HomeMy WebLinkAbout20211115 - Workshop MinutesHastings, Minnesota
City Council Workshop
November 15, 2021
The City Council of the City of Hastings, Minnesota met in a workshop on Monday, November 15, 2021
at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Hastings City Hall, 101 East 4th Street, Hastings, Minnesota.
Members Present: Mayor Fasbender, Councilmembers Vaughan, Leifeld, Folch
Members Absent: Councilmembers Fox, Lund, and Braucks.
Staff present: City Administrator Dan Wietecha
Asst City Admin Kelly Murtaugh
Fire Chief John Townsend
Assistant Fire Chief Chris Paulson
Mayor Fasbender called the workshop to order at 5:40 p.m.
Chief Townsend presented an overview of the Fire Department. He presented details on current staffing
and staffing changes over the last five years. He provided a summary of the 2021 accomplishments for the
Department. He presented data on the call volume increases in last 6 years and how the current staffing
has responded to the increases. He provided a description of the types of services provided by the
Department. Chief Townsend presented some recommendations to address some of the challenges faced
by the Department.
Council discussion on how the calls come in to the Fire Department and the staffing needs and how that
varies depending on the type of call. Council discussed the challenges in attracting paid on-call
firefighters and how paid on-call staff view the position once in it. Council also discussed the variety of
services for the size of the department.
Council would like more discussion on the topic to better understand their ability to influence policy that
helps address the current situation. Workshop will be continued on Monday, December 6, 2021.
Workshop adjourned 6:56 p.m.
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Mary D. Fasbender, Mayor Kelly Murtaugh, City Clerk