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-The department is currently fully staffed with 30 sworn officers and 7 <br /> support staff. <br /> -The department is currently in the process of hiring a receptionist. <br /> - The department received a grant to create a community engagement officer. <br /> Officer Whitney Rinowski has been assigned the position. Chief Schafer will <br /> provide more details on the position at a later Commission meeting but he <br /> did explain that this was a multi-year full time position and Officer Rinowski <br /> would focus on engaging with businesses in the community, neighborhood <br /> outreach,working on issues related to mental health and homelessness and <br /> work with City staff on code enforcement issues. <br /> -The budget for 2021 includes two new squad cars and funding the first <br /> phase of radio replacements for the department. Phase one includes <br /> replacing portable radios. Phase two will include new video cameras for the <br /> squad cars which will interface with the body worn camera systems <br /> currently in use. <br /> -Department staff received their first round of COVID vaccinations. <br /> 6. Fire Chief John Townsend provided a fire department update. <br /> -Overall EMS calls were down in 2020 compared to 2019. Fire calls were <br /> also down but just slightly. <br /> -Department staff received their first round of COVID vaccinations. Chief <br /> Townsend noted that some members of the department were diagnosed with <br /> COVID during 2020 but there were no known transmission at work. <br /> -The department remains in good shape with regard to PPE. <br /> -As the result of COVID,the department has implemented a different <br /> response model which includes staff responding to the station first and <br /> leaving the station as a second crew rather than having staff respond directly <br /> to the scene. <br /> -The department has 5 new hires and they have passed EMT training. <br /> -As of 2 02 1,the department has a new medical director through Allina <br /> Health. <br /> -The department is specing out a new fire truck and looking at the fleet <br /> overall. The department is utilizing a three engine model currently. <br /> -The department is undertaking a fire study and looking at their <br /> organizational model. The fire study will include a review of response times. <br /> -The department is currently undertaking a search for an assistant fire chief. <br /> The application deadline is the end of January. Chief Townsend is pleased <br /> with the response to date. <br /> -The annual department fire prevention awareness program, Keep the <br /> Wreath White,was successful. No red lights were added to the wreath this <br /> year. <br /> -Commission member congratulated Chief Townsend in being hired as Fire <br /> Chief. <br />