLY, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. ALMOST ALL THE CITIES I SPOKE WITH DISCUSS THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. AND, ALSO, FROM A WIDE RANGE OF CITY DEPARTMENTS STAFF. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE PROJECT. BUY IN FROM ALL THE DIFFERENT
STAKEHOLDERS IS REALLY KEY. NOW JUST A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC RESTROOMS. ALL THOUGH AVAILABLE DATA SUGGESTS THAT MINNEAPOLIS HAS MORE RESTROOMS THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, LIKE MANY PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY. IT IS STILL
LACKING ADEQUATE PUBLIC RESTROOM FACILITIES. THIS MAP PROVIDES JUST A QUICK SNAPSHOT OF RESTROOMS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC ALONG WITH PUBLIC URINATION HOT SPOTS, ACCORDING TO THE MINNEAPOLIS DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. THE BLUE RESTROOM E ICONS ARE AVAILABLE
FOR THE PUBLIC TO USE DURING THE PERSPECTIVE BUSINESS HOURS. THE YELLOW RESTROOM ICONS ARE AVAILABLE 24/7. AND THE RED PINS ARE THE PUBLIC URINATION HOT SPOTS. THERE IS ONE GREEN ICON ON THE MAP, AND THAT IS THE SEASONAL RESTROOM TRAILER I'LL
DISCUSS NEXT. THE PEAVY PLAZA STAND ALONE PUBLIC RESTROOM TRAILER WAS BUILT IN 2019 AS PART OF A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT RENOVATING THE PEAVY PLAZA. IT'S CONNECTED TO ELECTRICAL, WATER, AND SEWER THROUGH A SMALL MANHOLE
INSTALLED IN THE SIDEWALK GOING INTO THE MECHANICAL ROOM OF THE PLAZA. IT'S OWNED BY THE CITY BUT OPERATED AND MAINTAINED BY THE DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. IT IS ALSO STAFFED BY DID'S AMBASSADOR TEAM, WHICH PERFORM ROUTINE CHECKS ON AND CLEANING OF THE RESTROOM.
TRAILER SEVERAL TIMES A DAY DURING THE SEASON. THE TRAILER IS IN HIGH COMMAND, AND IT IS MISSED WHEN IT IS CLOSED FOR THE SEASON. THE MINNEAPOLIS PARK BOARD HAS HAD VARIED EXPERIENCES WHEN IT COMES TO PORT-A-POTTIES IN PUBLIC RESTROOMS THROUGHOUT
THE MINNEAPOLIS PARK SYSTEM. MOST PARK RESTROOMS ARE CLEAN, SAFE AND FUNCTIONAL RESTROOMS WITH FEW ISSUES. THERE ARE TWO NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS. AT BDE MAKA SKA. THEY HAVE SEEN AN
INCREASE IN ISSUES TO THE INDIVIDUAL STALL MODEL. WHICH ESSENTIALLY CREATES A SMALL ROOM. THE NEWER MODEL IS MORE DIFFICULT TO MONITOR. THE PORT A POTTIES AT THE COMMONS HAVE FREQUENT AND SEVERE ISSUES OF VANDALISM. INCLUDING BEING SET
ON FIRE. THERE'S NOW A KIND OF FENCE OR CAGE AROUND THE RESTROOM AND THEY ARE ONLY OPEN SEASONALLY WHEN PARK BOARD STAFF ARE PRESENT. BEYOND THE PHYSICAL VANDALISM, THE BIGGEST ISSUES HAVE BEEN PROSTITUTION, DRUG USE, OVERDOSES, PEOPLE SLEEPING INSIDE, THOSE SORTS OF
ISSUES. THESE HAVE DECREASED AT THE -- WITH THE ADDITION OF THE CAGE, THE ATTENDANTS AND ADDITIONAL PARK MONITORING. BEFORE GETTING INTO THE DETAILS ON A FEW EXAMPLE CITIES, I WANT TO COVER SOME MODEL RESTROOMS
DISCUSSED IN THE REPORT. THE PORTLAND IS A COMMON MODEL USED IN CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND BY NUMEROUS CITIES IN THE REPORT. IT IS PERMANENT, CONNECTED TO UTILITIES, AND USES DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT FOLLOW CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN STANDARDS
TO DISCOURAGE ILLICIT ACTIVITY. THRONES ARE A NEWER OPTION ON THE MARKET. AND ARE PORTABLE AND HIGH-TECH. A THRONE IS A UNIQUE LONG-TERM RENTAL MODEL. CITIES CONTRACT WITH THRONE LABS TO COMPLETELY MANAGE AND SERVICE THE RESTROOMS. AND ON BOTTOM OF
THE SLIDE, BOTH NEW AND URBAN BLUE RESTROOMS ARE COMPANIES OUT OF CANADA, WHICH OFFER NUMEROUS MODEL OPTIONS FROM PORTABLE TRAILERS TO PERMANENT MULTI-STALL FACILITIES. THIS IS A TABLE OF MODELS FROM EXAMPLE CITIES, WHICH CAN BE
FOUND ON PAGE 19 OF THE REPORT. I'M NOT GOING TO GO OVER ALL OF THE DETAILS. BUT UNIT COSTS, INSTALLATION COSTS, AND ONGOING COSTS VARY DRAMATICICALLY. EVEN WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE SAME BRAND OF RESTROOM. YOU CAN SEE IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR BRANDS DISCUSSED AT THE PREVIOUS
SLIGHTED, CITIES HAVE FOUND OTHER RESTROOM OPTIONS, INCLUDING FRANCHISED AUTOMATIC PUBLIC RESTROOMS IN NEW YORK CITY. A PERMANENT THREE-STORY SHIPPING CONTAINER FACILITY IN WINNIPEG, AND TWO UNDERGROUND RESTROOMS FROM THE 1920s IN
VANCOUVER. THERE ARE 13 STAND ALONE PUBLIC RESTROOM EXAMPLE CITIES EXPLORED IN THE REPORT. I'M GOING TO GO OVER SOME OF THEM IN THE NEW PNEXT FEW SLIDES. EDMONTON IS TRYING OUT TWO NEW RESTROOM TRAILERS. BOTH OF WHICH HAVE ATTENDANTS. AS PART OF THEIR ATTENDANT MONITORING
PROGRAM. AND AS PART OF THEIR DETAILED PUBLIC WASHROOM STRATEGY. THEY ARE DEFINITELY AN EXAMPLE WORTH READING MORE ABOUT. UNIQUE IN THE REPORT, NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION HAS A FRANCHISE AGREEMENT FOR STREET FURNITURE, WHICH INCLUDES RESTROOMS, BUS SHELTERS, AND NEWSSTANDS. WHICH
CURRENTLY INCLUDES SEVEN AUTOMATIC PUBLIC TOILETS AT NO COST TO THE CITY. IN ANN ARBOR, THEY HAVE EXTENDED THEIR CONTRACT WITH THRONE LABS FOR UP TO AN ADDITIONAL FIVE YEARS. AFTER THEIR YEAR-LONG PILOT WITH EIGHT THRONES PROVED SO SUCCESSFUL. THEY REALLY LIKE
THE HANDS-OFF ASPECT OF THE THRONES. AND AFTER LOOKING FOR MORE PERMANENT SOLUTIONS, PHILADELPHIA HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OPENED THEIR THIRD PORTLAND LOO. IN ADDITION TO THE CLEANING THE RESTROOMS, THEIR PUBLIC RESTROOM
SPECIALISTS FROM THE SUBSTANCE USE PREVENTION AND HARM REDUCTION DIVISION ARE VISIBLE PRESENCE IN COMMUNITIES AND WORK TO ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS AND CONNECT THEM TO CRITICAL RESOURCES, LIKE SHELTER, FOOD,
TREATMENT, AND CLOTHING. WINNIPEG PILOTED THREE RESTROOM LOCATIONS BEFORE OPENING A PERMANENT RESTROOM FACILITY MADE FROM REPROPOSED SHIPPING CONTAINERS. IT'S NOT ONLY A RESTROOM, BUT ALSO A RESOURCE CENTER WITH PEER SUPPORT WORKERS PROVIDING ACCESS TO LIFE-SAVING
SUPPLIES, SUCH AS NALOXNE, CLEAN DRUG PAPER, AND SAFER SEX SUPPLIES. AND CONNECTING PEOPLE WITH COMMUNITY AND AGENCY RESOURCES FOR MANY NEEDS, INCLUDING FOOD, MEDICAL, AND HOUSING RESOURCES. LIKE MANY CITIES, VANCOUVER USES MANY DIFFERENT RESTROOM MODELS
TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS. INCLUDING THOSE TWO UNDERGROUND RESTROOMS BUILT IN THE 1920s. MONTREAL OPENED SEVEN HIGH-TECH SELF-CLEANING PUBLIC TOILETS IN 2018. BY JUNE OF THIS YEAR, ONLY ONE WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL.
AND I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO PARIS, WHICH REPLACED ALL 435 OF THEIR PUBLIC TOILETS WITH MORE ECOFRIENDLY VERSIONS. WHERE EVEN GENERAL MAINTENANCE AND RESUPPLYING IS DONE BY CARGO BIKE TO ENSURE NON-POLLUTING
OPERATIONS. THE REPORT IS FOCUSED ON STAND ALONE RESTROOM SAMPLES. I CAME ACROSS O OTHER CITIES, THEY HAVE TRIED TO INCENTIVIZE PRIVATE BUSINESSES ORGANIZATIONS TO OPEN THEIR RESTROOMS TO THE
PUBLIC. THE CITY OF EDMONTON AWARDS $5,000 TO 10 ORGANIZATIONS EACH YEAR THROUGH THEIR PUBLIC WASHROOMS ACCESSIBILITY GRANT. RICH MOND, WHICH LIKE MANY BURROWS IN LONDON, INCENTIVIZE PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS TO OPEN THEIR RESTROOMS TO THE PUBLIC AS PART OF LONDON'S
COMMUNITY TOILET SCHEME. AND MONTREAL'S COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TRIED AN INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR A FEW YEARS. THEY HAD TO END IT DUE TO FUNDING AVAILABILITY. MOVING
ON TO CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN MINNEAPOLIS. THE REPORT, OF COURSE, GOES THROUGH CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES IN MORE DETAILS. BUT SOME OVERARCHING CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDE THE LOCATION OF RESTROOMS, MINNEAPOLIS ZONING CODE
APPLICABILITY, AND OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT. MOST CITIES REVIEWED FOR THE REPORT LOCATED RESTROOMS IN PARKS, IN MINNEAPOLIS' CASE, IF THIS IS CONSIDERED THE CITY WOULD, OF COURSE, NEED TO WORK WITH THE PARK BOARD ON ANY POSSIBILITIES. IF RESTROOMS WERE LOCATED IN
THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, SIDEWALKS OR PARKING LANES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE THE CITY MANAGES THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY, THE CITY DOES NOT TECHNICALLY OWN THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY LAND. SO THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY IS TRANSPORTATION. AND OTHER
POSSIBLE USES FOR THESE SPACES CANNOT OBSTRUCT THE TRAVELING PUBLIC. REGARDLESS OF LOCATION, THE CITY'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAID THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD LIKELY NEED TO MAKE SPECIFIC FINDINGS INDICATING OR EXPLAINING THE COUNCIL'S RATIONALE ABOUT HOW THE RESTROOMS WILL ADDRESS PUBLIC
HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES. MINNEAPOLIS ZONING CODE COMES INTO PLAY IF RESTROOMS WOULD BE LOCATED ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY. HOWEVER, THE MINNEAPOLIS ZONING CODE IS LARGELY SILENT ABOUT RESTROOMS. CPED STAFF SAID ADDING A
PERMANENT RESTROOM TO ANY CITY OR PRIVATELY-OWNED PROPERTY WOULD LIKELY FALL UNDER ACCESSORY USES AND STRUCTURES, IN GENERAL. A KEY FACTOR IN THAT IS WHETHER AN EXTERIOR TROOM IS IS AN ALLOWED ACCESSORY USE FOR THE PROPERTY. ALLOWED ACCESSORY USE IS GENERALLY ASSOCIATED WITH CONTRIBUTING TO
THE USE OF THE PRIMARY USE OF THE PROPERTY. SO HISTORICALLY, THE CITY HAS NOT ALLOWED PERMANENT EXTERNAL RESTROOMS, EXCEPT IN PARKS, AS THEY ARE CONSIDERED A TRUE ACCESSORY USE OF THE PARK. AND, FINALLY, THE LOCATION AND TYPE OF EACH RESTROOM WOULD
LIKELY IMPACT WHO WOULD OPERATE AND MANAGE EACH SITE. POTENTIAL PARTNERS COULD INCLUDE THE MINNEAPOLIS PARK AND RECREATION BOARD, PROPERTY SERVICES, HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, PUBLIC WORKS YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, METRO TRANSIT, OR
SOME COMBINATION OF THOSE PARTNERS. FURTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH ANY POTENTIAL PARTNERS WOULD BE NECESSARY TO DETERMINE THE BEST OPTIONS FOR OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ANY NEW PUBLIC RESTROOMS. ADDITIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDE ALL PREFABRICATED STRUCTURES, LIKE MOST OF THE RESTROOM MODELS DISCUSSED IN THE REPORT, FALL UNDER THE J JURISDICTION OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND INDUSTRY. IN ADDITION, ANY RESTROOMS WOULD NEED TO MEET THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH AND SANITATION, SAFETY, AND ADA
REQUIREMENTS. AND, OF COURSE, IN MINNESOTA, THERE ARE SERIOUS CONSIDERATIONS FOR WINTERZATION NEEDS. TO ENSURE THAT THE RESTROOMS ARE FUNCTIONAL YEAR AROUND, INCLUDING INSULATION AND RELIABLE HEAT. SOME MODELS MAY BE MORE SUITABLE FOR COLDER CLIMATES THAN OTHERS. AN THIS
EXACT DETERMINATION WOULD NEED TO BE FURTHER EXPLORED. IF TEAFNTS OR CLEANING STAFF ARE DETERMINED TO BE NECESSARY AT SOME LOCATIONS, THERE COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO BE AN ADDITIONAL RESOURCE FOR UNHOUSED POPULATIONS, LIKE THEY ARE IN
PHILADELPHIA, WINNIPEG, AND EDMONTON. LASTLY WHETHER IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PILOT PROGRAM OR WITHOUT ONE, A LONG-TERM RESTROOM STRATEGY MAY BE HELPFUL TO BETTER INTEGRATE PUBLIC RESTROOMS INTO LARGER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT PLANNING IN THE FUTURE.
AS FAR AS THE POSSIBILITY OF INCENTIVIZING PRIVATE BUSINESSES ORGANIZATIONS TO OPEN THEIR RESTROOMS TO THE PUBLIC, THE CITY COULD CONNECT WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND OTHER POTENTIAL PARTNERS TO FURTHER EXPLORE THIS OPTION. AND APPROPRIATE CITY DEPARTMENTS SHOULD ALSO BE INVOLVED, INCLUDING COMMUNITY
PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. A FINAL NOTE, ANY TYPE OF CASH INCENTIVE PROGRAM CREATED THAT WOULD HAVE A LIMIT ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AWARDED ORGANIZATIONS. WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH THE APPROPRIATE CITY RFP
AND PROCUREMENT PROCESSES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION. I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PRESENTATION OR THE REPORT. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'LL LOOK IN THE QUEUE TO SEE IF ANY COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS. I'LL FIRST PASS
IT TO COUNCILMEMBER PALMISANO. >> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR. IS THIS PRESENTATION NOW ON LIMS. I DON'T SEE IT THERE. IT'S USUALLY HELPFUL TO SEE IT AHEAD OF TIME. >> IT SHOULD BE ON LIMS. APOLOGIZE. I MIGHT HAVE TO ASK
THE CLERK. >> IT SHOULD BE. >> I DIDN'T SEE IT THIS MORNING. IT MIGHT BE ON THERE NOW. I KNOW IT'S A NEED IN OUR INDUSTRY. AN INTERESTING TOPIC. I STRUGGLE WITH WHERE SOMETHING
LIKE THIS LANDS ON THE LIST OF CITY PRIORITIES. I LIKE WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT LONGER RANGE PUBLIC RESTROOM STRATEGIES. MAKING IT EASIER TO INCORPORATE FUTURE RESTROOMS IN, LIKE, INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND THAT. I ALSO APPRECIATED THE
EXAMPLE OF PEAVY PLAZA AS PART OF LONGER TERM LOOK AT OUR NEEDS. RIGHT. HOW IT'S FAIRLY UNIQUE. RIGHT. HAD TO BE BUILT SPECIALLY JUST FOR THAT PARTICULAR SITUATION. IT HAPPENED WHEN THERE WAS A MUCH
BIGGER OVERHAUL BEING DONE. AND IT IS STAFFED BY D.I.D. AMBASSADORS. I GUESS I CALL IT A SEMIPERMANENT. RIGHT. TYPE OF FACILITY. BECAUSE IT'S REMOVED IT MAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S
ONLY MAY THROUGH OCTOBER. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW IT HASN'T BEEN REPLICATED ANYWHERE ELSE IN OUR CITY. AND I'M CURIOUS IF PUBLIC WORKS INDICATED IF THEY'RE AWARE OF ANY OTHER LOCATIONS THAT WOULD OFFER THIS SIMILAR KIND OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC UTILITIES.
>> I DIDN'T SPECIFICALLY ASK IF THERE WAS AN EXACT SAME SIMILAR. PEAVY PLAZA IS UNIQUE BECAUSE THEY HAVE MECHANICAL ROOM FOR THE FOUNTAINS. THEY HAD TO CONNECT INTO THAT. OF COURSE, THERE ARE UTILITIES RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN AREAS. SO HOW COMPLICATED IS IT TO HOOK
INTO THOSE IS DEPENDENT ON THE LOCATION. >> YOUR REPORT NOTES THAT THE WEATHERIZATION. PER YOUR MAP OF THE U.S., IT DOES EXIST IN OTHER
WINTER CITIES. DO YOU KNOW HOW IT'S ACCOMPLISHED? >> SO THE MODELS THAT ARE, LIKE, COMPLETE ROOMS ARE THE TRAILERS EITHER PERMANENT OR MOBILE TRAILERS. THOSE ALL SEEM TO BE REALLY WELL -- I MEAN, FULL INSULATION, HEAT SOURCE. THOSE
DON'T SEEM TO HAVE AN ISSUE. I SPOKE TO NUMEROUS CITIES IN CANADA. THE PORTLAND LO I THINK IS THE MOST COMMON EXAMPLE IN THE STATE, I DID SPEAK TO BOTH PHILADELPHIA AND COLUMBUS, OHIO WHICH HAVE TRUE WINTERS. BUT WARMER THAN OTH OURS. THEY
HAD ISSUES WITH THE MODEL. THAT'S WHERE THE FURTHER "I'M NOT AN INSULATION AND HEATING EXPERT." SO THAT MIGHT NEED TO BE EXPLORED A BIT FURTHER. IF WE WANTED TO GO WITH THAT MODEL. BECAUSE IT DOES HAVE, I KNOW IT COMES WITH A WINTERZATION PACKAGE. IT CAN BE EXTRA INSULATION, HEATING IN THE BOWL,
HEATING IN THE, LIKE, HEARTS IN IN -- HEATERS IN THE AREAS. BECAUSE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES, IT HAS SORT OF OPEN TOP AND BOTTOM. WHICH CITIES SPOKE HIGHLY OF FOR SAFETY FEATURE. BUT IN OUR VERY COLD CLIMATE, THAT IS A DIFFERENT CONCERN THAN
A LOT OF THE CITIES WHO HAVE ENACTED IT. >> YEAH. IT SEEMS LIKE, FROM YOUR REPORT, THAT THE LOWEST-HANGING FRUIT WOULD BE TO INCENTIVIZE PRIVATE BUSINESSES. iSAY THAT AFTER HAVING BEEN
IN A MEETING WITH ONE OF THE MANAGERS OF AN UPTOWN ESTABLISHMENT THAT USED TO HAVE PUBLIC RESTROOMS AND CLOSED THEM BECAUSE OF ABSOLUTE PROBLEMS AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DEMOLISHING THE INSIDE. I'VE GOT TO ASK, ON PAGE 11 OF YOUR
REPORT, YOU REFERENCE AGGRESSIVELY UNCLEAN. I'M CURIOUS WHAT THAT MEANS, IF YOU WOULD MEAN LIKE PEOPLE ARE MAKING THEM DIRTY ON PURPOSE. >> YES, I WOULD SAY MAKING THEM DIRTY ON PURPOSE. PEOPLE
SUFFERING WITH VARIOUS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR UNDER, YOU KNOW, SUBSTANCE USE INCREASES THOSE INCIDENTS, FROM WHAT I SPOKE TO. BUT, YOU KNOW, AGGRESSIVELY UNCLEAN IS NOT FROM STANDARD USAGE.
>> D.I.D., IN YOUR REPORT, YOU SAY D.I.D. REPORTED THERE WASN'T MUCH INTEREST IN THIS P BACK IN 2019. HAS THERE BEEN EXPLORATION OF THE IDEA AND THE KIND OF FEEDBACK WE'VE GOTTEN. I'M CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE LIBRARY, THE
DOWNTOWN LIBRARY. FROM MY OWN NAIVE USER PERSPECTIVE, IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST USED PUBLIC RESTROOMS DOWNTOWN. THEY HAVE QUITE THEIR FAIR SHARE OF PROBLEMS. >> I'M NOT SURE. I DID ASK D.I.D. IF THEY HAD ANY, LIKE,
ONGOING INTENTIONS OF TRYING TO INCENTIVIZE AND THEY WERE UNSURE OF WHAT EXACTLY INCENTIVES MIGHT MAKE THE VARIOUS BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS OPEN UP. SO I THINK THAT WOULD NEED TO BE A LARGER DISCUSSION WITH THOSE BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS, D.I.D., AND, AGAIN, OTHER
POTENTIAL PARTNERS. I DIDN'T SPEAK TO SPECIFICALLY THE LIBRARY INDIVIDUALS. SO I SUSPECT THAT THE PARK BOARD EXPERIENCES, THOUGH TALKING ABOUT THE RANGE OF HOW SOME OF THEIR LOCATIONS ARE REALLY GREAT AND EASY TO MAINTAIN. AND THE
TWO THAT I SPECIFICALLY SPOKE ABOUT, SUFFERS FROM HIGHER NEED. THAN MOST PUBLIC RESTROOMS IN OUR CITY. EVERY CITY I SPOKE TO FELL SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE RANGE. I WOULD ASSUME THE LIBRARY WOULD BE IN THAT RANGE. BUT I
DON'T KNOW WHERE EXACTLY. AND WHAT END. >> THANK YOU. >> I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COMPONENT OF THE REPORT THAT SAID THAT THE MINNEAPOLIS
DOWNTOWN COUNCIL 2035 PLAN CALLS FOR 20% MORE PUBLIC RESTROOMS BY 2026. SO THAT WAS A KEY COMPONENT. SO I DO WANT TO LIGHT THAT FOR COUNCILMEMBER PALMISANO. THE DOWNTOWN COUNCIL CALLED FOR MORE PUBLIC RESTROOMS
IN THE 2035 PLAN. I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE CONVERSATIONS I HEAR FROM RESIDENTS, LIKE, HOW DO YOU BRING MORE PEOPLE BACK TO DOWNTOWN. AND PART IS CREATING AN ACCESSIBLE DOWNTOWN THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO OUR DOWNTOWN. WHICH MAKES PART IS
ACCESSIBILITY THAT YOU CAN USE THE RESTROOM WHEN YOU'RE DOWN HERE. AND I THINK WHEN COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE, COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY, COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN ALL WENT TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WE SAW SOME OF THESE PUBLIC RESTROOM FACILITIES. THEY WERE SAFE, THEY WERE CLEAN. AND IT FELT GOOD TO KNOW THAT IF WE NEEDED TO USE THE RESTROOM AT
ANY MOMENT, THERE WAS AN ACCESSIBLE, SAFE, LOCATION FOR US TO BE ABLE TO GO TO. WHICH LED TO US WORKING WITH CITY STAFF AND ASKING IF WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE A LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE ON THIS. THEY WERE LIKE, HOW ABOUT -- WE'RE INTERESTED IN THIS. HOW ABOUT
WE INCORPORATE POLICY AND RESEARCH. AND YOU GOT LOOPED IN. AND NOW WE'RE IN THIS POSITION WHERE I FEEL LIKE IT'S A GOOD REPORT. SEEING HOW OTHER CITIES HAVE DONE THIS. AND WAYS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO THIS THAT WE'RE DOING IT IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE. SO I JUST
WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION. FOLLOWING UP SEPARATELY AS FOLKS AUTHORED THE POLICY AND RESEARCH COMPONENT OF THIS. ABOUT WHAT SPECIFICALLY WE MEAN BY CHANGING POSSIBLE ZONING CODES. I THINK THAT IS
SOMETHING I WANT TO DIG DEEPER INTO. I KNOW THAT NEW YORK CITY HAD ITS OWN LONG-TERM STRATEGY PLANS AT THE CITY COUNCIL HELPED SHEPHERD THROUGH AN ORDINANCE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE, AS WELL. BUT ULTIMATELY CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE IT'S MORE
ACCESSIBLE FOR FOLKS TO USE IT. WHEN I TALK TO FOLKS IN WARD 9 AND SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT MANY PEOPLE COMMUNICATE WITH MY OFFICE ABOUT. SAYING WE NEED MORE PUBLIC-AVAILABLE RESTROOMS IN OUR CORRIDORS. BECAUSE WHAT WE SEE IS FOLKS JUST DOING PUBLIC
URINATION AND OTHER ISSUES IN PEOPLE'S BACKYARDS. AND THE SOLUTION IS TO PROVIDING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY USE THE RESTROOM THAT IS SAFE, SECURE, AND HEALTHY. SO I AT LEAST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT. AND THANK YOU FOR THE MONTHS OF WORK THAT WENT INTO THE REPORT.
IT GIVES US A LOT TO CONSIDER AS WE HEAD INTO BUDGET AND NEXT YEAR, AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. >> NEXT PERSON COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU, SO MUCH, CHAIR CHAVEZ. AND THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I -- I CERTAINLY DO THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS SHOULD
CONTINUE TO WORK ON. I THINK WE ARE IN A PATH, AS A CITY, JUST LIKE OTHER CITIES, WHERE WE'RE IN TOUGH TIMES. BUT WE'RE STAYING ON CUTTING EDGE. AND A LOT OF WHAT THE CUTTING EDGE IS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS CONTINUING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HAVE A WELCOMING PUBLIC REALM THAT ALLOWS FOR MORE PEOPLE TO ENJOY OUR PUBLIC SPACES. AND OUR COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS. AND THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS. THAT ATTRACTS PEOPLE TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. NOT ONLY OUR DOWNTOWN, WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO DO A NUMBER OF THINGS, WHETHER
IT'S SOCIAL DISTRICTS OR COMMERCIAL OFFICE BUILDINGS, HOUSING CONVERSION, AND TOUTING THAT WE HAVE MORE RESIDENTS IN DOWNTOWN THAN SOME MAJOR SUBURB BE CITIES. I THINK RESTROOMS 100% GO TOGETHER WITH THAT. NOT
ONLY FOR OUR DOWNTOWN, BUT OTHER KEY PARTS OF OUR CITY. I MEAN, EVEN IN THE MEET MINNEAPOLIS GUIDE FOR OUR SKYWAYS. THEY GIVE TIPS TO SKYWAY USERS TO
SAY, FREE RESTROOMS ARE RARE. PLAN AHEAD. AND I DON'T THINK THAT CREATES A WELCOMING VISIT OR DAY FOR NEWCOMERS TO DOWNTOWN. OR PEOPLE WHO ARE OF DIFFERENT AGES AND ABILITIES. OR, EVEN, LIKE, A PARENT OF KIDS
THAT NEEDS TO QUICK FIND A RESTROOM TO GO TO. AND I THINK PUBLIC RESTROOMS IS A PART OF US GROWING OUR CITY TO BE MORE MULTIGENERATIONAL. MORE WELCOMING FOR FAMILIES. AND THEN, ALSO, A BETTER PLACE FOR OUR SENIORS TO AGE WITH DIGNITY.
AND ALSO FEEL CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN WHEN YOU'RE A COUNCILMEMBER AND YOU HAVE ISSUES IN YOUR WARD ABOUT PEOPLE USING THE BATHROOM, YOU HEAR ABOUT IT. AND THAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE COMING INTO THE
12th WARD BY THE 46th AND HIGH W WATT THAT STATION. THERE ARE NO PUBLIC RESTROOMS OVER THERE. LARGELY BECAUSE LOCAL BUSINESSES NEED TO A CODE FOR THE ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR THAT
WAS HAPPENING. AND THEN WE JUST ENDED UP WITH, LIKE, A HUMAN WASTE ISSUE . MY OFFICE WORKED WITH 3-1-1 TO CREATE AN INCIDENT CODE FOR PEOPLE TO REPORT THAT. AND IT'S FRUSTRATING TO HAVE TO SHARE THAT'S THE OPTION FOR PEOPLE.
LIKE, PLEASE REPORT SO THERE'S DATA ON THIS. BECAUSE THEY'RE LIKE, WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CALL 3-1-1 AND THEN SOMEONE COME AND CLEAN AND THAT SHOULDN'T BE THE SYSTEM THAT WE'RE IN. AND I HAD TO WORK REALLY, REALLY HARD WITH METRO TRANSIT FOR TWO YEARS TO
GET THEM TO WORK WITH OUR OFFICE AND THEIR NEIGHBORS TO GET PORT-A-POTTIES IN THE AREA. THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE PORT-A-POTTIES. AND THEY ARE NOT AS RESILIENT TO WEAR AND TEAR AS A LOT OF PUBLIC RESTROOMS THAT WERE SHARED HERE. THEY WERE APPREHENSIVE. I
THINK THEY WERE AT THE POINT THERE WASES N WAS NO VENDOR THAT WOULD SELL TO THEM. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS EXPERIENCED. EVENTUALLY THE SAFETY ISSUES AND LIVABILITY REACHED A HEAD AND THERE WERE TWO POTTIES INSTALLED
BY THE LIGHT RAIL STATION AND THE SITUATION HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY. IT'S CLEANER AND MORE LIVABLE. IT'S A MAJOR TRANSIT HUB. IT'S OFTENTIMES THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE GET OFF, IF THEY'RE COMING FROM THE AIRPORT TO OUR CITY. AND THEN GOING TO GRAB ANOTHER BUS.
SOMETIMES IT GOES DOWNTOWN. BUT IT'S OFTENTIMES, LIKE, THE FIRST PLACE A PERSON GETS THE IMAGE OF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. THE MODEL THAT I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN, I THINK, THIS IS WHAT WE SAW IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
THE THRONE LABS MODEL. I FEEL LIKE THE COST IS INTERESTING. AND IT'S A RENTAL. AND SO IF THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS WAS INTERESTED IN JUST TRYING SOMETHING OUT, THAT COULD BE A WAY FOR US TO TRY SOMETHING OUT. AND THEN FOR WINTERZATION, I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT, LIKE,
IT'S BEEN IN PLACES WHERE THERE ARE REAL WINTERS AND IT RUNS ON SOLAR AND ONE TACTIC THAT WAS SHARED HERE IN THE REPORT, IS IF THERE ISN'T ENOUGH SOLAR POWER TO HEAT THE BATHROOMS, THEY JUST
MOVED THE RESTROOMS CLOSER TO THE DOWNTOWN CORE. WHERE THERE WAS AN ABILITY TO PLUG THEM IN. I THINK MOBILITY IS KEY AND FLEXIBLE. AND THE OTHER PART THAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING, AND I'D LOVE TO KIND OF HEAR
FROM YOU, TOO, ABOUT WHAT CITIES HAVE BEEN THINKING IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT RESTROOMS NOT ONLY STAY CLEAN, BUT ARE SAFE FROM VANDALISM AND CONTINUE TO BE WELCOMING SPACES. THEY HAVE THIS ACCESS CARD SYSTEM. WHERE
THEY HAND OUT ACCESS CARDS AT THE CITY HALL. AND THEY AREN'T TAKING ANYONE'S ID OR INFORMATION. BUT, LIKE, THEY CAN TRACK IF THERE WAS VANDALISM BEFORE USE OR AFTER. THEY CAN REMOTELY JUST REVOKE ACCESS. AND I THINK THAT IS US USING
TECHNOLOGY TO CREATE A WELCOMING CITY. I THINK IT ADDRESSES SOME OF THE WORRIES THAT WE HAD WITH PORT-A-POTTIES BEING VANDALIZED. IF THERE'S SOMEONE THAT DOES THAT, IT CAN BE ACCESS CAN BE CUT OFF. SO A FOLLOW UP QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WAYS IN WHICH CITIES HAVE
KIND OF THOUGHT ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT RESTROOMS STAY SAFE, CLEAN. WE ALSO KNOW THERE'S SOMETIMES -- WE DON'T HAVE ANY SAFE USE SPACES, REALLY, IN MINNEAPOLIS THAT ARE PUBLIC
AVAILABLE. SO PEOPLE COULD ALSO USE IN THOSE MORE PRIVATE SPACES. AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR HOW CITIES HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT ASPECT. >> YEAH. THANK YOU. AS YOU NOTED, THRONE LABS HAVE
ACCESS CARD. YOU CAN USE AN APP OR YOU CAN SCAN, AS WELL, THERE. BUT, AGAIN, FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE SMARTPHONES AND THE CARDS ARE HANDED OUT NOT JUST AT CITY HALL BUT A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS. AS WELL AS THEY JUST HAVE THEIR EVERYDAY CITY EMPLOYEES WHO ARE OUT AND ABOUT, POLICE OFFICERS, PUBLIC WORKS
PEOPLE, WHEN THEY'RE OUT ON A PROJECT, JUST HAND THEM OUT TO PEOPLE, AS WELL. SO THAT'S PRETTY UNIQUE TO THRONE LABS. OTHER SORT OF ISSUES, AGAIN, SOME CITIES LIKE EDMONTON HAS A FULL-BLOWN ATTENDANT MONITORING
PROGRAMS. IT'S AT 18 OF THEIR CORE HEAVY-USE RESTROOMS. AND THAT IS DURING JUST OPENING HOURS. NONE OF THEIRS ARE 24/7. OTHER PLACES HAVE ROUTINE MONITORING. AND BY THAT I MEAN -- NOW I CAN'T REMEMBER
WHICH CITY. I THINK IT WAS PHILADELPHIA. THAT HAS SPECIFIC RESTROOM ATTENDANTS. THEY'RE NOT ATTENDANTS. THEY'RE NOT AT THE SAME LOCATION ALL DAY BUT THEY ROTATE BETWEEN THE THREE PORTLAND LOOS. AND CLEAN AND HELP PROVIDE RESOURCES TO PEOPLE LIKE WHERE INFORMATION ABOUT
WHERE THEY CAN GO FOR VARIOUS RESOURCES. IF THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH DIFFERENT ISSUES. AND THEN PRETTY MUCH ALL -- I'M NOT GOING TO SAY ALL, BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS MEMORIZED. MOST HAVE A TIMER, AS WELL, ON THE RESTROOMS. SO, LIKE, YOU GO IN
THERE AND GET 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE DOOR AUTOMATICALLY UNLOCKS. SOME PLACES ARE 15. SURE YOU CAN SELECT THE TIME FRAME YOU WANT. THAT DISCOURAGES AND MAKES IT HARDER TO BARRICADE YOURSELF IN. IF YOU CAN'T RELOCK YOURSELF LIKE RELOCK THE DOOR WITHOUT EXITING AND GOING
BACK IN. AND THEN THE LOCATION IS REALLY KEY. TO THE POINT WHERE BEING VISIBLE. THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF CITIES, THAT ARE, LIKE, WE ARE WORRIED IT WOULD BE AN ISSUE. WE DON'T HAVE ATTENDANT OS ARE DAILY MONITORING. OR MAYBE THEY HAVE
UNLOCKING AND LOCKING AT NIGHT. BUT THEY SAID THE COMMUNITY IS SO HAPPY WITH THEM BEING THERE, IT SELF-POLICES THEMSELVES. EVERYONE FROM VISITORS DOWNTOWN TO COMMUTERS TO BIKERS, WALKERS, UNHOUSED POPULATION. EVERYONE TRULY IS RESPECTFUL OF THE
SPACE. BECAUSE THEY'RE SO APPRECIATIVE OF HAVING IT. IT WAS AFTER THAT SAME LOCATION EXPERIENCED REALLY HIGH NEGATIVE EXPERIENCES WITH PORT-A-POTTIES. WHICH, DEFINITELY, IN MY OPINION, FEEL LESS DIGNIFIED THAN SOME OF THE OPTIONS HERE.
AND SO I'M NOT SAYING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE. BUT JUST EXPERIENCES DO VARY. AND SOMETIMES THE ONLY WAY YOU KNOW IS TO DO IT. >> THANK YOU. AND KIND OF FOLLOWING UP ON A LITTLE BIT
MORE OF THE THRONE LABS MODEL. THEY HAVE, LIKE, A 24/7 REMOTE MONITORING. AND THEY HAVE, LIKE, SOMEONE NEARBY COME IN AND STAFF AND CLEAN IT. HOW WOULD IT WORK FOR OUR CITY, IF IT WAS
A MODEL WE PURSUED. WOULD THEY NEED TO HIRE FOR THIS AREA? SPECIFICALLY OR IS THERE A NEARBY AREA? DO YOU KNOW HOW IT HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE PAST? >> I DIDN'T SPEAK TO THRONE LABS THEMSELVES. I DIDN'T SPEAK TO ANY OF THE MODEL, ACTUAL COMPANIES. BUT ANN ARBOR IN MICHIGAN, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO
WAS HAPPY. THEY COMPLETED A ONE-YEAR PILOT AND JUST EXTENDED UP TO FIVE YEARS WITH THE SAME MODEL. AND SO THEY SAID THEY HAVE, LIKE, ONE THRONE EMPLOYEE THAT IS PERMANENTLY LOCATED IN ANN ARBOR. THEY'RE THE ONLY
PEOPLE THAT THEY CONNECT WITH. AND THRONE, THEY PRESUMED, THEIR UNDERSTANDING, AT LEAST, IS THAT THRONE EITHER HIRES PEOPLE DIRECTLY OR GETS, HIRES A CLEANING MANAGER COMPANY TO DO THAT. THE 24/7 MONITORING ISN'T
SOMEONE SITTING THERE AND STARING AT IT. THEY HAVE 21 DIFFERENT SENSORS. IF THEY'RE OUT OF WATER, TOILET PAPER IS LOW, SOMEONE HAS BEEN IN THERE TOO LONG. THEY GET INPUT AND ADDRESS IT APPROPRIATELY. AND A A ANN ARBOR SAID THAT'S WHY THEY LOVE THE MODEL
REQUIRES ZERO DAY-TO-DAY STAFF TIME. >> HOW MANY THRONES IN ANN ARBOR? >> EIGHT. >> THAT'S GREAT. I THINK THE LAST THING I'LL CLOSE ON, AND JUST NOTE FOR MY COLLEAGUES AND THE PUBLIC, FOR ANN ARBOR, THEIR PILOT YEAR, THEY HAD NEARLY
83,000 TOTAL USES. AND THEN WITH THE 4.4 OUT OF 5 OVERALL CLEANLINESS RATING. THAT'S PRETTY GOOD. I WOULD SAY THAT'S REALLY, REALLY GOOD. SO I THINK IT'S WORTH LOOKING AT FURTHER. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH. I ALSO
LIKE TO WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN TO THE COMMITTEE. ALL RIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT'S BEEN HELPFUL AND HELP AS WE LOOK INTO BUDGET AND WORK COMING AHEAD OF US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. >> WONDERFUL THANK YOU. >> NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO RECEIVE AND FILE THAT REPORT. OUR NEXT ITEM IS A PRESENTATION RELATED TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT CASE CLEARANCE RATES. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE THIS PAST DECEMBER. I'LL INVITE DEPUTY
CHIEF EMILY OLSON TO GET US STARTED. WELCOME.
>> COUNCIL CHAIR CHAVEZ, COUNCILMEMBER PAYNE, AND COUNCILMEMBERS. THIS IS FOR THE 2024 CLEARANCE RATES. SO THIS IS A REMINDER, I WAS ASKED ABOUT SPECIFIC CASES, THIS WON'T BE ALL OF THE CASES THAT COME INTO
THE INVESTIGATIVE BUREAU. I COULDN'T POSSIBLY TALK ABOUT EVERY SINGLE CASE. BUT THIS WAS THE LIST I WAS GIVEN. AND SO WE'LL TALK ABOUT EACH OF THESE CASES. SO TO START, SOME OF THE INVESTIGATIVE TRIAGE THAT WE DO, SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT GO INTO ASSIGNING A CASE OR NOT
ASSIGNING A CASE WOULD BE THE SEVERITY OF THE CRIME, SOLVABILITY RATE, NUMBER OF CASES VERSUS NUMBER OF STAFF THAT DAY OR THAT WEEK, THE IN-CUSTODY CASES THAT COME IN WILL DETERMINE HOW MANY CASES ARE ASSIGNED THAT WEEK, AND THEN THE COOPERATION OF THE VICTIM.
THE AMOUNT OF EVIDENCE THAT WE HAVE IN EACH CASE DETERMINES IF THAT CASE CAN BE ASSIGNED. THERE ARE FOUR STATUS CODES THAT WE USE. OPEN ACTIVE, THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THE CASE IS ASSIGNED. SOMETIMES IT'S ASSIGNED AND SOMETIMES ITN'T ISN'T. THE CASE IS ACTIVE
AND OPEN, EVEN WHEN IT'S ASSIGNED. INACTIVE. CLEARED, AND CASE REVIEWED WITH NO FOLLOW UP. SO THE CLEARANCE RATE CALCULATIONS, IF A CASE IS CLEARED, IT IS CLEARED BY
COMPLAINT, ARREST, DECLINED, OR CLEARED EXCEPTIONALLY. WHEN THE CASES FALL INTO THOSE CATEGORIES, IT'S THEN DIVIDED AGAINST THE TOTAL NUMBER OF THE SAME CASE TYPE. AND THAT'S HOW WE COME UP WITH THE CLEARANCE RATE. WE ARE MORE STRING GENT IN MPD THAN OTHER CITIES AND
DEPARTMENTS. WE USE INACTIVE MORE FREQUENTLY THAN OTHER DEPARTMENTS. SO IF WE ARREST SOMEBODY FOR THEIR WARRANT IN A CASE, SAY, A ROBBERY. BUT THEY -- WE DO NOT PROVE THAT CASE, AND DO A COMPLETE FOR WARRANT AGAINST -- COMPLAINT FOR
ROBBERY AGAINST THAT PERSON, WE DON'T CLEAR IT BY ARREST. THE EXCEPTIONALLY IS SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN PUT UNDER EXCEPTIONALLY ARE IN-CUSTODY IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION, DECLINED, OR THE VICTIM REFUSED TO COOPERATE. WE DON'T LIKE TO USE
THIS ONE BECAUSE IT IS MORE DIFFICULT TO REOPEN THE CASE. TO SAY THAT A VICTIM DIDN'T COOPERATE. SO JUST TO CLARIFY ON SOME OF THE CATEGORIES THAT WE DID DO. SO, ROBBERY INCLUDES CAR-JACKING. IT'S A SUBSET OF
ROBBERY. THE WEAPON LAW VIOLATIONS INCLUDES PROHIBITED PERSONS, WHICH WOULD BE A FELON IN POSSESSION, ILLEGAL USE POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, WHICH WOULD BE A PERMIT TO CARRY VIOLATION. AND, ALSO, DISCHARGED OF A FIREARM. UNDER THE HOMICIDE, I WAS REQUESTED
THAT WE DO JUSTIFIABLE HOMICIDES AND NEGLIGENT HOMICIDES, BUT I DID NOT INCLUDE THOSE. THERE'S A VERY LOW NUMBER AND THEY HAVE TO BE CLEARED IN ORDER FOR THEM TO BE JUSTIFIED OR NEGLIGENT. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO IDENTIFY THEM AND THEY HAVE TO GIVE THAT REASON FOR US TO DETERMINE THAT
IT'S JUSTIFIED OR NEGLIGENT. SO THESE ARE THE VIOLENT CRIME INVESTIGATIVE DIVISION CATEGORIES THAT WERE REQUESTED. AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, HOMICIDE, ROBBERY, AND WEAPONS. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S CASE REVIEW NO FOLLOW UP, CLEARED, INACTIVE
WITHIN AND OPENED. AND THEN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES THAT CAME THROUGH. AND THEN I WROTE DOWN WITH PROPERTY CRIMES AT THE TOP AND TWO SPECIAL CRIMES REQUESTED
WHICH IS RAPE AND DMULT AT THE BOTTOM. AND FOUR PROPERTY CRIMES REQUESTED. I RECOGNIZE THAT THE PROPERTY CRIMES CLEARANCE RATE IS VERY LOW. I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE TOTAL
NUMBER OF PROPERTY CRIMES, IT DOES NOT ENVELOPE ALL PROPERTY CRIMES, IS 28,106 CASES. AND I HAVE A TOTAL OF 11 PROPERTY CRIMES INVESTIGATORS. SOME OF THE REASONS WHY THESE CASES ARE PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TO SOLVE
IS A LOT OF THEM HAVE BEEN OVERNIGHT. AN AUTO THEFT YOU'LL PARK THE CAR, GO INSIDE, YOU HAVE DINNER, GO TO BED, WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND YOUR VEHICLE IS GONE. THERE ARE NO WITNESSES. THERE'S NO EVIDENCE. THERE'S NO VIDEO. IT JUST THERE'S NO DNA. IT'S JUST A
VERY, VERY DIFFICULT CASE TO SOLVE. SO FOR STAFFING, IN 2024, I HAD 36 INVESTIGATORS. FIVE SWORN, ONE CIVILIAN. IN HOMICIDE THERE ARE 14 SWORN INVESTIGATORS AND
TWO CIVILIAN. ROBBERY I HAD FOUR SWORN AND TWO CIVILIAN. AND INVESTIGATIONS UNIT THERE ARE SEVEN SWORN INVESTIGATORS, AND THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WE HAVE TWO SWORN
INVESTIGATORS. AND THEN IN SPECIAL CRIMES, WHICH IS CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN, THREE SWORN INVESTIGATORS, ONE CIVILIAN. DOMESTIC FOUR SWORN INVESTIGATORS, ONE CIVILIAN. JUVENILE, SIX SWORN INVESTIGATORS, TWO CIVILIANS.
JUVENILE MISSING CHILDREN ONE INVESTIGATOR. THE LICENSING SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT DECEIVING. BECAUSE IT'S FINANCIAL CRIMES. THERE'S FIVE SWORN INVESTIGATORS AND TWO CIVILIANS. BUT UNDERNEATH LICENSING IS FINANCIAL CRIMES, NARCOTICS, AUTOTHEFT PREVENTION, ANIMAL
CRIMES, AND A PART-TIME JOB WHICH IS THE BEHAVIORAL THREAT ANALYSIS TEAM. AND THAT WOULD BE THREATS AGAINST A PUBLIC FIGURE, AGAINST TEMPLE, MOSQUE, OR CHURCH. ANYONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT THREATENS SOMEONE. THAT'S INCLUDED IN THERE. IN
2024, WE HAD 378 OF THOSE. SEX CRIMES THERE'S FIVE SWORN INVESTIGATORS AND THREE CIVILIANS. PREDATOR OFFENDER REGULAR CONCENTRATION IS TWO SWORN, TWO CIVILIANS. ONE IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING. FIVE SWORN INVESTIGATORS IN TRAFFIC. AND
ONE IN ARSON. SO TO BREAK DOWN A LITTLE BIT, IN VCID HAS A MEDIAN OF 237 CASES IN THEIR QUEUE PER WEEK FOR A TOTAL OF 36 INVESTIGATORS. SCID HAS A MEDIAN OF 620 CASES IN THEIR
QUEUE PER WEEK FOR A TOTAL OF 44 INVESTIGATORS. SO THAT'S FOR VCID THAT'S SIX CASES FOR INVESTIGATOR PER WEEK. FOR SCID THAT'S 14 CASES PER INVESTIGATOR PER WEEK. TRAFFIC, WHICH ISN'T
INCLUDED IN MY CLEARANCE RATES, BUT THEY HAD SEE AN AVERAGE OF 216 CASES IN THEIR QUEUE PER WEEK FOR FIVE INVESTIGATORS TO TAKE ACTION ON. 43 TRAFFIC CASES PER INVESTIGATOR PER WEEK. AND THEN THIS IS PROPERTY
CRIMES. THOSE ARE ACTUALLY OUT IN THE PRECINCTS. AND FALL UNDER PATROL. I DID PULL MY 2019 STAFFING. IN 2019, I HAD
66 INVESTIGATORS IN DCID. 74 IN SCID. I ALSO HAD ADDITIONAL UNITS. THE ADDITIONAL UNITS THAT I HAD IN VCID WAS SAFE STREETS, VIOLENT CRIME APPREHENSION TEAM, I HAD A
WEAPONS UNIT, AND A VIOLENT CRIME INVESTIGATION TEAM, WHICH WOULD BE KNOWN AS THE SHOOT TEAM. NONFATAL SHOOT TEAM. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN THE SPECIAL CRIMES IS WE HAD A JUVENILE
OUTREACH AND DIVERSION UNIT. AND WE HAD THE POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE. AND THEN I HAD 21 PROPERTY CRIMES INVESTIGATORS. SO THE TOTAL IN 2019 WAS 161. AND THE TOTAL NOW IS 90. IT'S A
43% DIFFERENCE. SOME OF THE EXTERNAL BARRIERS WE SEE WHEN TRYING TO SOLVE A CASE IS TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUES. OFTENTIMES VIDEO THAT WE TRY TO GET, AND WE LIVE IN A CSI
SOCIETY. PEOPLE WANT EVIDENCE. AND VIDEO IS VERY DIFFICULT. SOMETIMES IT'S NOT FACING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, SOMETIMES IT'S NOT WORKING, SOMETIMES IT'S GRAINY, AND SOMETIMES WE GET THE VIDEO, BUT EVEN IF YOU HAVE A GOOD PICTURE OF A SUSPECT, AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE,
IT'S STILL HARD TO IDENTIFY THAT PERSON. CELL PHONE DATA. SOMETIMES CELL PHONE DATA IS DIFFICULT TO GET. AND WHEN WE DO GET IT, IT DOESN'T HELP. SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ACTUAL CELL PHONE CARRIERS. THEY'RE CALLED DUMMY PHONES. AND WE CAN'T GET THE DATA THAT
WE NEED TO PROVE THE CASE. LACK OF COOPERATION, FEAR OF RETALIATION, PEOPLE ARE SCARED. WEATHER. IT'S MINNESOTA. RAIN IS AN ABSOLUTE SCENE KILLER, AS IS SNOW. UNDERSTANDABLE TRAUMA.
WHEN SOMEONE IS THE VICTIM OF A VIOLENT CRIME, AND A GUN IS POINTED AT THEM, AND YOU ASK THEM THE DESCRIPTION OF A SUSPECT, THEY'LL TELL YOU THE GUN WAS BLACK. THE GUN WAS SILVER. THE GUN HAD A ROUND BARREL ON IT. OFTENTIMES THEY CAN'T TELL YOU THE SUSPECT'S
DESCRIPTION. AND RIGHTFULLY SO. HUMAN ERROR. NUMBER OF TIMES WE'VE HEARD THEY HEARD FIVE SHOTS FROM THE EAST. WHEN THERE WERE FOUR SHOTS FROM THE WEST. WHEN YOU ARE EXPERIENCING SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T
NORMALLY EXPERIENCE, YOU CAN GET IT WRONG. AND IT'S REALLY UNDERSTANDABLE. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. DIFFICULTY WITH CHARGING. SOMETIMES WE WANT TO CHARGE AND WE DON'T GET THE CHARGES THAT WE WANT. SUSPECTS ARE CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING THEIR TACTICS. AND WE ARE A STEP
BEHIND. TECHNOLOGY ISN'T OUR STRONG SUIT IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND WE ARE ALWAYS BEHIND THE TIMES. INTERNAL BARRIERS. STAFFING ISSUES. AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE A REAL
STAFFING ISSUE. I'M NOT PLACING IT AS THE CAUSE, BUT WE ARE DROWNING IN CASES. INCLUDING THE LACK OF A VIOLENT CRIMINAL APPREHENSION UNIT. IT HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT TIME. BECAUSE WE HAVE TO FIND OUR SUSPECTS AND
WE HAVE TO ARREST THEM AND TAKE THEM INTO CUSTODY. IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO FIND THEM. SO WE ARE PAUSING THE INVESTIGATION TO FIND THE SUSPECT INSTEAD OF MOVING ON TO THE NEXT CASE. RETENTION VERSUS HIRING. SO THE NEW COPS THAT COME ON, IT'S WONDERFUL. AND I'M GLAD TO SEE
IT! AND I LOVE IT! BUT THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCED. AND THEY DON'T FILL MY NEED IN INVESTIGATIONS. I NEED TO RETAIN THE OFFICERS FOR THAT EXPERIENCE. MISINFORMATION FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO THE PUBLIC. SO
WHEN PUBLIC OFFICIALS SAY THINGS ABOUT THE MPD AND MAKE JUNLT -- JUDGMENTS EARLY ON AND SAY WE'RE NOT DOING SOMETHING BECAUSE OF ... THAT WE ARE RACIST OR THAT WE'RE HOMOPHOBIC, IT HURTS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY.
AND I KNOW BETTER THAN ANYONE, IN INVESTIGATIONS WE HAVE TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY. AND OUR TRUST WITH THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT. SO IT HURTS US. AND IT HURTS THE COMMUNITY. OUR INABILITY TO USE CRITICAL
TECHNOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE. WE ARE THE ONLY POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE THAT CAN'T USE FACIAL RECOGNITION. AND NATIONWIDE, MOST DEPARTMENTS WHO BANNED FACIAL RECOGNITION HAVE OVERTURNED THAT DECISION BECAUSE
IT'S SO HELPFUL WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING. WE HAVE A FAIRLY INEFFICIENT RECORD MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. OUR RMS SYSTEM IS A ANTIQUATED AND IT'S NO ROT
ROBUST AND DIFFICULT TO USE. WHEN THE COMMUNITY DOES SELF-REPORTS. THEY ARE VAGUE AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY CLOSE THEM. SO IT ISN'T USER-FRIENDLY. IT'S NOT HELPFUL FOR THEM. AND WE, ON OUR END, ARE TRYING TO FIX IT AND MAKE IT
BETTER AND EASIER FOR SOMEONE TO REPORT A CRIME AND MAKE IT MORE ROBUST. AND GIVE US BETTER INFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON IN THE INVESTIGATION. SO SOME SOLUTIONS SUPPORT FROM ALL PUBLIC OFFICIALS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. FUNDING FOR
TECHNOLOGY THAT ASSISTS WITH INVESTIGATIVE NEEDS. THERE'S A PROGRAM THAT I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE FOR MY INVESTIGATORS. BUT IT IS EXPENSIVE. IT'S HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. AND I KNOW THAT RIGHT NOW, IT'S A DIFFICULT ASK, BUT IT WOULD BE
REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL FOR THEM. PRIORITIZED POLICE STAFFING. HAVE THAT ROBUST RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BUILT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS. AND A REAL TIME CRIME CENTER. RIGHT NOW I HAVE INTELLIGENCE CENTER THAT, WOOS DURING THE DAY. I DON'T
HAVE NIGHTTIME. WOE WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFFING FOR IT. AND BEST PRACTICE, THROUGH POLICE DEPARTMENTS, ARE HAVING A 24/7 REAL TIME CRIME CENTER. FULLY STAFFED. TYPICALLY BY CIVILIANS. AND THEY WATCH CAMERAS, THEY LOOK AT INTEL, THEY LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA. AND
WHEN THEY GET THAT INFORMATION RIGHT AWAY, IT HELPS THE INVESTIGATION TO START EARLIER. AND THAT HELPS TO SHORTEN AN INVESTIGATION. AND IT MAKES IT SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT INVESTIGATION. SO THOSE WOULD BE MY ASKS FOR IMPROVING OUR
CLEARANCE RATES. QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I DID HAVE A QUESTION. YOU MADE A COMMENT ABOUT MISINFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND TALKING ABOUT RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA.
CAN YOU GIVE US EXAMPLES AND DIVE DEEPER INTO THAT. IT'S INTERESTING, I GUESS YOU'VE READ THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE, IT TALKS A LOT ABOUT RACISM WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. >> YES. AND I WOULD LEAN ON THE
FACT THAT OUR CHIEF IS COMMITTED TO THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. AND THE CONSENT DECREE. THAT WE ARE NOT LEGALLY OBLIGATED TO DO BUT HE WANTS TO MAKE THE REFORMS AND CHANGES. I OWN THAT. I OWN OUR DEPARTMENT HAS MADE MISTAKES. >> YOU ARE ALLOWED BY EXECUTIVE
ORDER FROM THE MAYOR, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW -- >> ABSOLUTELY. AND HE'S COMMITTED TO THAT. AND WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT. I GUESS THE ... THE EXAMPLE I WOULD GIVE IS THE [?] SHOOTING. A MASS SHOOTING. IT INVOLVED THE LGBT
GQ PLUS COMMU COMMUNITY. AND SEVERAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS MADE COMMENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND TO THE NEWS AGENCIES, AS WELL AS INVESTIGATORS GOT PRETTY VILE VOICE MAILS SAYING THEY WEREN'T INVESTIGATING THE CASE BECAUSE OF WHO THE VICTIMS WERE. AND THAT JUST WASN'T TRUE. AND
THEN THEY DID MAKE ARRESTS. AND THEY WERE CHARGED AND CONVICTED. AND NO ONE CAME OUT AND SAID, YOU KNOW, I APOLOGIZE. THAT WASN'T TRUE. YOU WERE WORKING THE CASE REALLY HARD. SACRIFICING TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY AND WORKING THROUGH THE
NIGHT AND WEEKS AND WEEKS AND WEEKS. IT DID TAKE TIME. CASES TAKE TIME. BUT NO ONE EVER CLEARED THAT UP OR SAID, "HEY, THANK YOU FOR DOING THAT." THAT MESSAGE IS OUT THERE AND DAMAGED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LGBTQ+
COMMUNITY. THAT'S THE MESSAGE I'M TALKING ABOUT. >> TO WE KNOW WHICH PUBLIC OFFICIALS SAID THAT? >> I DO. >> DO YOU HAVE NAMES. >> I DO. >> MIND SHARING THEM? >> I WOULD PREFER NOT TO. I DON'T WANT TO PUT PEOPLE ON BLAST. >> THOSE ARE SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS. >> I AM. >> WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY. THAT I'M PROUD TO BE A PART OF. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MISINFORMATION FROM PUBLIC OFFICIALS THAT TALKS ABOUT RACISM, WHICH WE KNOW IS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PER OUR FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE, THAT WE JUST LOST BECAUSE OF THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION. AND OUR MDHR SETTLEMENT GR AGREEMENT THAT TALKED ABOUT DECADES LONG INFORMATION ABOUT POLICING IN OUR CITY THAT HAS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BLACK AND NATIVE PEOPLE. I GUESS YOU DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THAT. BUT I GUESS I'LL DO A FOLLOW UP, IF THE POLICE ARE
MAKING CLARIFYING WHICH PUBLIC OFFICIALS HAVE GIVEN MISINFORMATION WHEN IT COMES TO LGBTQ AND I THINK THAT'S A BOLD STATEMENT TO MAKE. IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO CLARIFY WHO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY. UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ANSWER.
>> I DON'T WANT TO -- AND I'M NOT SPECIFICALLY TALKING ABOUT THE CITY COUNCIL. I'M TALKING ABOUT REPRESENTATIVES THROUGHOUT THE STATE. I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE SAYING THINGS. MAKING RASH JUDGMENTS AND ABOUT INVESTIGATIONS WHY WE DON'T TAKE CASES. WHY CASES AREN'T
SOLVED. >> FOR SURE. I GUESS I WOULD SAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE INVESTIGATIONS OF MARIAH SAMUELS, MANY OTHER CASES THAT IMPACTED OUR COMMUNITIES, IN A HORRIFIC WAY, WHEN WE HAVE TO TAKE CALLS FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS
TALKING ABOUT WE FEEL LIKE THIS INVESTIGATION IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY. WE FEEL THAT FOLKS FROM THE COMMUNITY, FROM OUR BLACK CONSTITUENTS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED FROM CRIME, AND DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED WHEN IT COMES TO CASES BEING SOLVED AND ADDRESSED, WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY AS PUBLIC OFFICIALS TO ADDRESS
THESE ISSUES. AND BRING THOSE ISSUES TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. AND IF WE READ THE ASK ARTICLES, WE HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE FAILINGS WHEN IT CAMES TO MARIAH SAMUELS CASE AND THE, THE ISSUES GET BROUGHT UP IT PREDATES AND
IT GOES ON WITH CONSENT DECREE THAT HAPPENED WITH MDHR, A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE THAT WE NEEDED TO DO BECAUSE WE HAVE BAD PRACTICES IN OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT NEED TO STILL BE ADDRESSED. AND I GUESS I -- I'M ASKING THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE I
WAS VERY SURPRISED TO HEAR INFORMATION ABOUT COMMENTS ABOUT ELECTED OFFICIALS TALKING ABOUT RACISM AND HOMOPHOBIA. I GUESS I WANT MORE CLARIFICATION ON THAT. I'LL MOVE ON, BECAUSE I HOPE WE CAN GET A FOLLOW UP FROM THE CHIEF OR OTHER FOLKS ABOUT WHAT THE COMMENTS MEANT. OTHER
QUESTION I HAVE IS, YOU TALK ABOUT DIFFICULTY OF CHARGING. I THINK THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION THAT WE NEED TO HAVE IN THIS ROOM. DO YOU KNOW A PERCENTAGE OF CASES THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT SENDS FOR CHARGING? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT PERCENT OF CASES THAT YOU HAVE GETS SENT
FOR CHARGING. >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE ASKING ME. LIKE, ALL OF THE CASES? HOW MANY OF THEM WE SEND FOR CHARGING? >> YEAH. >> IT WOULD BE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CASES. >> DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC PERCENTAGE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE THE CITY COUNCIL? I THINK WHEN I HEARD THE DIFFICULTY WITH CHARGING, THAT MAKES SENSE. I
WANT TO -- HOW DO WE FIGURE IT OUT? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THE CASES ARE BEING CHARGED. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THESE CASES GET SENT FOR CHARGING.
>> SO, LET'S SAY OF AGGRAVATED ASSAULT OF THE CASES THAT WERE CLEARED, 59% WERE CLEARED MY
COMPLETE. 29% DECLINED. AUTO
THEFT 36% CLEARED BY COMPLETE. 13% DECLINED. DOMESTIC ASSAULT 41% CLEARED BY COMPLETE. 56%
DECLINED. RAPE, 29% CLEARED BY COMPLETE. 32% DECLINED. >> WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE REST? ARE THEY NOT SUBMITTED FOR CHARGES? >> NO, THESE ARE ONES THAT WERE CLEARED. >> OKAY. WHAT HAPPENS TO CASES NOT CLEARED? LIKE, DO THEY NOT GET SENT?
>> THOSE ARE THE OTHER CATEGORIES. INACTIVE AND OPEN AND THE REVIEWED. SO THAT'S THE PERCENTAGE OF THE CLEARED CASES. >> OKAY. I GUESS I'LL NEED TO REACH OUT FOR MEANING. IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF CASES NOT
BEING SUBMITTED FOR CHARGES. OR ARE INACTIVE. >> YES. BECAUSE WE CLOSE OUR CASES INACTIVE RATHER THAN CLOSING THEM EXCEPTIONALLY. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN THOSE CASES. AND WHEN YOU REACH A POINT IN THE CASE WHERE THERE'S JUST NOWHERE ELSE TO GO, YOU DO
CLEAR THEM INACTIVE. BECAUSE YOU WANT TO REOPEN THEM, IF YOU CAN LATER. >> OKAY. I GUESS THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE IS, DO YOU HAVE AN UPDATE ON THE FIVE CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL FUNDED IN THE BUDGET? >> WELL WE HIRED THREE. >> AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE OTHER TWO POSITIONS? >> I DON'T. >> LIELD T I WOULD LIKE TO GET AN ANSWER. I HEAR THERE'S ISSUES FOR STAFFING ENAND THE CITY COUNCIL HIRED FIVE. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MESMESS -- MISSING TWO. IF
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INVESTIGATIONS BEING A KEY ISSUE IN THIS -- WHAT I CALL BACKLOG, AND WHAT I'M CALLING A BIG CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY WHERE CLEARANCE RATES ARE NOT GOOD AT ALL. AND THERE IS TWO MISSING,
OR TWO POSITIONS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HIRED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO CIVILIAN INVESTIGATIONS. THAT COULD HELP US ADDRESS A LOT OF THE CRIMES. I GUESS MY QUESTION FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS, WHY ARE YOU REQUESTING THE CITY COUNCIL TO REALLOCATE THE POSITIONS TO SOMETHING ELSE INSTEAD OF
FILLING THE POSITIONS. THAT I THINK A LOT OF US ON THE DAIS WOULD AGREE IS A KEY CONCERN TO OUR CONSTITUENTS TO ADDRESS CRIME, SAFETY, LIVABILITY, AND GET VICTIMS OF CRIMES JUSTICE. >> I WAS AUTHORIZED TO PUT THREE
PEOPLE IN THERE AND I DID. SO I WILL ASK ABOUT THE TWO OTHER PEOPLE. >> YEAH. I GUESS I WOULD HOPE THAT THE CHIEF OR SOMEONE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD ANSWER WHY ARE THOSE TWO CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS NOT A PRIORITY TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT. AND WHY ARE THEY ARE BEING REALLOCATED INSTEAD OF HIRING FOR TWO POSITIONS. I'M HEARING THE PRESENTATION A BIG CONCERN IS STAFFING. CIVILIAN INVESTIGATING -- CIVILIAN INVESTIGATOR STAFFING AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT PRIORITIZE THE HIRING OF THE TWO
POSITIONS. IT'S HARD TO HEAR THIS PRESENTATION WITH MANY CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND THEN TWO OF THESE POSITIONS ARE NOT BEING HIRED. IT'S -- DO YOU SEE WHERE I'M COMING FROM? IT'S DIFFICULT TO HEAR THAT WHEN WE HAVE A BIG SOLUTION TO THAT. CAN THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT HIRE THOSE POSITIONS SO WE CAN ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE, THAT YOU ARE VERY CLEARLY ARTICULATING IS A CONCERN TO OUR COMMUNITY. THAT IS A CONCERN TO OUR CONSTITUENTS WHEN PEOPLE ARE VICTIMS OF CRIME. >> I DO. I HEAR THAT. AND I FEEL YOUR CONCERN. I GUESS WHAT
I WOULD SAY IS THAT AS MY CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS ARE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE AND HAVE BEEN SO VALUABLE. THE ONE THING I WILL SAY, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT CIVILIAN STAFF CAN'T DO. SO THEY CAN'T WRITE A WARRANT, THEY CAN'T DO PC, THEY
CAN'T PRESENT CHARGES. I DON'T LET THEM DO SUSPECT INTERVIEWS. I DON'T -- THEY CAN'T GO OUT BY THEMSELVES. SO THEY ARE SUPPORT STAFF. I STILL NEED SWORN INVESTIGATORS TO DO THAT WORK. SO TWO MORE CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS, I WILL GET THE
ANSWER AND I DO SEE THEIR IMPORTANCE, I FILL THE POSITIONS I WAS GIVEN. BUT THE TWO MORE INVESTIGATORS IS NOT GOING TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE FOR ME. MY INVESTIGATORS CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THESE CASES. AND THE SUGGESTION
THAT THEY DON'T, IT JUST IS FALSE. AND IT -- I HEAR IT A LOT THAT THEY DON'T CARE. AND THEY DO. THEY CARE DEEPLY. AND SO DO MY CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS. SO I CAN HAVE TWO MORE PEOPLE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. >> GREAT. AND THAT'S A PLAN. I THINK NONE OF US ARE SAYING THAT
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE INVESTIGATORS ARE DOING THE WORK DOESN'T CARE. I THINK WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ARTICULATE IN THE POINT OF THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE FROM COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN IS WE WANT TO HELP SOLVE THIS ISSUE. THERE'S CLEARLY INDICATION THAT OUR FOLKS IN THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL ARE DOING SOMETHING THAT IS WORKING BETTER THAN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.
CLEARLY THAT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE LEARNING FROM OUR COUNTER PARTS ACROSS THE RIVER. THERE'S A DIRECTIVE AUTHORITIED BY MY COLLEAGUE. THE REASON I SUPPORTED IT, I WANTED TO FIND INFORMATION ABOUT WAYS WE CAN SUPPORT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND MAKING SURE VICTIMS OF CRIME, PARTICULARLY FOLKS LIKE ALLISON, GET THE JUSTICE THEY DESERVE. ONE WHEN THEY ARE IMPACTED SEVERELY. SO BLESS YOU. >> SORRY. >> SO THIS DIRECTIVE WASN'T MEANT TO BE SOME, LIKE, WEIRD CONVERSATION ON THE DAIS. IT WAS MEANT TO HELP US SOLVE THE
ISSUE. OUR CLEARANCE RATES IN THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS THAT IS SUPPOSED TO OUR HELP OUR CONSTITUENCY. SO I GUESS, YES. THERE IS OTHER STAFF THAT IS NEEDED. VERY LOUD AND CLEAR. HEARD. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I DON'T THINK ANYBODY UP HERE WOULD DISAGREE WITH. BUT WE ALSO, I WOULD
FEEL, LIKE I HAVE TO MENTION THAT TWO OF THOSE CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS BEING HIRED WOULD DRASTICALLY HELP A LOT OF THESE ISSUES. THEY OBVIOUSLY WOULDN'T CLEAR EVERYTHING. WE HAVE TO BE CLEAR, IT WOULD HELP ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE FEELING SEEING AS THEY'RE VICTIMS OF CRIME. THAT IS IT FOR ME
QUESTIONS, I'LL PASS TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHAVEZ. I WANTED TO TOUCH ON THE MISINFORMATION PIECE, AS WELL. I'LL STATE I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION IN POLICING. I THINK THAT MADE IT SUCH A CHALLENGING CONVERSATION TO
HAVE. I THINK THE SOURCE OF THE MISINFORMATION IS VARIED. I'LL DISTINGUISH MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION. YOU KNOW, SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED, I'VE BEARED WITNESS TO A NUMBER OF
CRITICAL INCIDENTS. KILLING OF OFFICER MITCHELL, MOST RECENTLY THE ANONES YAITION SHOOTING. THESE HAVE BEEN HARD THINGS TO NAVIGATE AS AN ELECTED PERSON. LET ALONE AS A
COMMUNITY. AND THE REALLY BIG TAKE AWAY FROM EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THESE INCIDENTS IS THE LACK OF CLARITY OF INFORMATION. ESPECIALLY IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THESE INCIDENTS. AND I THINK THAT THE FOG OF THESE INCIDENTS DOES CREATE THE CONTEXT FOR A LOT OF MISINFORMATION. AND I DON'T --
AND THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF ANGER THAT HAPPENS. AND PAIN THAT HAPPENS. YOU WERE HELPFUL WHEN I WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED WITH MARCH MARSHALL. IT WAS SAD BECAUSE
HIS FRIENDS AND ADVOCATES CAME UP TO ME AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE FOR ANNUCIA TION TO ASK FOR HELP. I DON'T THINK IT COMES FROM A PLACE OF ANGER, NECESSARILY AT MPD FOR NOT
CARING. THERE'S A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT CREEPS INTO DISINFORMATION AROUND WHAT IS HAPPENING AT MPD. IN MY TIME OF OFFICE, I HAVE NEVER VOTED ON A BUDGET THAT CUT
THE FUNDING FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUT IT REMAINS THE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION THAT SOMEHOW THE PLACE HAVE BEEN DEFUNDED. THE NUMBER HAS ONLY GONE UP SINCE I'VE BEEN ELECTED. CHAIR CHAVEZ'S POINT, CITY COUNCIL MADE A DELIBERATIVE INVESTMENT TO ADD CIVILIAN
INVESTIGATORS OUT OF THE EXACT ISSUES YOU'RE HIGHLIGHTING. WHAT I'LL HEARING IS YOU WERE AUTHORIZED TO HIRE THREE. AT OUR LEVEL OF THE HIERARCHY, WE AUTHORIZED FIVE. SO SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE HIERARCHY OF THE
INSTITUTION, YOU WERE NOT GIVEN THE FULL TOOLS THAT WERE AUTHORIZED TO YOU TO TRY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. THERE'S A GAP THERE THAT IS GETTING FILLED WITH MISINFORMATION. OR EVEN DISINFORMATION. I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO PUT THE JUDGMENT ON IT RIGHT NOW. BUT
IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING JUSTICE TO THESE FAMILIES. AND I MEAN, OUR EMOTIONS GET A LITTLE HIGH UP HERE. BECAUSE WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND IT IS SO PAINFUL TO FEEL SO HELPLESS. EVEN AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE
CITY COUNCIL, I FEEL HELPLESS WHEN I'M TALKING TO SOME OF THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. BECAUSE THEY STILL HAVE A LOVED ONE WHO IS DEAD. RIGHT. AND I DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER FOR THEM. AND WHERE WE DRAW THE
LINE BETWEEN TRIAGE AND BIAS IS NOT -- THERE'S NOT AN OBJECTIVE CRITERIA FOR THAT. RIGHT. WHEN WE'RE PRIORITIZING CASES BY NECESSITY. WE HAVE TO SET SOME ASIDE. WHETHER IT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE OR WE'RE FURTHER ALONG IN A CASE
THAN ANOTHER ONE. FROM THE OUTSIDE, I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SEE THE DISTINCTION AND ALL THEY HAVE IS PAIN. I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS BRING MORE TRANSPARENCY TO THE PROCESS. I THINK THAT'S WHAT THIS ENTIRE PRESENTATION IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE. HOW DO WE BRING MORE TRANSPARENCY TO THIS REALLY HARD
CHALLENGE OF POLICING. ESPECIALLY ON THE INVESTIGATION SIDE. BECAUSE WE CAN DEBATE THE DEGREE TO WHICH POLICE PREVENT CRIME AND THAT'S A BIG POLITICAL CONVERSATION. BUT ONCE THE CRIME HAS HAPPENED, PEOPLE ARE SEEKING JUSTICE. AND IF WE CAN'T GET GOOD CLEARANCE RATES,
THAT IS JUST -- THAT'S A LOSS OF JUSTICE FOR REALLY IMPACTED PEOPLE. I WANT TO TRY TO CENTER THIS ON ACCURATE INFORMATION. HONEST INFORMATION. GOOD PROBLEM-SOLVING. AND ULTIMATELY JUSTICE FOR IMPACTED PEOPLE. AND SO I JUST WANTED TO SET THAT
TONE. BECAUSE I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW. AND I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF APPETITE FOR STRONGER RESOURCES IN INVESTIGATIONS. I MET WITH THE CHIEF AND I ASKED, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THERE'S A
HUGE NEED FOR PROTECTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THAT SHOULDN'T BE MURDER INVESTIGATIONS. RIGHT. BUT THEY ARE TURNING INTO MURDER INVESTIGATIONS BECAUSE UPSTREAM THINGS THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY. WHICH PROBABLY DOESN'T FALL WITHIN YOUR
DIVISION'S PURVIEW. RIGHT. SO THE UPSTREAM THINGS DON'T FALL WITHIN POLICING'S PER VIEW. AND SO WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO -- OUR JOB HERE IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RESOURCING YOU CORRECTLY. RIGHT. BUT WHAT WE'RE LEARNING NOW IS THAT WE -- I THINK THE
FIVE CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS WAS INSUFFICIENT. AND I DO BELIEVE THERE WAS, LIKE, A REQUEST FOR AT LEAST A ROAD MAP FOR HOW WE COULD ACTIVATE 20 CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS. WE GOT FIVE. AND YOU KNOW, WE WERE CALLED DEFUND THE POLICE PEOPLE FOR HOW
WE FOUND MONEY FOR THE FIVE CIVILIAN INVESTIGATORS. RIGHT. SO THERE'S A POLITICS OF IT THAT I'M TRYING TO BREAKTHROUGH. SO THAT WE CAN BRING JUSTICE TO FAMILIES. RIGHT. AND SO, LIKE, I WANTED TO SAY I ACTUALLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT WE HAVE A MISINFORMATION PROBLEM. COMING
AT IT FROM A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT ANGLE, BUT WE NEED TO CUT THROUGH THAT MISINFORMATION SO THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BRING JUSTICE TO THESE VICTIMS' FAMILIES. >> NEXT UP COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN. >> ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, CHAIR CHAVEZ. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT
PAYNE FOR THE COMMENTS, TOO. AND COMMANDER OLSON OR DEPUTY CHIEF? >> DEPUTY CHIEF. >> DEPUTY CHIEF, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. AND FOR THE INFORMATION. THE FIRST THING THAT I WANT TO ASK IS WHEN CHAIR CHAVEZ WAS ASKING ABOUT THE CASES THAT ARE SENT FOR CHARGING AND YOU LISTED ON
DIFFERENT CATEGORIES WHICH ONES WERE DECLINED. THAT'S NOT IN THE PRESENTATION. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU'D BE ABLE TO SEND THE INFORMATION BY FOLLOW UP. BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S AN INTERESTING THREAD WORTH PICKING UP. >> YEAH. >> THANKS. I'LL NOTE THAT TO
CLERK MICHAEL, IF YOU CAN JUST SEND AN E-MAIL REMINDER ON THAT PIECE. AND THEN I WAS INTERESTED, AS WELL, IN SOME OF WHAT YOU NOTED ABOUT WHAT YOU HAD IN 2019 THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ANYMORE. AND I'M KIND OF WONDERING, YOU KNOW,
WHICH OF THOSE PIECES YOU REALLY THINK NEED TO BE RESOURCED AND FUNDED AND PUT BACK INTO PLACE FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO BE SUCCESSFUL. SO I HEARD SAFE STREETS, VIOLENT CRIME PREVENTION TEAM, NONTHEY SHAT NONFATAL SHOOTING TEAM,
ANY OF THOSE UNITS THAT YOU WANT OR HAVE A PLAN TO TRY TO REACTIVATE? >> I THINK THE VIOLENT CRIMINAL APPREHENSION TEAM WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE THAT -- I MEAN, I WOULD REQUEST. IT'S THE CHIEF'S
DECISION. BUT I KNOW THAT HE IS ALWAYS PLANNING FOR WHAT DO WE DO NEXT? AND I GO HOME THAT NIGHT AND THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN I DO DIFFERENT? AND WHERE CAN I PUT MY RESOURCES TO MAKE THINGS BETTER. I THINK AS WE ALL DO WHEN IT COMES TO
CITY -- PROBABLY CITY OPERATIONS FOR YOU AND POLICE OPERATIONS FOR ME. BUT THE VIOLENT CRIME CRIMINAL APPREHENSION TEAM WOULD BE THE FIRST THING I WOULD ASK TO BE REINSTATED, IF WE HAD THE STAFFING. >> SURE. YEAH. CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF OUTREACH AND
HOW MUCH STAFFING IT WOULD REQUIRE TO BE STOOD UP. OR IF THERE'S ANY ESTIMATE AROUND THE BUDGET NEEDED. AND WHAT KIND OF STAFFING IT WOULD HAVE. >> SO IT TYPICALLY -- OR IT USED TO BE ONE SERGEANT AND FIVE OFFICERS. AND THEY WOULD BE
HOUSED EMBEDDED IN INVESTIGATIONS. AND WHAT THEY WOULD TYPICALLY DO IS THEY WOULD LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD PC PICK UPS. >> WHAT'S PC? >> PROBABLE CAUSE. AND PUT OUT A PICK UP FOR A FELONY-LEVEL CRIME. WOULD BE ANYTHING THAT'S UP IN INVESTIGATIONS. SO IT
WOULD BE SPECIAL CRIMES AND IT WOULD BE VIOLENT CRIMES. AND THEY WOULD GO AND LOCATE AND ARREST THE PEOPLE FOR THE PC PICKUPS. THEY WOULD HELP US WI WI WITNESSES. I'M LOOKING TO TALK TO THIS PERSON INVOLVED IN THIS CRIME. AND THEY WOULD GO AND THEY WOULD JUST ASK THEM. BECAUSE WE'RE
NOT GOING TO DETAIN A WITNESS. BUT THEY WOULD FIND THEM AND SAY "HEY, WE'RE HERE WITH THEM AND WILLING TO TALK TO THEM. DO YOU WANT TO TALK TO THEM?" THAT WAS HELPFUL WHEN WE WERE AT A LOSS WHERE A WITNESS WAS. THAT WAS HELPFUL, TOO. >> AND THEN WHEN DID THIS GET
DISMANTLED? DO YOU KNOW WHEN THE DECISION WAS MADE? OR WHY? >> IT WAS WHEN PEOPLE WERE LEAVING. I KNOW IT WAS AFTER 2020. BUT I I D I DON'T KNOW WHICH YEAR IT WAS DISBANDED.
>> OKAY. AND THEN HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM THE INTELLIGENCE CENTER YOU SAID IS CURRENTLY OPERATING DID DURING THE DAY IN TERMS OF FUNCTION. HOW DO YOU SAY THAT THE CENTER DURING THE DAY THAT IS CIVILIAN
OPERATED, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THAT EXPAND? WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE? >> SO THE INTENT INTELLIGENCE UNIT FALLS UNDER ME, AS WELL. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING INTEL AS AN OFFICER AND ALSO A SERGEANT AT THE INTEL UNIT. WHAT THEY WOULD
DO IN A REAL TIME. I ACTUALLY HAVE THE PROPOSAL. JUST IN CASE YOU WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE INTELLIGENT CENTER. I MAY HAVE BROUGHT THE PROPOSAL. AND I CAN ABSOLUTELY SEND THAT TO YOU. >> SURE.
>> BUT THE STAFFING IS A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, LABOR INTENSATIVE. YOU WANT IT TO BE 24/7, 365. YOU WOULD DO, FOUR DAYS ON, THREE DAYS OFF. IT I WOULD WANT A CIVILIAN IN CHARGE OF IT. LIKE A DIRECTOR. AND IT WOULD BE PRIMARILY CIVILIAN
STAFF. I'M NOT SEEING A SWORN COULDN'T WORK THERE. BUT IT WOULDN'T BE NECESSARY. NECESSARILY. SWORN STAFF. AND THEY WOULD WATCH CAMERAS, THEY WOULD BE REAL TIME. SO THEY WOULD BE LISTENING TO THE RADIO AND IF THERE'S A ROBBERY SPREE,
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT GET ON AND SAY THIS IS THE CAR WE'RE LOOKING FOR. THIS IS THE PLATE. THESE ARE THE SUSPECTS WE SAW. AND WE THINK THEY'RE IN THIS AREA. AND THEN WE CAN FLOOD THAT AREA. AND SO THAT'S WHAT THAT REAL TIME IS FOR. SO THEN WHEN WE GET THE CASE IN INVESTIGATIONS, A LOT OF THAT
LEG WORK HAS BEEN DONE. BECAUSE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE SEE IN OUR CASES IS THIS HAPPENED IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. WE'RE NOT ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE WHEN IT HAPPENED. SO MY INVESTIGATORS HAS TO SIT DOWN AND WATCH 24 HOURS OF VIDEO..
>> GOT IT. IT WOULD MAKE MORE EFFICIENT. >> YEAH. SO WE KNOW THAT THE CRIME HAPPENED AT THIS TIME. YOU ONLY HAVE TO WATCH 10 MINUTES OF VIDEO. >> UH-HUH. >> BEFORE YOU TALK TO THE SUSPECT. AND SUBMIT THE CASE. >> I THINK IT'S HELPFUL. AND I'D LOVE TO SEE THE PROPOSAL. ESPECIALLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE PASSED A POLICE CONTRACT LAST
YEAR THAT RAISED WAGES. WE'RE SEEING RESULTS OF THAT WITH NEW RECRUITS. LOTS OF CADETS. BUT I THINK THAT RECRUITMENT IS GOING AS FAST AS IT POSSIBLY COULD. AND THERE'S NO WAY TO SPEED UP SWORN POLICE OFFICERS BEYOND WHAT THE CHIEF HAS BEEN DOING. BUT WHAT WE CAN SPEED UP
IS CIVILIAN POSITIONS. AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CAN BE HIRED FASTER. AND SO THAT INTELLIGENCE CENTER BEING CIVILIAN STAFFED COULD BE, LIKE, AN INVESTMENT THAT COULD BE MADE AND BROUGHT ONLINE FASTER. I'M
INTERESTED IN THAT. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT IS ONLINE REPORTS. AND THAT REPORTING SYSTEM. AND I GUESS IT MAKES SENSE IF YOU NEED NEW TECHNOLOGY. BUT IS THERE ALSO ADVICE YOU'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THOSE WHO HELP RESIDENTS MAKE
ONLINE REPORTS ABOUT HOW TO BEST MAKE REPORTS THAT WILL BE MORE USEFUL TO YOU. SO THEY'RE NOT INCOMPLETE. LIKE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO RESIDENTS WHO ARE FILING REPORTS TO MAKE SURE THEY DO THEM THE BEST THEY CAN. >> AS MUCH DETAIL AS HUMANLY
POSSIBLE. VAGUE WORDS DON'T HELP. SO A LOT OF TIMES, WE'LL GET WORDS LIKE, "I WAS IN A SCUFFLE." A SCUFFLE DOESN'T HELP ME AT ALL. I WAS PUNCHED TWICE IN THE FACE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF MY FACE. THAT'S A TERRIBLE
EXAMPLE BECAUSE WE WON'T TAKE AN ASSAULT REPORT ONLINE. BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF WORDING I'M TALKING ABOUT. LIKE, IF I'M INTERVIEWING YOU AND SAY I WAS IN A SCUFFLE. I'LL SAY I DON'T KNOW WHAT A SCUFFLE MEANS. WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT? IF YOU'RE REPORTING THAT YOUR VEHICLE WAS BROKEN INTO. WHICH WINDOW WAS
BROKEN? WHAT TIME DID YOU LAST SEE IT PARKED THERE UNDAMAGED? WHICH WINDOW IS IT? WAS IT ROLLED UP? DO YOU HAVE YOUR KEYS? AS MUCH DETAIL AS YOU CAN THINK TO PUT IN T THERE. PUT
IN THERE. NO DETAIL IS TOO SMALL. IT'S NOT DUMB TO PUT A DETAIL IN THERE. IT'S OKAY. NO ONE WILL READ AND THINK "WHY DID YOU PUT THAT IN THERE?" AS STRANGE AS IT SOUNDS, WE ARE PROBABLY THE LEAST JUDGMENTAL PEOPLE YOU'LL EVER MEET. THERE'S NOTHING YOU'RE GOING TO TELL US THAT WE'RE GOING TO THINK IS WEIRD! WE'VE SEEN IT
ALL. SO WHATEVER YOU THINK YOU NEED TO PUT IN THERE, PUT IN THERE. THAT WOULD BE MY ADVICE. >> I THINK THAT'S HELPFUL. AGE IT'S AGE -- I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT CRIME PREVENTION SPECIALISTS OR OTHER FOLKS WHO DO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COULD BE SHARINGMOREG MORE WITH OUR RENTS RESIDENTS OF
BEST PRACTICES AND TIPS FOR FILING POLICE REPORTS. DOES IT KIND OF BEST PRACTICES OR IS THERE A DOCUMENT OUT THERE ALREADY? >> THERE IS, I BELIEVE. >> YEAH. I THINK THAT MIGHT BE -- >> W THERE IS A THING WE PUT OUT ON IT. >> I THINK IT WOULD BE ANOTHER GREAT THING FOR US TO KEEP TOP
OF MIND AS WE TRYING TO IMPROVE. AND LAST THING I WANT TO ASK ABOUT IS THIS, LIKE, SAINT PAUL COMPARISON. WE'VE SEEN THE HEADLINES RECENTLY AND THEY'RE
DOING BETTER ON CASE CLEARANCE. THEY HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT SCENARIO BECAUSE I THINK THEY PARTNER WITH THE COUNTY IN A DIFFERENT WAY. BUT I'M CURIOUS YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT THEY DO THAT YOU THINK THEY DO WELL.
THAT WE CAN LOOK TO FROM AN INVESTIGATION STANDPOINT. OR IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THE ASSESSMENT. >> I LOVE MY PARTNERS IN SAINT PAUL. IF THEY'RE WATCHING. I LOVE MY PARTNERS IN SAINT PAUL. THEY CLEAR THEIR CASES DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DO. THEY DO
NOT CLEAR AN INACTIVE. THEY ARE LIBERAL IN THEIR EXCEPTIONALLY CLEARED. THEY DO HAVE AN SHOOTING TEAM. I APPLAUD THEM FOR THAT. I DID MEET WITH THE AMERICAN EXPERIMENT. THEY DID SUGGEST WE HAVE A NONFATAL SHOOTING TEAM. WHICH WE DID
HAVE. THE CHIEF COLLAPSED THE TWO TEAMS BECAUSE WE HAD TO. WE DID NOT HAVE ANOTHER CHOICE. I COULDN'T HAVE A HOMICIDE AND NONFATAL SHOOTING TEAM. I COULDN'T SUPPORT THEM ANYMORE. I DIDN'T ARE ENOUGH PEOPLE. SO THEY WERE COMBINED. THE H
CHIEF IS A HUGE PROPONENT OF THAT. THE MINUTE WE CAN DO IT, WE WILL. THEY SUGGESTED WE HAVE 33 PEOPLE ON OUR NONFATAL SHOOTING TEAM. WHEN I MET WITH THEM. THAT'S HALF OF MY ENTIRE STAFF. I JUST DON'T HAVE THE
PEOPLE FOR IT. WE HAVE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF STAFF TOTAL. >> 90. >> I MEAN POLICE OFFICERS. LIKE SWORN STAFF. THEY HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT THAT WE DO. AND THEIR POPULATION IS NOT THE SAME AS OURS. THEIR CRIME RATE IS NOT
THE SAME AS OURS. SO THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB. IT'S JUST APPLES AND ORANGES. AND WOULD IT BE BETTER TO COMPARE US TO, LIKE, KANSAS CITY/DENVER. >> OKAY. >> THERE OTHER CITIES I WOULD COMPARE US TO BEFORE SAINT PAUL.
>> YEAH. WHAT IS IT ABOUT KANSAS CITY AND DENVER? >> POPULATION. >> OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET. IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF WE HAD MORE MEETINGS THAT WEREN'T IN PUBLIC. I THINK THAT'S PART
OF WHERE CONFUSION COMES UP. BUT THIS IS ALSO, LIKE, A GOVERNMENT-STRUCTURED THING. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH EXPERT STAFF LIKE YOURSELF. JUST ONE-ON-ONE. AND GET QUESTIONS ASKED ABOUT DIFFERENT CASES AND SO ON. I APPRECIATE THAT YOU CAME HERE
TODAY TO SHARE A BROAD VIEW. AND THE DATA SO THAT WE CAN HELP MAKE DECISIONS TO RESOURCE YOU AND TO IMPROVE IN THE YEARS TO COME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> COUNCILMEMBER PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER
CASHMAN'S QUESTIONS MADE ME WANT TO REVISIT THE DISINFORMATION THEME AND IF WE CAN FIGHT BACK AGAINST MISINFORMATION HERE. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU DIDN'T USE YOUR AUTHORITY AS THE LEADER OF OUR INVESTIGATIONS UNIT TO,
LIKE, DISMANTLE THESE DIVISIONS THAT WE DON'T HAVE -- IN 2019, WE HAD THE SAFE STREETS, VIOLENT CRIME APPREHENSION, WEAPONS UNIT, VIOLENT CRIMES INVESTIGATION TEAM. IT'S NOT LIKE YOU MADE A DECISION TO DISMANTLE THE TEAMS, RIGHT. WE LOST THE STAFF. >> OH, YEAH. THAT HAPPENED
BEFORE I WAS ENROLLED. I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT HAPPENED. THEY JUST DON'T EXIST ANYMORE. >> THEY DON'T EXIST ANYMORE. IT'S NOT BECAUSE CITY COUNCIL CUT THE FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT. IT'S NOT BECAUSE WHOEVER WAS IN YOUR ROLE, YOU KNOW, DISMANTLED IT. THE PEOPLE
LEFT AND THAT'S JUST WHAT HAPPENED. AND THAT IS THE TRUTH. AND HOW PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THAT. >> I DON'T KNOW. >> IS THAT'S WHAT WE START GETTING INTO DISINFORMATION AND NOT JUST MISINFORMATION. >> YES. NO. THAT IT NOT WHAT I WAS IMPLYING AT ALL. >> RIGHT. >> THEY JUST AREN'T THERE ANYMORE. >> WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF.
>> THE STAFF ISN'T THERE ANYMORE. >> YES. YES. >> THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER CHOWDHURY. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHAVEZ. THANK YOU, DEPUTY CHIEF FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. I JUST HAD A
COUPLE OF JUST FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS. TO PIGGY BACK OFF WHAT COUNCILMEMBER CASHMAN BROUGHT UP IN TERMS OF YOUR REPORTS. AND ONLINE REPORTING. IN TALKING TO MY RESIDENTS, ONE,
I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE AT A POINT WHERE THEY'RE, LIKE, NOT A FAN OF THE ONLINE REPORTS. AND THEN THEY'RE, LIKE, I NEVER HEAR BACK FROM ANYONE. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HEAR A LOT. AND THEN THEY'RE LIKE, I DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH REPORTING. I'M LIKE, IT SETS A FIRE IN ME. I'M LIKE YOU HAVE TO REPORT OTHERWISE THE
DATA IS NOT THERE! THAT'S KEY. I FEEL LIKE THE ONLINE REPORTING AREA IS, LIKE, A PLACE WHERE TECHNOLOGY COULD HELP ADDRESS IT. AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MORE APTLY REPORT. WHAT WOULD
YOU SUGGEST IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS GETTING RESPONSES TO ONLINE REPORTS. WHY AREN'T THEY GETTING RESPONSES CURRENTLY? >> I WOULD SAY THAT IT REALLY BECAME NOTICEABLE TO US RECENTLY
HOW TERRIBLE THE ONLINE REPORTING IS. WE DIDN'T REALIZE THAT IT WAS SO BAD. WHAT I WOULD TELL COMMUNITY IS IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING A CALL, TO CALL. MOST OF THE TIME WHEN WE
GET ONLINE REPORTS, THEY'RE SO VAGUE AND SUCH A SHELF A REPORT. WE'RE REVIEWING THEM AND NOT FOLLOWING UP. AND OFTENTIMES IT'S A PROPERTY CRIME. THERE HAVE VERY FEW CRIMES YOU CAN REPORT ONLINE. AND SO TYPICALLY PROPERTY CRIMES. AND TO BE
HONEST, THOSE DON'T BELONG TO INVESTIGATIONS. BUT PATROL. THAT BEING SAID, IT WOULD -- MY POINT OF THAT IS THAT IT PROBABLY WOULD GO TO THE PRECINCT. SO WHATEVER PRECINCT YOU'RE IN, I WOULD CALL THEM AND SAY "HEY, I REPORTED AN ONLINE
REPORT. CAN I TALK TO SOMEBODY" THEY'LL GIVE THEM TO INVESTIGATIONS. AND WE CAN TALK THEM THROUGH IT. AND WE CAN -- AND THERE MIGHT BE MORE INFORMATION AND WE CAN ADD IT INTO THE REPORT. AND IT MIGHT GIVE US SOMETHING TO GO ON. I WOULD TELL THEM TO CALL AND FOLLOW UP. >> YEAH. AND I THINK THAT CUSTOMER SERVICE ASPECT ON THE
ONLINE REPORTING, AND JUST REPORTING, IN GENERAL, NEEDS A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT. ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY CONFIDENCE. I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THE MISINFORMATION/DISINFORMATION THING. WHAT IS HURTING COMMUNITY COOPERATION IS
CUSTOMER SERVICE. THERE'S MANY TIMES WHERE I'VE TALKED TO VICTIMS OF CRIMES AND I'M IN THEIR FIRST-IN PERSON CONVERSATION OR E-MAIL BACK. I THINK THAT NEEDS A LOT OF IMPROVEMENT. AND I'VE FILED REPORTS THROUGH THE ONLINE
REPORTING AND IT'S JUST, LIKE, I'M LIKE WE NEED TO GET A MILLENNIAL GEN-Z TEAM TO DO SOFTWARE UPDATE. YOU CAN HAVE MORE ATTACHMENTS AND VIDEO. THERE'S A CASE IN MY WARD WHERE I THINK THERE WAS, LIKE, 25
GARAGE DOORS THAT WERE RAMMED THROUGH BY THE SAME CAR. THERE WERE SEPARATE REPORTS. AND PEOPLE WEREN'T ENTIRELY REPORTING EVERY SINGLE THING. PEOPLE GOT ORGANIZED AND STARTED SHARING. THAT WAS HELPFUL. IT TOOK A LOT OF COMMUNITY EFFORT.
AND, LIKE, COMMUNITY, I WOULD SAY, ALSO, LIKE IN TERMS OF NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK CAPTAINS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. THEY'RE NOT AS ORGANIZED. AND SO KIND OF BRINGING THAT BACK. USING TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE THAT PROCESS WOULD BE GOOD. BUT,
ALSO, I THINK WHEN YOU ARE A VICTIM OF A CRIME AND YOU NEED TO REPORT WHETHER IT'S A VIOLENT CRIME, WHETHER IT'S A PROPERTY CRIME, WHETHER IT'S A VEHICLE THEFT. IT FEELS LIKE PRETTY DIZZYING. AND IMMEDIATELY,
LIKE, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THAT IN-PERSON TOUCH. AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE LIMITED IN PERSONNEL, BUT I THINK ONE THING TECHNOLOGICALLY THAT COULD BE HELPFUL IS EVEN JUST, LIKE, HAVING SOME VIDEOS WHERE SOMEONE IS TALKING TO YOU AND WALKING YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS. OF, LIKE, JUST LIKE WHAT YOU DID
WHERE YOU WERE, LIKE, THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE YOUR REPORT. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A GOOD REPORT. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A REPORT THAT IS WAY TOO VAGUE. THIS CAN HELP US SOLVE IT BETTER. OR, LIKE, IF YOU'RE A VICTIM OF A VIOLENT CRIME. THESE ARE NEXT STEPS THAT WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU ASK. AND,
LIKE, HAVING EVEN THOSE WIDE VARIETY OF THOSE TYPES OF RESOURCES. LIKE, ON YOUR PHONE WHEN YOU GO-TO-LOOK AT AN ONLINE REPORT. I THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. THAT'S SOMETHING I WAS THINKING ABOUT AS WE WERE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION. BECAUSE I'VE
HAD TO HELP PEOPLE NAVIGATE REPORTING CRIMES MANY TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. SO I THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE THAT SUGGESTION. AND THE LAST SUGGESTION I'LL GIVE, TOO, IS IN TERMS OF BUILDING UP CAPACITY FOR SOLVING CRIMES. I THINK
THERE'S SOMETHING TO FIGURING OUT HOW DO WE REVITALIZE NEIGHBORHOOD BLOCK CAPTAIN PROGRAMS AND BEYOND SETTING A NATIONAL NIGHT OUT PROGRAM. OR WHEN YOU HAVE, LIKE, AN INCIDENT ON YOUR BLOCK, THAT'S WHEN A SERGEANT OR AN OFFICER OR CRIME PREVENTION SPECIALIST COMES.
WHAT ARE TRAININGS AND THINGS THAT BLOCK CAPTAINS CAN DO YEAR AROUND TO MAKE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS MORE RESILIENT AND BETTER AT WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT. AND TO ALSO SHARE INFORMATION THAT THEY'RE WITNESSING THAT CAN HELP BETTER CLEAR THESE CASES. I FEEL LIKE
THAT'S BEEN MISSING FOR SOME TIME. AND I THINK THERE'S A HUNGER TO DO IT. AND I THINK IT MIGHT, IF THERE IS THAT REOCCURRING ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY, WHERE BLOCK CAPTAINS ARE GIVEN, LIKE, A TOOLBOX AND A ROLE TO GIVE TO THEIR BLOCK.
THERE WOULD BE LESS OF, LIKE, A -- WHAT'S THE WORD? AP APATHY AND EXHAUSTION TO REPORTING. GIVING YOU A LOT OF SUGGESTIONS. LIKE CASHMAN NOTEDLY PUT IT OUT, WOULD LOVE THE ONE-ON-ONE CONVERSATIONS BUT
OFTENTIMES NOT ABLE TO GIVEN THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE. I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. SPECIFICALLY. SO WHEN A CASE IS CLEARED AND IT'S DECLINED. WHAT DOES IT MEAN SPECIFICALLY? IT'S
DECLINED BY THE HENNEPIN COUNTY -- >> ATTORNEY'S OFFICE DECLINE. >> WHAT IS THAT LIKE? ESPECIALLY FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SOME OF THESE VIOLENT-LEVEL CRIMES. YOU LISTED A CERTAIN PEN PERCENTAGE IN THE DECLINE BUCKET
IT WHY ARE WE SEEING THAT LEVEL OF CASING BEING DECLINED. >> I MEAN, IT CAN BE ANY NUMBER OF REASONS. IT CAN BE THEY DON'T FEEL YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO PROVE BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT. THEY DON'T THINK YOU HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE. THEY DON'T
THINK YOU HAVE -- THEY DON'T THEY CAN WIN. THAT'S TYPICALLY THE REASON. THEY WON'T GO FORWARD. >> OKAY. AND THEN THE REAL TIME
CRIME CENTER AS A SOLUTION YOU PRESENTED. WHERE HAS IT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER JURISDICTIONS THAT YOU LOOK AT? >> WELL LET'S SEE IF IT'S IN HERE. LAS VEGAS.
>> OKAY. WHAT IS THAT LIKE THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE INTELLIGENCE UNIT. >> RIGHT NOW WE'RE NOT 24 HOURS. >> OKAY. >> LAS VEGAS IS 24 HOURS. >> YEP. AND IT'S -- EVEN WHEN WE WERE MORE, AT ONE POINT, 20 HOURS. WE DIDN'T GO QUITE 24
HOURS. IT WAS MORE INVESTIGATIONS DURING THE DAY AND THEN IT WAS KIND OF MORE PATROL AT NIGHT. AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, OR, LIKE, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO DO IS WE WOULD HAVE STAFF FOR INVESTIGATIONS. AND THEY WOULD STILL DO THEIR ROLE OF PUTTING
OUT. WE HAVE A DIB, WHICH IS A DAILY INTELLIGENCE BULLETIN. THEY WOULD DO THE FUNCTION. THIS WOULD JUST BE REAL TIME. WOULD BE ALL FOR PATROL. BUT IN DOING THAT, IT WOULD HELP INVESTIGATIONS. I WOULD STILL HAVE AN INTELLIGENCE THAT ASSISTS INVESTIGATIONS. BUT THIS WOULD BE SOMETHING
SEPARATE. IT'S JUST REAL TIME INTELLIGENCE ALL THE TIME. AND WOULD HELP, I THINK, THE COMMUNITY IN I'VE BEEN IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. WE SAW THAT. WE CAN GET YOU THAT FOOTAGE. OR WE'VE NOTICED THAT SOMEBODY IS FALLEN DOWN. AND THEY NEED
MEDICAL AID. LIKE, THEY'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING. AND IT WOULD BE LESS -- YOU WOULD NEED FEWER COPS. YOU WOULD HAVE EYES ON ALL THE TIME, TOO. IT HELPS WITH STAFFING. SO I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE A BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL. >> THANK YOU. AND I'LL JUST SAY
THIS KIND OF ECHOING SOME OF THE THINGS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID UP HERE. I THINK, LIKE, WE'RE IN A MOMENT OF TIME LOOKING AT ALL THE CASES THAT ARE HERE. WHERE WE HAVE TO EVOLVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY
AND HOW WE GET THERE. AWAY FROM THIS, LIKE, PRETTY RIGID POLARIZING PLACE THAT WE'VE BEEN IN FOR AWHILE. OF DEFUND OR NOT. OPPOSE OR NOT OPPOSE OFFICERS. OR OPPOSE OR NOT
OPPOSE X ELECTED OFFICIAL. BECAUSE, FRANKLY, I THINK IT PUTS US IN OUR DIFFERENT CAMPS. AND IT GETS US FURTHER AWAY FROM ADDRESSING THESE THINGS. I THINK EVERYDAY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY WORKING PEOPLE, THEY'RE TIRED AND EXHAUSTED AND
NOT GETTING THE THINGS THEY DESERVE. AND THEN, ALSO, LIKE, WE'RE HOLDING THIS TRUTH AT THE SAME TIME THAT, LIKE, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT NOTEDLY HAS ALL OF THESE ISSUES IN THE REALMS OF RACE, SEXISM, ABILITY. LIKE, IT'S JUST DOCUMENTED. NOW WE'RE
ON A PATH TOWARD ACHIEVING THIS SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT. AND THESE OTHER THINGS THAT'S NEEDED FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY. THAT MINNEAPOLIS NEEDS. AND WE'RE ON THAT ROAD. I THINK THE PLACE WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF AGREEMENT, LIKE, IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE OVERAGREING HERE AS WE'VE
HAD TENSION UP HERE AND HAVING THE DISCUSSION IS, LIKE, CLEARING THESE CASES AND HELPING VICTIMS OF CRIME. AND FOR ME, PARTICULARLY, I THINK A LOT ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I THINK WE ALL HAVE BEEN THE LAST
FEW MONTHS. I'VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE TO HELP THOSE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. SINCE 15. IT WAS NOT A CHOICE I MADE. IT WAS SOMETHING I FELL INTO BECAUSE I HAD RELATIVES AND PEOPLE IN MY LIFE EXPERIENCED
THAT. IT FEELS LIKE THE SYSTEM FAILS WOMEN, AND WOMEN IN COLOR, IN PARTICULAR, BECAUSE THEIR VOICE DOESN'T MATTER AS MUCH TO THE SYSTEM. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO RESOLVE. AND WE HAD A GREAT PRESENTATION GIVEN
TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WHERE THE DOMESTIC ABUSE PROJECT WAS THERE FOR A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN HELP VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION. AND THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. >> ALL RIGHTY. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING UP HERE AND GIVING US THIS PRESENTATION. IT WAS HELPFUL. >> THANK YOU. >> SOING NO MORE DISCUSSION, I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO RECEIVE AND FILE THAT REPORT. NEXT IS A PRESENTATION RELATED TO THE
CITY'S WORK ON THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC. I'LL INVITE THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER HEIDI
RITCHIE TO GET US STARTED.. >> I MESSED IT UP. WHAT DO I
DO?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR CHAVEZ. MY NAME IS HEIDI RICHIE, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE TIME IN FRONT OF PHS TO PRESENT ON THE CITY'S OPIOID RESPONSE WORK OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. OR THE PAST YEAR. FIRST, I WANT TO ANG
KNOWLEDGE OUR TEAM. WE HAVE OR OPIOID RESPONSE TEAM HEADED UP BY THE SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER WHO IS HERE WITH ME TODAY. HER TEAM E TEAM IS ALSO HERE.
WE HAVE OUR AMAZING MOBILE MEDICAL TEAM SUPERVISED BY THE MANAGER OF PATERNAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HELP. THE TEAM ALSO INCLUDES OUR REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL NURSES, JASMINE,
MEGAN, AND MELISSA. AND OUR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT OMAR FERNANDEZ. DAY TONY PULLS DOUBLE DUTY AS MMU AS WELL AS DRIVING THE UNIT. AND,
FINALLY, DR. D HE HAS BEEN IN FRONT OF THE BODY BEFORE. BUT HE IS NOW CONTRACTED TO BE OUR MEDICAL DIRECTOR AND CONSULTANT. HE WAS HERE EARLIER BUT HE HAD A SHIFT IN THE ER HE TO LEAVE FOR. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR HIM WITHIN YOU CAN LET ME KNOW AND WE CAN TAKE THEM BACK TO HIM
AND GET A RESPONSE. WE DO HAVE A GREAT TEAM HERE. I'M HAPPY TO HAVE SOME WITH ME. THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH WAS HERE. HE HAD TO LEAVE FOR A DIFFERENT ENGAGEMENT. FIRST, I WANT TO START WITH THE DATA. RIGHT INTO THE NUMBERS.
MINNESOTA SAW 32% DECREASE IN OPIOID-INVOLVED DEATHS FROM 2023. MINNEAPOLIS SAW A 26% DECREASE IN 2024. THIS IS PRELIMINARY DATA. SO WE MIGHT SEE THAT PERCENTAGE FLUCTUATE A LITTLE BIT UP OR DOWN AS WE GET
CONFIRMATION ON THE NUMBERS. MINNEAPOLIS REPRESENTS ABOUT 7% OF THE STATE POPULATION. BUT 26% OF FATAL OPIOID-INVOLVED OVERDOSES. BY RACE, WE DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION YET. FROM THE STATE OR THE UNITED STATES
BY RACE. SO WE CAN'T RECREATE THAT DATA. WHILE WE HAVE SEEN A 26% OVERALL DECREASE IN FATAL OPIOID-RELATED ODS, AS I MENTIONED, IN THE EARLIER SLIDE. THAT IS NOT FOR OUR AMERICAN
INDIAN COMMUNITY WHICH HELD STEADY. THERE L HAS BEEN A DECREASE BY 43% IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND OF A% IN THE HISPANIC COMMUNITIES. THE RATES FOR BLACK AND AMERICAN INDIAN RESIDENTS REMAIN AT 3 AND 8 TIMES HIGHER THAN FOR WHITE
RESIDENTS, RESPECTIVELY. SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS YEAR INCLUDING HARM REDUCTION. WHICH IS OUR MAY PROGRAM IS THE NARCAN SATURATION. PUBLIC HEALTH --
PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT. TREATMENT WITH OUR FIRST STEP HOSPITAL-BASED INTERVENTION PROGRAM. YOUTH PREVENTION WITH OUR BRAINWAVES CURRICULUM WORK WITH THE U OF M. AND THEN PREVENTION WORK AROUND THE SEX TRAFFICKING AWARENESS
CAMPAIGN THAT INVOLVES INTERSECTION OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER. ONE OF OUR GOALS WITH THE MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT, I'LL TALK ABOUT LATER, BUT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT BRIEFLY NOW. TO CONNECT WITH PRIMARY CARE AND LONGER TERM TREATMENT. THAT WILL FACILITATE LONG-TERM
RECOVERY AND REENTRY INTO COMMUNITY AND SOCIETY. OR RENEWAL IN BEING ACTIVE IN SOCIETY. I BRING THAT UP NOW BECAUSE IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS LONG-TERM RECOVERY THAT YOU DON'T SEE ON THIS LIST. SO I
WANTED TO MENTION THAT UP FRONT THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS ON THE LIST ARE DESIGNED TO HELP WITH PEOPLE'S FULL JOURNEY WHERE THEY ACCESS THE MEDICATION OR THE TREATMENT TO WHEN THEY ARE IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY. OUR FIRST
STEP PROGRAM STABILIZES PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT AND FOLLOWS THIS WITH LONG-TERM RECOVERY AND RENEWED PARTICIPATION IN SOCIETY, AS MENTIONED. AND BRAINWAVES PROVIDE YOUTH WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND EMPOWERMENT TO MAKE SAFE, HEALTHY, AND DETERMINING CHOICES. VERSUS BEING TOLD TO JUST SAY NO.
WHICH IF YOU HAVE TOLD A CHILD THAT, YOU KNOW THEIR REACTION, OFTENTIMES. SO RIGHT IN THE NARCAN SATURATION, WE ADDED A THIRD NARCAN VENDING MACHINE TO FIRE STATION FIVE IN WARD 9 AT 27th AND BLOOMINGTON A NEAR
LAKE TRE STREET. OUR FIRST BOX WAS INSTALLED IN JULY OF 2024 NEAR THE 38th AND HIAWATHA LIGHT RAIL STATION. THE SECOND BOX INSTALLED IN MAY OF 2025, AT STATION 14 ON THE
NORTH SIDE. ON LOWRY NEAR PENN AVENUE. SO WE'VE GOT THE THREE BOXES OUT THERE NOW. WE'VE DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THOSE THREE VENDING MACHINES 560 BOXES OF NARCAN. AND THAT'S FOR THE END
OF OCTOBER. IT'S PRETTY RECENT DATA. THE SECOND AND THIRD VENDING MACHINES ARE BEING SUPPLIED WITH NARCAN BY OUR OPIOID RESPONSE PARTNERS AT HEN PEN CITY DEP -- HENNEPIN COUNTY. WE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF THEM. THEY ARE PROVIDING THE STOCK FOR THE TWO
MACHINES. IN ADDITION, PER THE STATE LAW THAT PASSED IN 2024, THAT REQUIRED SCHOOLS TO BE EQUIPPED WITH NARCAN, WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO ENSURE NARCAN AVAILABILITY ON SCHOOL GROUNDS. AND ENSURE STAFF ARE TRAINED TO ADMINISTER THE MEDICATION IN
CASE OF AN OVERDOSE. MORE RECENTLY, WE'VE BEEN PARTNERING WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT TO TRACK NARCAN ADMINISTERED BY THE OFFICERS. AS WELL AS TRANSFER THE PURCHASE AND DISTRIBUTION OF NARCAN, WHICH I'LL GO ALLOW EXPANDING LOCATIONS WHERE OFFICERS CAN
RESTOCK FROM ONE LOCATION TO FIVE. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT MAKING SURE THAT EACH PRECINCT HAS NARCAN THAT WHEN AN OFFICER USES IT, THEY CAN GO GET RESUPPLIED IN THEIR OWN PRECINCT. THE OTHER PIECE OF
THAT IS DATA COLLECTION. AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON A SMART SHEET THAT WHEN AN OFFICER GOES TO RESUPPLY THEIR NARCAN WITHIN WE CAN GET A LITTLE BIT OF DATA THAT COMES TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SO WE CAN BE STRATEGIC AND, ALSO, HAVE THAT
DATA, WHICH WILL HELP US FOCUS OUR LIMITED RESOURCES AND ENERGIES WHERE WE'RE SEEING THE MOST NEED. AND I'LL ALSO DER WE'RE LOOKING TO -- SO THE TYPES OF DATA WE'LL BE COLLECTING ARE
THINGS LIKE AGE, ZIP CODE, HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ADMINISTERED A NARCAN, AND HOW MANY DOSES EACH PERSON GOT. SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE TRENDS IN HOW MANY DOSES IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY REVIVE A PERSON WHO IS
OVERDOSED. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT AS WE SEE THE DRUG SUPPLIES CHANGING. PRETTY RAPIDLY. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WE WERE DEALING WITH OXY. NOW IT'S FENTANYL. OUR SYRINGE
ABATEMENT IS A FOUR-PRONGED APPROACH. WE DO SWEEPS, DROP BOXES, 3-1-1 REQUESTS, AND TRAINING AND EDUCATION. THE OPIOID RESPONSE TEAM CONDUCTS SWEEPS TWO TO THREE TIMES PER WEEK. IN HIGH-PRIORITY AREAS AS PRESCRIBED BY THE COUNCIL IN THE
LAST BUDGET. WHICH INCLUDES THE SOUTH SIDE GREEN ZONE, THE HIAWATHA CORRIDOR, AND LOOK AT OTHER HOT SPOTS SUCH AS PENN, LOWERY, AND WEST BROADWAY. ET. CETERA. WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE GO OUT FOR SAFETY. AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE ARE AVERAGING ABOUT 16
HOURS A WEEK WITH JUST THAT PORTION OF IT. IN TERMS OF SYRINGE DROP BOXES, THERE ARE 26 DROP BOXES INSTALLED S CITY WIDE. WE'RE ADDING 15 NEW BOXES IN QUARTER ONE IN PARTNERSHIP
WITH THE STATE CONTRACTED SYRINGE SERVICE EXCHANGE PROVIDERS. THEY WILL EMPTYING THE NEW BOXES WE'LL BE PUTTING OUT IN QUARTER ONE OF T 2026. AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS A PICTURE OF ONE OF OUR DROP
BOXES. AND THEN THE WEBSITE THAT'S THE HENNEPIN COUNTY WAY POINT SITE. WE PARTNER WITH THEM TO GET OUR SYRINGE BOX LOCATIONS ON THEIR WAY POINT SITE. AS YOU CAN SEE, EACH ONE OF THOSE DOTS IS A LOCATION. AND THEN THERE IS CORRESPONDING
INFORMATION WITH THE ADDRESS AND THEN IF YOU CLICK ON ANY OF THOSE PLUS SIGNS, IT WILL SHOW YOU THINGS LIKE, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S SPECIFIC LOCATIONS. IF IT'S INSIDE TO THE RIGHT. OR IF THERE'S CERTAIN HOURS THAT THOSE
CAN BE ACCESSED. OUR CONTRACTED SYRINGE ABATEMENT PARTNER IS A MOTHER'S LOVE THEY RESPOND TO 3-1-1 CALLS. ONCE A REQUEST FOR SERVICE IS GENERATED IN THE 3-1-1 SYSTEM AND SENT TO A MOTHER'S LOVE, THE SERVICE LEVEL
AGREEMENT SAYS THE RESPONSE SHOULD HAPPEN WITHIN 24 HOURS. RECENTLY WE PARTNERED WITH 3-1-1. THANKS TO FLAG THAT WE GOT FROM A COUNCILMEMBER'S OFFICE ABOUT SOME OF THE TURN AROUND TIMES MAYBE NOT BEING AT OUR SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT.
AND IS WE UPDATED OUR PROCEDURE TO ENHANCE QUALITY CONTROL, PUBLIC HEALTHY, SAFETY AND RESPONSIVENESS. WE DID THIS BY CHANGING THE PROCESS ON WHEN THINGS WERE CLOSED AND, ALSO, WHEN WE WERE GRANTED ACCESS. ONE OF OUR STAFF WAS GRANTED ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM. SO THAT
INSTEAD OF THE 3-1-1 PERSON WHO IS TAKING THE CASE, CLOSING IT RIGHT AWAY. BECAUSE THEY DON'T THEN GET FOLLOW UP INFORMATION AS TO WHEN THE CLEAN UP HAPPENS. IT COMES TO OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT. BECAUSE OUR STAFF ARE NOTIFIED AS SOON AS
THE CLEANUP HAPPENS. WE ALSO OFFER TRAINING MATERIALS FOR SYRINGE CLEANUP TRAINING AND MATERIALS FOR SYRINGE CLEAN UP TO COMMUNITY GROUPS, BUSINESSES, AND INDIVIDUALS. WHICH SOME OF YOU HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF. FEEL FREE TO LET ME KNOW IF YOU'RE EVER INTERESTED IN HAVING
US COME OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE TRAINING ON SAFE CLEAN UP. AND MATERIALS. AS YOU KNOW, OR MAY NEED REMINDING, WE ARE UNABLE TO HAVE OUR CONTRACT PICK UP ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. THAT'S A WAY FOR US TO BE ABLE
TO BE HELP FOLKS WHO HAVE NEEDLES ON THEIR PROPERTY PICK UP SAFELY. AND HAVE THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED IN ORDER TO DO THAT. OKAY. OUR MOBILE
MEDICAL UNIT. THE HOT NEW ITEM THAT WE LAUNCHED JUST AT THE END OF AUGUST, SO I THINK AUGUST 29th, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN. WAS THE DATE THAT WE LAUNCHED IN ELLIOT PARK. SINCE THEN, THE MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT HAS BEEN DEPLOYED 33 TIMES IN A
VARIETY OF LOCATIONS. AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEVERAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. OUR AMAZING MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT TEAM HAS INTERACTED WITH OVER 1300 MINNEAPOLIS RESIDENTS. PROVIDING HEALTH CARE SERVICES, HEALTH EDUCATION, RESOURCE
INFORMATION, AND NARCAN. 178 INDIVIDUALS HAVE RECEIVED HEALTH CARE SERVICES, WHICH IS ABOUT 13.5% OF ALL ENCOUNTERS. AND THEY HAVE DISTRIBUTED 336 BOXES OF NARCAN. THE 178 MEDICAL ENCOUNTERS RESULTED IN 110
REFERRALS FOR HOUSING, MEDICATIONS FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER TREATMENT, AND CONNECTION TO COMMUNITY CLINICS FOR FOLLOW UP CARE AND HOPEFULLY TO FIND THEIR PRIMARY CARE HOME. IN ADDITION TO REFERRALS, MEDICATION PRESCRIPTIONS AND
WOUND CARE KITS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED. 43 RNT 43% SEEN FOR CRITICAL CARE SELF-IDENTIFIED AS HAVING UNSTABLE HOUSING. WE JOINED ARTS AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT TO
ACCEPT AWARDS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AT THE MINNEAPOLIS REGIONAL CHAMBER LEADERS AND INNOVATION AWARDS. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WAS AWARDED FOR THE WORK OF THE MEDICAL UNIT. BRETT JOINED US,
OUR CITY OPERATIONS OFFICER. AND DID A FEW OF OUR -- ANSWERED A FEW MEDICAL UNIT AND OPIOID RESPONSES FROM THE PICTURE FROM THE AWARD. FROM LEFT YOU CAN SEE JASMINE, MJ, SUSAN, AND BRETT, ME, AND TONY. WE WERE
PLEASED THAT THE FOLKS THAT DO THE WORK EVERY DAY WERE ABLE TO JOIN US IN ACCEPTING THIS AWARD. THROUGH THE END OF OCTOBER, WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF
DEPLOYMENTS. IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SEE, BUT MAYBE YOU CAN SEE THE BLUE PUSH PINS THAT ARE ON THE MAP INDICATE WHERE WE'VE BEEN. AND THE NUMBER NEXT TO IT IS HOW OFTEN WE'VE DEPLOYED TO THAT LOCATION. WE TRY TO BE CONSISTENT IN OUR DEPLOYMENTS.
WEEK TO WEEK. SO INDIVIDUALS KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE. THAT ALLOWS US TO HAVE OUR TEAMS PROVIDE THE BEST CARE FOR PEOPLE. BY DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS AND CREATING A SAFE ENVIRONMENT. SO WE'RE HOPING THAT CONSISTENCY WHERE
PEOPLE MIGHT BE HESITANT TO APPROACH A CITY VEHICLE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. IF THEY SEE US SCENTLY THERE AND SEE OTHER FOLKS APPROACHING THE VEHICLE AND GETTING SERVICES, WE'RE HOPE HOPEFUL ANY RED
DENSE THEY HAVE WILL EVENTUALLY SLIP AWAY. THE UPCOMING ADDITION -- SO THE SCHEDULE AND THE REQUEST FORM CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE. IT'S PRETTY EASY. I THINK IT'S STILL THE FIRST THING THAT COMES UP ON GOOGLE,
IF YOU GOOGLE "MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT MINNE MINNEAPOLIS." IF YOU WANT MORE THAN A MONTHLY SCHEDULE, WE USUALLY DO IT FOR A MONTH OR TWO. I THINK THIS ONE GOES TO THE END OF THE YEAR. LET ME KNOW. AND AS WE ADD THINGS, WE CAN -- WE CAN LET YOU KNOW. BUT WE GENERALLY ARE
PRETTY GOOD AT GETTING THEM ON THE CALENDAR AS SOON AS WE SCHEDULE THEM. UPCOMING ADDITIONS TO THE MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT THAT WE'RE HOPING TO ADD IN 2026, INCLUDE DENTAL SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL OF DENNIST I ARE. THERE'S A DENTAL
CHAIR ON BOARD. WE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS IT'S A HUGE NEED. ESPECIALLY IN OUR UNHOUSED COMMUNITY. MEDICALLY-ASSISTED TREATMENT SERVICES USING MOUD. OFFERING
ACCESS ON THE MMU AS PARKING LOT OF OUR EXPANDING LOW BARRIER ACCESS TO MOUD. AND THEN VACCINATIONS SUCH AS COVID AND FLU. SO OUR FIRST STEP PROGRAM
PROVIDES SAME-DAY RAPID ACCESS TO MEDICATIONS FOR OPIOID USE DISORDERS. SO THAT PATIENTS STRUGGLING WITH OPIOID ADDICTION HAVE ACCESS TO THE STABILIZING MEDICATIONS 24/7, 365. THIS INCLUDES AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH
PROVIDING THE LONG ACTING INJECTABLE. THROUGH THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND AT WALK IN KLINES IN THE HIGHEST RISK COMMUNITIES. OUR FIRST STEP PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN 2022. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH M HEALTH FAIR
VIEW. IT'S NOW BEING REPLICATED ACROSS METRO AND OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE. WE'VE BEEN TRAINING AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL STANCE TO REGENTS HOSPITAL AND SAINT PAUL EMS. DR. D, I MENTIONED EARLIER, IS OUR MEDICAL CONSULTANT. REPRESENTS
MINNEAPOLIS ON THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES LOW-BARRIER MOUD WORK GROUP. THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS BROUGHT FORWARD BY THE GROUP INCLUDE THE CALIFORNIA BRIDGE MODEL AS A STATE-WIDE STANDARD OF CARE. THIS IS WHAT IS BEING USED IN
MINNEAPOLIS. AS A MODEL FOR OUR FIRST-STEP PROGRAM. ANOTHER ONE IS RECOMMENDATION OF TAKE HOME STARTER PACKS OF [?] THIS IS HOW WE STARTED THE FIRST STEP PROGRAM. THESE STARTER PACKS INCLUDE NARCAN. THE
PRESCRIPTIONS CAN BE FILLED 24/7, 365, LIKE I SAID, USING SOMETHING LIKE WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PICTURE HERE. WHICH IS A VENDING MACHINE LOCATED IN THE LOBBY OF A HOSPITAL BETWEEN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND THE RECOVERY CLINIC. AND WE DO KNOW THAT IT IS BEING WELL UTILIZED.
THE LAST RECOMMENDATION I'LL TALK ABOUT IS THE LONG ACTING INJECTABLE WHICH IS BRIX ADI. IT'S HAPPENING NOW THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH M HEALTH FAIR VIEW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT, THE RECOVERY CLINIC, OBGYN
DEPARTMENTS WITH, AND THEN THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY CLINIC. WE'RE ALSO WORKING WITH THE NORTH SIDE URBAN COALITION TO EXPAND THE PILOT INITIATIVE TO THE NORTH SIDE. WE ARE ASSESSING AND MAPPING WHICH
PHARMACIES STOCK IT HAVE LOW BARRIER ACCESS. WE KNOW NOT ALL OF THEM STOCK IT. AND WE KNOW SOME OF THE ONES THAT DO STOCK IT, HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL BARRIERS IN PLACE THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON BREAKING DOWN. WE ARE ALSO WORKING TO IDENTIFY AND TRAIN NAVIGATORS. WE'VE
DONE IT ALREADY BUT CONTINUING TO DO IT. WHO CAN HELP PEOPLE CODESIGN AND NAVIGATE THEIR JOURNEY FROM A POINT WHERE THEY ACCESS CARE TO LONG-TERM RECOVERY. THIS HELPS BUILD CAPACITY AND SUSTAIN A WORK FORCE BY TRAINING COMMUNITY-BASED NAVIGATORS
DRAWING FROM AND EMBEDDED IN THE COMMUNITIES THEY SERVE WITHIN A NETWORK OF LOW-BARRIER ACCESS POINTS. IN SUMMARY, WE'RE WORKING WITH PARTNERS AND CONTRACTS TO DEVELOP TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND FIRST STEP INCLUDING CONNECTING WITH OBGYN AND OTHER PROVIDERS FOR
EXPANSION. STRENGTHENING THE NONCLINICAL WORK FORCE TO CONNECT INDIVIDUALS TO TREATMENT. AND GO WITH THEM ON THEIR LONG-TERM CARE JOURNEY. AND RECOVERY JOURNEY. AND THEN EXPAND THE NUMBERS OF PHARMACIES THAT NOT ONLY STOCK THE
MEDICATION, BUT HAVE LOW-BARRIER ACCESS. AROUND YOUTH PREVENTION, WE'RE PARTNERING WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A NEUROSCIENCE-BASED PREVENTION USE CURRICULUM CALLED BRAINWAVES. BEING PILOTED BY
HEALTH EDUCATORS IN OUR EIGHT SCHOOL-BASED CLINICS. THE CURRICULUM HELPS YOUTH UNDERSTAND HOW SUBSTANCE USE AFFECTS DEVELOPING BRAINS SUCH AS THEIR OWN. THIS EMPOWERS THEM WITH THE KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE SAFER, SCIENCE-INFORMED CHOICES AND PROMOTE THEIR OWN BRAIN
HEALTH. WITH THE RISING MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FOR YOUTH, INCLUDING HOW THEY CONSUME INFORMATION, LEARN, AND COMMUNICATE WITH INTERNET AND TECH CHANGES, WE FELT IT IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE ADDRESSING HOW STUDENTS CONSUME AND USE INFORMATION THEY'RE GIVEN. AS MENTIONED IN THE SLIDE ABOVE, THIS PROVIDES UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE THAT HELP YOUTH SELF-REGULATE AND IT JUST DEMYSTIFIES THEIR
CHALLENGES IN AREAS OF GROWTH. SO WHAT MAKES THE CURRICULUM UNIQUE AND WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? IT'S ROOTED IN NEUROSCIENCE. WHICH IS SCIENCE AND HEALTH. THE PEOPLE
PROVIDING THE EDUCATION ALREADY HAVE TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE YOUTH. AND IT IS HANDS ON LEARNING THAT ADAPTS TO THE NEW WAYS IN WHICH YOUTH CONSUME INFORMATION AND MAKE CHOICES. AS I MENTIONED. THE OBJECTIVES
OF THE BRAIN WAVE CURRICULUM ARE TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING THAT ADDICTION IS A BRAIN-BASED CONDITION. EQUIP YOUTH WITH SCIENCE-INFORMED TOOLS TO STAY SAFE AND MAKE HEALTHIER DECISIONS. AND REDUCE STIGMA BY SHOWING ADDICTION IS COMPLEX.
IT'S TREATABLE, IT DESERVES COMPASSION. NEXT STEPS IS THE STRUCTURE FEEDBACK FROM FACILITATORS AND YOUTH, WHICH WILL HELP US IMPROVE THE PILOT CURRICULUM. AND THEN OTHER
WORK-RELATED TO THE CURRICULUM INCLUDES DEVELOPING DIGITAL MEDIA ASSETS, FACILITATORS TO GUIDE ONGOING TECHNICAL TELEVISION, LMS IS LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. AND THEN CODESIGN WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND OUTREACH WORKERS TO
CONTEXTUALIZE CURRICULUM FOR SECONDARY PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION. THE COOL THINGS IS OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE METRO AREA ARE NOW IMPLEMENTING SUCH AS BROOKLYN CENTER AND SAINT PAUL. THEY'RE A PART OF OUR COHORT. AND WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, THE STATE DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH, AND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ARE ADDING LINKS TO THEIR WEBSITES, WHICH SHARE THE CURRICULUM. AND LASTLY, BEFORE I OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS, AND GIVE YOU THANKS FOR GIVING ME
THE TIME HERE. IS OUR SEX TRAFFICKING CAMPAIGN THAT I MENTIONED. THE CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED IN JANUARY OF 2025. POSESSERS WERE PUT ON METRO TRANSIT BUSES IN BATHROOM STALLS
IN 30 LOCATIONS AND SHARED THROUGH BILLBOARDS AND SOCIAL MEDIA. POSTERS WERE DEVELOPED IN COLLABORATION WITH SURVIVORS AND SYMBOLIZE GROWTH AND HOPE. THIS CAMPAIGN RECEIVED THREE DIFFERENT AWARDS FROM DIFFERENT ADVERTISING GROUPS. SO WE'RE PRETTY PROUD OF OUR PARTNERSHIP
WITH RUSSELL HERDER FOR THAT. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO BE RELAUNCHING IN JANUARY 2026 IN HONOR OF SEX TRAFFICKING AWARENESS MONTH. SO WE HOPE TO REVIVE THE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. IT'S NOT GOING AWAY. WE HAVE GREAT MATERIALS. APPARENTLY
WITH THE AWARDS WE WON IN THE NATIONAL ATTENTION WE'VE GOTTEN. SO WE WANT TO REELEVATE THE CAMPAIGN. SO I'M SURE WE'LL BE BEFORE YOU IN JANUARY WITH A RESOLUTION. THAT IS IT FOR MY PRESENTATION. I STAND FOR QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, COLLEAGUES. MY RECOMMENDATION IS THAT WE END THE MEETING AT 3:45:00 P.M. TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH TIME FOR FOLKS TO SET UP FOR THE MEETING. BEING COGNIZANT OF THE TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS WE DON'T GET THROUGH, I RECOMMEND WE SEN IT TO CLERK MICHAEL. AND DEPUTY COMMISSIONER RICHIE. IF THERE'S A FOLLOW UP NEEDED BY THE COUNCIL. I'LL FIRST PASS IT TO COUNCIL PRESIDENT PAYNE. >> THANK YOU, CHAIR CHAVEZ. NO QUESTIONS. I'M REALLY GRATEFUL FOR THIS BODY OF WORK. NOT JUST
BECAUSE OF HOW AMAZING THE WORK IS, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY, I FEEL, LIKE A MODEL IN HOW WE WORK TOGETHER IN GOVERNMENT. RIGHT. THIS STARTED AS A LEGISLATIVE DIRECTIVE IN 2022. AND WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY AUTHORITY OR WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT OUR AUTHORITY
WAS. I REMEMBER THAT FIRST PRESENTATION WITH DR. D AND HOW MUCH PROMISE THERE WAS WITH A PATH FORWARD AND TO SEE THAT TRANSLATE INTO THE MOBILE MEDICAL UNIT, ALL OF THE NARCAN STATIONS OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH HEALTH INSTITUTIONS, THIS IS JUST,
LIKE, A REALLY AMAZING REFLECTION OF THE GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY WORKING. AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP! AND BEING ABLE TO DO THAT FOR US. >> THANK YOU.
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, FOR THE PRESENTATION. AND THE INCREDIBLE STAFF IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. IT'S CLEAR WE HAVE SOME OF THE BEST STAFF IN THIS COUNTRY. AND MANY CITIES ACROSS THE UNITED STATES ARE PROBABLY VERY JEALOUS ABOUT THE INNOVATIVE WORK WE'RE DOING HERE IN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. IT'S
THANKS TO YOU, THE STAFF HERE IN THE ROOM, AND THE ENTIRE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE DUG DEEP IN FINDING WAYS TO ADDRESS NOT ONLY THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, BUT FINDING WAYS TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE, HEALTHY, AND THRIVING. I WANT TO GIVE MY KUDOS TO THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS. AND HAD ONE QUESTION.
AND I'LL BE QUICK. AND IT'S ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN. THANK YOU FOR TELLING US IT'S GOING TO BE ONGOING. OR GOING HAPPEN NEXT YEAR. PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP AND THE SEX TRAFFICKING PREVENTION WORK GROUP IN THERE. AND THIS HAS BEEN A BIG TOPIC.
ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLKS ARE ASKING ME IS, LIKE, HOW DO WE CONTINUE THIS PROGRAM THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING? AND HOW THE COMMUNITY HAVE INPUT IN WHERE THE POSTERS AND THE CAMPAIGN GOES TOWARDS. I'M TALKING ABOUT LAKE STREET. THAT IS WHERE FOLKS ARE REACHING OUT TO ME.
PART OF THE WORK GROUP I'M A PART OF. WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME OF THE WORK IN THE CORRIDORS. WE'VE HEARD ABOUT IT ON THE EAST FRANKLIN CORRIDOR, AS WELL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER IT TODAY. I GUESS IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR THAT IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE. AND I GUESS THE QUESTION WOULD BE HOW DOES COMMUNITY HAVE INPUT ON
WHERE WE NEED THIS ON TOP OF THE EXPERT-LEVEL STAFF WE KNOW. WE HEAR FROM COMMUNITY CONCERNS, AS WELL. >> CHAIR CHAVEZ, FIRST, THANK YOU FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT. YOU'RE RIGHT. WE HAVE AN AMAZING STAFF! AND THE TWO THAT ARE HERE, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE REST ARE OUT ON THE
UNIT. AND IN OTHER AREAS. BUT I WILL MAKE SURE THAT I PASS ALONG YOUR THANKS, COUNCIL PRESIDENT, AND YOUR THANKS, CHAIR CHAVEZ, AS WELL. IN TERMS OF THE QUESTION, I WOULD SAY AS WE'RE DEVELOPING, YOU KNOW, OUR NEXT ITERATION, JUST REACH OUT
TO ME AND WE'LL FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AN AVENUE FOR FEEDBACK FOR FOLKS THAT WANT THAT FEEDBACK. ALSO, ONCE WE GET CLOSER TO KNOWING, LIKE, HOW THIS CAMPAIGN IS GOING
TO ROLL OUT, I'LL BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY, LIKE, WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE CAMPAIGN MATERIALS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE PROVIDED IT LAST TIME. I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE SAID "HERE'S WHAT
WE'RE DOING. WE'VE GOT THIS MANY LOCATIONS." I'M NOT SURE IF WE PROVIDED SPECIFICS ON THAT. BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING WE CAN LOOK INTO DOING IN JANUARY.
>> I'LL ASK THE CLERK TO RECEIVE AND FILE THAT REPORT. AND SEEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS BEFORE US, I'LL DECLARE THIS MEETING ADJOURNED.