Regular meeting for the city of Wyoming, Minnesota, January 6th, 2026. Let the record reflect we do have a quorum. Member Luger, member Anstead, member Schilling, member Joerger, and Mayor Iverson are present. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. First on our agenda is the
annual meeting. And I believe Mr. McFarland, you're going to be speaking through all of these, right? >> I'll cover the first seven, correct? >> Okay, that'll be great. So number one, designate official newspaper for the 2026 resolution 260101. Mr. McFarland. >> Yes. Uh honorable mayor and members of
the city council. The first item tonight is just the um annual item where the um city council designates an official newspaper for the city for the year 2026. Um our current newspaper in the city designated newspaper Chicago County Press. Um and so we got two proposals this year. One from Chicago County Press
again and from the Forest Lake Times. We've prepared a resolution here with Chicago County Press as well as the um designated newspaper for 2026, but open for discussion. >> Okay, perfect. I'll start with that. I've been very happy with the Chicago County Press and the fair reporting that they do. We'll start with questions from
council. We'll start with member Luger. I have no questions. Member Anstad, >> no questions. >> Member Schilling. >> Uh, no questions. >> And member Joerger, >> no questions. >> All right, we need a motion to approve um the Chicago County Press for our official newspaper for 2026. Do we have a motion? So moved
>> motion by member Anstad. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by member Lucer. All in favor? I opposed. So approved. Number two, set annual fees for the city services in 2026. Resolution 26102. Mr. McFarland.
>> Thank you, mayor. Uh each year the city council um officially sets an updated 2026, I guess this time fee schedule. Um this is just to to reflect on the different uh procedures, policies and and whatnot the city um conducts. I did highlight um some of the major changes
that or just the the changes worth noting I guess on the fee schedule for 2026. It includes chapter 12, a lower potency hemp edible retailer registration has now been added. That's one of the new items that cities now have to do is register um individuals or organizations that want to sell that
lower potency hemp edible. Um even though they're licensed by the state, we register them. So we had to add that. Chapter 18, fire prevention and protection. The fees associated with special events for fire department have been updated and there's the removal of fees for business fire inspections. Chapter 20, police administration fee uh
fees again with special events been updated. Um and then there was the removal of fees for fingerprinting. Chapter 26 for solid waste management article 2 collection. We updated the uh cost for the annual waste hauler license um that you guys look at first or end of
the meeting or sorry end of the um year meeting in December or first one in January typically. Um chapter 30 streets and sidewalks article 2 excavations and street openings. U we added an inspection fee for rightway permits. Chapter 36 utilities. Um the water and surface water rates were updated to
reflect that. Um the study that was just completed. In addition to that we updated our water meter costs which is just a pass through cost. So, we just update to make that reflect. Um, and then emergency call out and reinspection fees have also been updated. Chapter 40 zoning, there's been an addition of a
fee for an application to appeal the zoning administrator. And then in addition to that, um, pavilion and field rental fees have been updated as well as public works equipment fees. Um, so just looking for a motion to approve the 2026 updated fee schedule. >> Okay, great. Thank you. Questions from council. We'll start with member Anstad.
>> No questions. >> Member Schilling. >> Uh, no questions. >> Member Joerger. I have a question about a couple of the fees. The $500 fee for application to appeal uh zoning administrator. Why do we need a fee for something that happens very very rarely? Like the last
time was 2012. >> Because no fee and I had to use the attorney and other people to process the application last time the city time and money.
>> Okay. That's what I thought. My concern is is that those I've heard from people and those fees are coming across as a deterrent to appeal the zoning. >> Yeah, >> I I it's been zero for many years.
Doesn't make a difference, but we did cost >> the Chicago county that is there is the same as $500 is too. And we we looked at other communities to try to what that was kind of out there but um that was one that we identified when we were going through those. So that was a
pretty common amount on those um those um appeal of the administrative decisions. >> Okay. The other fee we uh for park reserving a park pavilion. It used to be free for the residents. Now it's $45.
>> That is correct. included in here is a proposed fee change. Yes. >> Why >> why are we going from three to $45 and then tripling the non-resident? >> Uh the intent behind it is to recoup some of the costs um that are incurred by the public works department for
maintenance of the facility so that it's rentable and and ready for the people that have reserved it. We did and we did evaluate a lot of our surrounding communities including Lindstöm, Forest Lake, um Chicago City and they are all higher than that in regards to their residents and their non-residents. So
simply, I think to Mr. Reese's point was to try to um recover some of the costs that we have associated with that. There are any communities around that is zero um for the residents. So that was that was the thought and the intent, but open to discussion I guess from council. >> Standard practice on a reservation.
Obviously people can use it at will, right? they can show up and utilize a picnic shelter, but if they take the time to reserve it, we want to provide a quality product for for them to use. So, there is a service that it's a fee that that we charge to come out and clean, make sure
everything's ready to go. >> Okay. Because I know they're they're already charged a damage deposit. >> The damage deposit was collected and >> there is we haven't had much damage. Yeah, there there is a $100 refundable damage deposit that we do collect. I
can't >> it's been a very long time. I think there's been one instance, but that was I think five, six years ago where we had an issue. It's very rare that we ever have a problem. Those are always >> uh returned. Well, I shouldn't say always, but I would say 99% of the time.
>> Okay. I mean, I'm I'm not comfortable with the $500 fee. So, >> member Stilling, you had a >> uh the only thing I was going to add to the $500 fee. I I I understand it comes across as a deterrent. So, I know some cities will actually call it an escrow.
Um so, essentially, you put up $500 to appeal your case. The city logs all their time, attorney's fees, time, and all of that gets subtracted from that escrow. So, um I don't know. I I don't really have a problem with I mean, we could technically call it an escrow
versus a application fee. Yeah, but why don't we just call it what it is? >> Well, it's there for that purpose because staff has to go out outside of their normal hours and workings to go through these things. So, >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Member Luger,
>> I have no questions. >> Okay. Um, so my only question, Mr. Reeves, is that $45 is about equivalent to the pay of our staff, right? One of our staff. And what usually happens is then you're taking somebody off of what
they were supposed to be doing, putting them on to making sure that the pavilion looks great and people see that it to your point a good product. So it's really just covering that man cost or that cost of that maintenance person to go out there. So Okay. >> Yeah. The idea is that if somebody's
going to take the time to reserve it and and expend the cost, then we're going to deliver a quality service. >> Yeah. Perfect. Thank you. All right. If there are no further questions, we need a motion to approve the annual fees for the city services in 2026 resolution
26102. Do we have a motion? >> So move. >> We have a motion from member Lucer. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by member Schilling. All in favor? >> I opposed. So approved. Number three, designate electronic fund transfer and
payment for claims. Resolution 26103. Mr. McFarland. >> Yes. Another annual item here. This is per the um guidance of the city's auditor essentially stating it's best practice that the city council adopts annually an electronic fund transfer and payment of claims resolution. That
resolution essentially grants the city administrator authorization to pay your transfer funds electronically prior to approval by the city council. Um a great example of when something like that would come up is regarding um bonds. essentially the longer that those sit in your account um the the more that you're
able to continue investing and earning money on those things. So you want to wait till the last payable day to make that payment. Um all transfers would still come um before the city council on their claims register. It's still available to the public. This just allows us to better utilize those funds for that purpose.
>> Okay, perfect. Thank you. Questions from council. We'll start with um member Joerger. >> None. >> Member Lucer, >> no questions. >> Member Anstad, >> no questions. Member Schilling. >> No questions. >> And I have none either. We need a motion to approve designate to approve the
resolution 260103 designate electronic fund transfer and payment claims. Do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> Motion to approve by member Schilling. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by member Onstad. All in favor? >> I opposed. So approved. Number four. Review council appointments to boards,
commissions, committees, and boards of trustees of fire department volunteer fire relief. Resolution 260104. Mr. McFarland. >> Yes. This is an item just for the city council to review their appointments for 2026 to boards, commissions, and committees. Um, regarding our
commissions, uh, we do have Mark Hall, uh, Bruce Spangler, and Bruce Buglitch um asking to rejoin again or to to reup their time on the planning commission and park advisory commission. Uh in conjunction with that, then there's also a bevy of appointments that individuals
on the city council um receive such as acting mayor, sewer commissioner, and EDA member. And that whole list is provided in exhibit A of the resolution. >> Okay, great. Thank you. First of all, I'd like to say thank you to U. Mr. Spankler for just doing a great job for
parks and you've been doing it for a long time now and have been just really happy with what you're doing. So, appreciate that. All right, questions from council. We'll start with member Luger. >> No questions. >> Member Anstad, >> no questions. >> Member Schilling. >> Uh, no questions. >> Member Joerger, >> no questions. >> Um, I have no questions either. I do
know there is somebody looking um to possibly fill the um where's it at? The watershed district representative. So, that might come back later on. All right. We need a motion to approve resolution 260104.
Do we have a um Do we have a motion? >> So moved. We have a motion by member Schilling. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by member Luger. All in favor? I. Opposed. So approved. Number five, designate official depository for city
funds for 2026 resolution 260105. Mr. McFarland. >> Yes. This item is just to designate where the city will conduct its banking in 2026. It's historically been First State Bank of Wyoming and we're once again proposing that that remains. >> Okay. We'll go again. No questions.
We'll start with member Onstead. >> No questions. >> Member Schilling, >> no questions. >> Member Joerger, >> no questions. >> Member Luger, >> also no questions. >> And Mayor Iverson has no questions. We need a motion to approve designate official deposit depository with um let's see
uh First State Bank of Wyoming resolution 260105. Do we have a motion? >> We have a motion by member Schilling. We have a second by member Luger. >> All in favor? I opposed. So approved. Number six, elect an acting mayor to serve in the absence of the mayor during
2026. That's Minnesota State statute 4102.121. Mr. McFarland. >> Yes. State statute does require that uh the city council uh elect an acting mayor to serve in the absence of our mayor in 2026. This is just if the mayor would not be president at a certain meeting. However, we know she'll make
every single one this year. Um so we are seeking the city council to uh name or elect an individual be that um acting mayor in the um possibility of your absence. >> Okay, perfect. So I would like to nominate um member Luger just because
she's always done such a phenomenal job um while I'm gone and she has the shortest time for meetings ever. So I'll make I'll put that up. Any other nominations? >> No. No. >> No. Okay, then we will need um a motion
to approve. Uh >> you need a second. >> Yeah. What? >> We do need a second. >> Oh, no. We're just making a motion now. Yeah. Yep. So, we need a motion to approve. Um member Luger for acting mayor. Do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> Do we have a second?
>> Second. >> We have a second. All in favor? I opposed. >> So approved. Congratulations. Thank you. But she'll be here every >> It should be. Okay. >> It'll stand it >> as far as I know. Okay. Um number seven, establishing the 2026 regular meeting
night of the city council of the W of the city of Wyoming and budget calendar for the 2027 budget. Mr. McFarland. >> Yes. Um once again, uh the city each year approves their their calendar for for meetings. They've historically met on the 1st and 3rd uh Tuesday of each
month at 7 p.m. except for if that date falls on a holiday in which case it's typically held the following day. U this uh RCA does include dates for every single proposed meeting this year. Any dates that is highlighted is a date that was moved due to something else occurring that day that we couldn't hold it for. Um so for exist exist or sorry
example February 2nd, August 5th and November 4th that's due to a precinct caucus night to unite and then a general election being held on those days. I would note I believe February 2nd is a Monday. Um and so that would just be instead of a Wednesday, that one's held on a Monday. Um and then in addition to that as well, um there's also the budget
process calendar which has been provided. Um we kept the dates um the same as we did essentially last year where we're holding them uh during work sessions prior to a city council meeting each time just to make a little bit easier on everyone since you're already going to be here. So that entire uh schedule is included um laid out just um
from first meetings between staff to eventually meetings with the city council and then final budget and so forth. >> I like having them together. same night, right? Zs were here to your point. So, questions. Uh, member Schilling, >> uh, no questions. >> Member Joerger, >> no questions.
>> Uh, member Luger, >> no questions. >> And member Anstad, >> no questions. >> All right. Um, so we need a motion to approve the 2026 regular meeting um for city council and for our budget calendar for the 2027 budget. I'll make the first motion. Do we have a second?
>> Second. >> Second by member Luger. All in favor? I opposed. So approved. All right, Mr. McFarland, you did a great job. We're moving on to open forum. Is there anybody here tonight that would like to speak for open forum?
Seeing none, we'll move on to approval of minutes number eight. Consider approving the minutes of the work session of the Wyoming Minnesota City Council for December 16th, 2025. Um, if there are no questions or changes, do we have a motion to approve?
>> So moved. We have a motion to approve by member Schilling. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by member Luger. All in favor? I >> opposed. So approved. Number nine. Consider approving the minutes of the regular meeting of the Wyoming, Minnesota City Council for December
16th, 2025. If there are no questions or comments, do we have a motion to approve? >> So moved. >> We have a motion to approve by member Schilling. Do we have a second? I'll make the second. Um, all in favor? I opposed. So approved. Consent agenda
number 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Does anybody wish to pull an item from the consent agenda? Seeing none, we need a motion to approve number 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Do we have a motion?
>> So moved. >> We have a motion by member Schilling. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> We have a second by member Anstad. All in favor? I opposed. So approved. >> Acknowledge receipts of reports of officer, boards, commissions, and department heads number 16, 17, 18, 19,
and 20. Does anybody wish to pull a report? No. Seeing none, we'll move on to new business, which is number 21 to consider resolution 260110, a resolution approving the final plot of
Summerfield's fourth edition at property identification number 21.1058250. Um, Mr. Wack, that'll be you. >> Yes, it will council members fourth edition final. What's on the
agenda tonight? So, this is at Kenn River Boulevard um near the freeway. I'm sorry. Um this is the fourth edition. So this is the fourth of the summer field plan. I'm sorry. So back in 2020, the joint park
planning commission um talked about the park development. WSB did a dual assessment worksheet um city approved a conditional use permit for planned unit development. It's been revised a couple times since then, most recently by the
current applicant um which is the 2024. On August 25, the advocate received a PUD amendment to allow a lot west list of 65 ft from a 5 foot sideyard. And final plat is before you tonight. A lot going on there. Uh so reduce lot width
to a minimum of 65 ft for all remaining lots. Sideyard setback remain five feet on interior lots and 15 feet on corner lots. Um the request was to pull all threecar garages. Um number of lots increased from 51 to 60. The current
plat is for 35 of those lots. Um, and then also we're extending 250 that total sack north of 250. City staff is recommending petitions of approval. Um, the six that are listed there in the resolution and on the screen. I'm not going to go and read all
of those. Um, again, staff and plan commission recommending approval of final plat. >> Okay. Uh, I have no questions. Questions from council starting with member Joerger. >> There is a resident just south of the development with questions about his
drainage. >> Yes. And I know city engineers been meeting with him quite frequently. Bob Daw. >> Yeah. So before we approve final plats have been addressed and he's reasonably
content. >> Well, they have been addressed. Uh we we spent a lot of time reviewing engineering um storm water modeling and things of that nature and they are in excess of meeting our rules and so we certainly can't uh require them to do anything above and beyond what they have
done. They've they've gone above and beyond. We've uh evaluated um I can get into a lot of details but we even worst case scenario um we looked if if infiltration's not working and they have to use filtration they still uh exceed the requirements for storm water
management and so we are comfortable with what they're proposing and they're they they're actually exceeding it because they're making the ponds a little bit larger because they need excess material for building up the pads uh for the homes and things and so they they do meet that um you know I've met
with the the Delos on on numerous occasions and have committed to do that in the spring as well. Uh they do have continued questions and so I'll continue to work with the with the neighboring properties there >> just as long as they don't have any detrimental effects to their properties. >> Correct. Yeah.
>> Okay, that's it. >> Right. Member Luger, no questions. Member Anstad, >> no questions. >> Member Schilling, >> no questions. >> All right. Um, so we need a motion to approve resolution 260110, a resolution approving the final plat of
Summerfield's fourth edition. Do we have a motion? >> So moved. >> We have a motion by member Schilling. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> We have a second by member Luger. All in favor? I opposed. So approved. Number 22. To consider the establishment and
posting of a part-time firefighter position within the Wyoming Fire Department. Chief Bower. Yes, that'll be me. Um, this will be the first of two part-time positions I'm looking for this evening. Um, Mayor Evansson, member of council. This first one is a looking to
post uh a part-time firefighter position. This will be the first of the kind that we've done here in Wyoming. Um, looking at the starting salary rates of 25, excuse me, 2566 per hour up to
3119 an hour. um that is based on a fivestep system that the city uses um and that is uh a salary range that was um Mr. Lynwood, I'm sorry, who does the study on that again? >> Associates, they they do those.
>> Yeah, thank you. Uh, so we basically send the job description and and what the position would be doing um and they assessed based on that. So it's not a number that we arbitrarily come up with. Um, so essentially we're looking to establish this position. And our daytime response um is very dependent on uh
employees of Rosenbower uh city staff and then happen stance when other uh residents or firefighters may be in our city. Um and this is a one step of making sure that how do we provide a
response when possible um using additional resources. This part-time position would be responding to calls while they're on shift. um both medical and fire. They would also be uh attending uh training with the rest of
the department um and facilitating vehicle maintenance during the day uh coordinating though that that responsibility to we have a lot of equipment that needs to be maintained. Um and currently a lot of that responsibility falls on other city staff to be doing which takes them away from
their primary responsibility. So um that that equipment needs to be maintained and we want to facilitate that in the most efficient way possible. A big part of this position would be that within the first uh year of employment they would need to complete
the fire inspector training um if they don't have that already. Um this will allow them the city to do fire inspections and that's essentially not a role that we're able to fill at this point. So, um, we feel city staff feels that's important for us to be doing that for multifamily residential properties,
educational facilities, and commercial facilities. Um, to be looking for fire hazards, code compliance, and also essentially reducing the risk for our residents and, um, people that come into our city. So looking at performing those
roles essentially looking initially at the 12 to 16 hours per week um not to exceed 29 because that gets into different benefits. Um they will not be part of the relief association though. So that is something just to consider that they're they are not part of the uh
paid on call staff. Um they will be parel eligible which is kind of the alternative. Um so they will acrue parah benefits uh which is similar to other city staff. Um they're not on call. They're not expected to respond and cannot respond when off duty. They would
only respond to calls when they're on shift. And that helps limit our hours. And also it helps with you know the potential if they end up responding to three four calls. All of a sudden they're at 35 hours per week. We're not budgeting for that. Um and they also are entitled to different benefits at that point. So we want to make sure we're
managing that properly. um they must maintain certain certifications. So that's firefighter, hazmat, and EMR. Um in addition to that fire inspector training um and we're saying within that first year is kind of
the tenative plan because we are relying on finding a facility, an educational facility that can do that training for us. Um and there are several in the area, but we just want to make sure we can get them to that. Again, I talked about the anticipated salary. um and
being a part of PAR. So, we're looking to get this position posted. I don't believe it will be within the next couple weeks. We just want to iron out a few things with reporting structure and how they uh how we allocate work volume to them and those type of things. We're still working on Jesse and I, the fire chief and I met Monday night to start working on that, but we want to get
those things clarified before we actually post the position. But essentially looking to get this posted um hopefully within the next month and looking for applicants. >> Okay. Uh, Chief Bower, I have a I'll start with the first question. So, um,
we budgeted for this. >> We did. >> We did. Okay. And then for the fire inspection, um, portion, we have not had that in I can't even remember how long. It's been really a long time. >> Yes. >> Um, do we charge a fee for the fire
inspections for our buildings? >> You just approved to remove it earlier tonight. >> Oh, we did. Okay. Well, there we go. >> Yeah. >> All right. So, but >> um there there was some discussion about that um that essentially we're paying our staff and it would be part of their job function. So, it's not an additional role for Okay. to take on it was that's
part of this position with fulfilling that. Yes. >> Got it. Okay, that makes sense. I just um feel that this especially the fire inspection part super important. >> Yes, absolutely. >> So, okay, that's all my questions. Um we'll start with member Anstad. >> Um who is this aimed at? Uh, is it
someone that has experience as a firefighter? I would assume that they it's not a starting position. >> Correct. They would they would be have to walk in with those certifications. So, that would be firefighter one um firefighter 2 hazmat and EMR already in
place, which is usually a more experienced firefighter. Um, however, we're not requiring that fire inspection training to be completed. um that's something we would take that first year and and it's not a huge cost to get that done. Um but we would compensate them for attending that and and completing
that certification allowing us a little bit bigger net but also bringing in people that have experience. >> Thank you. >> Member Schilling. >> Uh I actually don't have any questions. They've all been answered. >> Member Joerger. >> How many fire inspections need to be
done and how often? >> We're not we're not doing any at this point. How many need to be done and how often should they be done? >> They should be done at least once a year. You've got 10 or 12 apartment buildings on all the industrial
commercial buildings. Mostly multifamily. Okay, thanks Fred. >> And what's one of the roles we did talk about with with uh Chief Milligan is that you know they're going to have to work with with our uh with Fred to make
sure that we're what are the priorities and making sure we get that accomplished. So >> Yep. Exactly. >> Well, you see, right now I'm not comfortable creating a new position when we're about to embark on a building project because
I mean, to me, it's like um expanding staff when you're about to hit them with a huge tax increase for your buildings. And I also am wondering how long these part-time positions are going to remain part-time since I've been here long
enough to see police officers, building inspectors, crime analysts all start out part-time, become full-time within a few years. You know, it's done quietly, but become full-time. So those are my concerns. >> I mean actually I think we should
explore another way of getting the inspections done. >> Great. Member Luger. >> Uh I have two questions. One, what is the liability and potential financial impact to the city uh when we don't have
somebody doing fire inspections? >> As well as >> that's a great question. >> As well as the impact just to our residents who you know place to live. You can speak to that >> first building first responders. Um
I don't see as far as liability, but >> I think I think there's a there's a public safety not only to the individuals in those buildings but also to our staff. I think to elaborate on that more when you have things like an industrial park where you you have
different ES and welding equipment and we do have a pretty robust um diversity of industry within that and I think it's more a capacity not only to keep the people that are working in those buildings safe but also our staff when they enter those buildings to know where a a you know AB and C are in regards to
different chemicals to potential obstacles. You know if there is an incident it's not always easily to have that understanding of where those things are and to have a map and a key understanding of what's going on is really I think helpful in their in their duties when there is an event. And I don't I don't know that and Mr.
Lon you may be able to speak that not doing them I don't know that that raises a liability for the city and you can speak to that. It's just >> Yes. Yes. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. As a legal sense I mean the city has an obligation to ensure that these buildings are compliant with all zoning
codes that they meet fire inspections but as far as regular basis and whatnot the city doesn't have a lot of civil liability in that regard. It's again a public safety a human life thing. I know many cities um that I work with that are a lot of workers do as Fred said with
any sort of multifamily building um commercial and industrial they're looking at them about once a year just to make sure that they're compliant just because for the exact reasons that uh administrator Wex says. So >> thank you. Um my second question is
I'm just wondering off the top of my head what and maybe member Jerger can answer this. What positions have gone from halftime to full-time in the last few years? And what would the metric be that would trigger that?
>> Like how would we demonstrate a need? >> Sure. >> For like to move someone into a full-time position versus a >> Yeah. Within public safety, I know that the analyst position did transition to a full-time position. Um and then we just adjusted that with the last council meeting as well. So, it depends on work
volume. Um, understanding that a full-time employee is more costly and I understand that. Um, this is something that there isn't capacity for anyone to do this work and we're tapping into existing city staff.
Public works employees are driving fire vehicles to be ma maintained right now. um that is a stop that's a it's a temporary solution that there are other things that they have work to do as
well. So we're looking at trying to how do we how do we do this in a cost-effective way? Part-time employees are obviously the most cost effective way to do that. Full-time employees do add additional cost. I understand excuse me I understand that. Um, we also, you
know, part-time employees, um, we have a little more flexibility in our scheduling in as well. Um, I I see this position as a likely potentially somebody that is clo like has retired from the fire services possibility. Um, people that work
24-hour shifts in a fire service, they could and live in our community possibly that they could fill this role. Um, and you know that might be scheduling three hours this day, four hours the next. Like we have a lot more flexibility with scheduling with this type of employee. Now transitioning them to full-time. I I
can't project that. I don't you know that that's not on the radar right now. I can't predict it. I I have no idea when or if that could happen. This is a um a position that is uh a way that we can help that daytime response without t
continue to tap into and relying on frankly really generous businesses and our other city staff that are allowing their staff to do this stuff during their shift. And frankly, we we we should be taking that on as a city. >> Thank you. >> Yeah,
>> I just have a couple statements that I need to make. First of all, um I would say that almost all of our residents are going to say, "What's the cost to prevent loss of life?" So, um it's uh we've grown. I've been on mayor nine
years um uh council two before then. So, our city is growing and we can't just keep not providing services um for our residents and for our businesses to keep them safe. You just can't.
>> And if everything is going to constantly come back to the fact that we're going to finally get a public safety building and a fire department that is um functionable, but we're going to say no to positions and part-time positions and
and and being able to take care of our growing community, then there's another issue on top of that. So, um totally in favor for this, totally in favor for the next one. we have to take care of our residents and our growth. Hard stop on
that. So, with that, I'm going to make the motion to approve the um establishment and posting of a part-time firefighter position within the city um within the Wyoming Fire Department. Do we have a second? >> We have a second and a third. So, all in favor?
>> I I opposed. So, approved. >> Nay. Number 23 to consider the establishment and posting of the part-time community service officer CSO position with the Wyoming Police Department. Chief Bower, that would be you again. >> That would be me as well. Mayor Harrison, members of council, uh looking
at a second part-time position, this one being within the fire side of public safety. Um the cso position would be uh is a nonsworn uniformed role um that essentially they will perform uh noncriminal public safety and community
support functions. So um they would be under the supervision of the public safety leadership uh and again we're looking at scheduling this person 24 hours per week to m make sure that we're under that 29 hour uh benefit threshold.
Um essentially what this position would be functioning as is doing vehicle maintenance. They can do traffic control, parking, animal complaints. Um we have uh they can do community outreach, vehicle maintenance, driving vehicles to get service. Um that is a
a lot of time getting the service vehicle serviced. Um and also they can do um we have you know problem properties that you know whether it's junk in the yard um junk vehicles these type of things that are frequently
are frequent complaints in our city and essentially right now they're being done by sworn officers and that doesn't need to be done. These are code compliance issues that a nonsworn part-time person can do um and honestly maintain that a case load of them and stay on top of
those more effectively than than than a sworn officer and allows the officer to focus on things that they have to be doing. Um this is also a a great pathway for individ indivi it's a hard word apparently individuals that want to get into law enforcement. Um, we would be
looking at putting a cap on this position for three years. Um, and the reason to do that would be to make sure you have a a continuous flow of people coming in. Um, and considering it's a part-time position, if there are someone that we would like to uh we could always extend that if it looks like we have a
retirement or someone leaving. Um, but the ideas are that this becomes a a feeder program as well for our police officer positions moving forward, hoping that no one leaves. Um, but also there's also the we're benefiting um the profession in general that if we're able
to hire someone as a part-time cso and they become an officer somewhere um that that's a great contribution to the field as well. Um we have a vehicle that we can repurpose. So we're not looking at adding a vehicle. We would just need to do some outfitting. We have a lot of equipment. Um, I have already worked
with Guardian uh to they have a light bar. They're willing to work with us on cost-effective ways of adapting this vehicle to to be used for the CSO and our reserves. Um, modifying it so it does it I mean it has to be a squad in a
way, but we want to differentiate a little bit that it's not labeled as police um for their safety as well. Uh salary again was calculated the same way as the firefighter position 2307 starting to 2859
five steps annually. Um it was it has been this was not an increase in the budget last year. The money was used for the cadet position that we hired uh officer strand out of. So it was
categorized as cso. That was not actually what it was what it was designated for. It was for that cadet position is what we used it for. So, this is a new position, but ultimately it did not have a budget impact this year. It was already there last year. >> Chief Bower, um, we're at full staff
right now for our police department. Correct. >> We are not. >> We are not. >> We're still looking for one. Yes. >> Perfect. Okay. So, then that leads into my next question. How long have we been without being fully staffed? >> Great question. >> Three, four years. I mean, I've been here four years, so it's it's been basically
>> ongoing one or two short. Yes. Yeah. And so when we find somebody and then something else happens, so on and so forth. So, um, and how long would you estimate it takes really to find a candidate and move them on up into that position? I know this is new, but
typically we've kind of been trying to figure this out. So, >> yeah. So, a CSO or a full-time police officer. So, uh, CSO pools are highly soughtafter positions. There's not as many of them as police officer positions. and anyone that's in school,
it is well known that a the best pathway to either make or break your career as an officer is to start in one of these part-time positions, get a good reputation, you learn a lot, you get comfortable wearing a costume every day um and driving around a billboard and you get that's that's what it's about.
You you make mistakes in a in a way that is um uh a safe environment to do that. It's highly supervised and ultimately it's a great pathway. I was a cso for several years. It's a great way to learn if this is actually what you want to do as well before you get into it. And as a
department, we can it's a lot less money and investment for this position than it is a full-time officer initially. So, >> and so again, I will state our community is growing. So being able to have um
somebody come through and start learning the position, it all comes down to taking care of our residents, right? And also not burning out our police right now because they might have to do added shifts and stuff, right? So it's a cost savings in that. So okay, that's all my
questions. Um did you go up first last night? I lost count. >> I have not gone yet. >> Oh, so that would be you, member Schilling. Uh, I was going to say something in the middle of it, but uh, so I love this. Um, I've never liked, uh, the fact that
our police officers do code issues. Everything you outlined in the position and what it does, but that last item is huge for me. Um, because we do have code issues. We do have neighbors that collect garbage and do things that are, you know, it's outside of the building inspections department. And it is
something that our PD has always had to take time to do. I don't want to pay a police officer to go out and send a letter to somebody because they're piling crap in their yard. And >> I love this portion of it. And you are correct. I've seen this in my tenure and as a CBO with the cities I've worked with. This is one of the greatest
leaping positions in the public safety sector. >> Every single CFO CSO I've seen go through in my current city has gone on into law enforcement. I think it's an incredible tool for them to network, learn the system, but it also solves the
problem that the city needs to take care of. So, I I am 100% in favor of this. >> Thank you. So, thank you, >> member Joerger. >> Actually, this is the same points I made in the last position. I'd prefer to see
uh another way using existing resources to accomplish the task. >> Uh chief power, what would those other resources be >> well for example our police officers they have to remain in the city
>> that is that that's their primary role they have to be able to respond so um for example when when we need uh someone to go to Menard's >> um that's me so those are the tasks that get allocated to uh someone has to do it
when someone has to go deliver tires from that get delivered over to Landfirst for vehicle maintenance if I can't work with public works to get that done and they're very helpful and I appreciate that but that that is something that I've done. I load them up in the truck and I run over there. That doesn't make sense. Okay. Um there's
those roles that on a regular basis cleaning the garage prior to retirement party who was out there me. That doesn't make sense. I can't allocate police officer to these positions when they have other responsibilities. And ultimately it just someone has to get it
done and other people have things that are their call response. They have to do these things. they have to be available. Everyone's able to help out. Um setting up mats, they're able to do that overnight. These things do come up, but ultimately we can do these things in a more cost effective way. >> Perfect. Thank you. Uh member Luger,
>> um kind of in the same way as the last position, do do you anticipate that kind of that flexible scheduling due to it being like 24-hour a week? >> Yeah, and we have to work within their school schedule because they will have to be enrolled in a degree program for law enforcement. So, um it really will depend on their availability. sometimes
weekends, sometimes during the week. Um, but ultimately depends on their school schedule and we can staff according to that and a lot of the like these code enforcement things and all these type of things can be done at any point and it's a we can work with that. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Yeah, >> member step >> uh the steps uh that they'd be going
through those are yearly steps >> correct >> and this would be calculated on hourly for a year rather than just a calendar date. >> Uh it's from date of hire. So within after one year then they would bump move from step one to step two.
>> Okay. Am I answering that they have to complete the 2080? >> No. No. I'm sorry. I understand what you're asking. Nope. It's based on calendar year. Yes. Correct. >> Okay. >> Um and I'm assuming since they're going to be three years that since it's yearly, they're probably going to stay at step one, two, or three.
>> They the max unless they're coming in with we will give credit. I always call it credit for time served. Um, so unless they've done so >> a very similar Yeah, it's different. Uh, unless they've done very similar work somewhere else, like if they, you know,
move from another department as a cso, we would give them credit and we might start them at step two that they could progress up through step four. In this position, I don't know that that's going to happen real often. Usually, this is an entry level college student that's looking to get into this line of work. So,
>> it's nice to have them as a potential they could get to the top, but a chance of them getting to the top. It's kind of a cost saving in a way. >> Sure. Yes. >> But we're not going to be paying uh step five for a cso. >> I would say that's highly unlikely. Yeah. >> But it's there if we need it. >> Correct.
>> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. I will make the motion to establish a and posting of a part-time community service officer cso position with the Wyoming Police Department. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> We have a second by member Anstad. All in favor? I opposed.
>> So approved. All right. Council reports. Uh let's start with memberstad. >> I have nothing to report. >> Okay. Member Schilling. >> Uh nothing to report. Happy new year everybody and anybody watching. >> Member Joerger. >> No report. Thank you for coming. Thank you for watching and happy new year.
Hope it's prosperous and h and exciting. >> Member Luger. >> I also have no report. Thanks for coming and watching. >> I have no report. However, we should have an update on coffee with the cops coming up. So, two next week. I think it's next week.
>> It is the if I remember correctly off the top of my head, the 21st is in my head. Yes, the 21st at 8 a.m. at the McDonald's in Wyoming. Um, we'll have I will be there as well as other officers. Um, it's great place. McDonald's is very
hospitable. They provide the coffee. Um, great environment to stop by um inside and uh have ask us questions or anything else that's on your mind. Yeah, it's a great turnout. >> No agenda. Yeah, >> whatever's on your mind. >> Come and talk. So, okay. And Mr. Reeves, have we gotten our snowplow name
snowplow decaled and all that kind of stuff yet? So, it it's been out in this weather recently. >> Yep. Absolutely. >> Okay. Fabulous. We should get a picture of that with you guys in it and post it. >> Yeah, that would be fun. >> Yeah, that'd be a lot of fun. All right. Um, so with that, um, there's nothing
else. So, we need a motion to adjurnn. >> So moved. We have a motion to adjourn by member Lucer. Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by member Schilling. All in favor? >> I opposed.