Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. It is 5:30
» and I will call our work session to order. So, members of the public are
always welcome to attend in person and we enjoy seeing all of you here.
Welcome. Um, and the public can also choose to watch our meetings on at
burnsvillemn.gov/meings /meings or Comcast channel 16 or 859.
The public can also participate through Zoom uh by joining us at zoom. us/join
and more information is available on our meeting web page and in the council
agenda packet. Our work sessions are um informal and we go directly to the items
that's on the agenda. So the first item on the agenda is the Burnsville Festival
and Fire Security and Chief Gentleman is presenting. The floor is yours.
» Good evening, Madame Mayor, members of the council. Thanks for having us. Uh
this presentation is going to be split in a couple of pieces. Um so we'll talk
first about kind of uh festival security and then we'll turn it over to the
members of the festival board that are here to talk about um the financial uh
piece and and requests that they have. So, uh, that's kind of where we're at.
Just as a quick reminder, uh, is the council, uh, the council requested us to
come back with additional information based on the request of the festival,
um, with their financials and [snorts] about a little more information on how
we come up with what we do for uh, the festival security. So, I'm going to turn
it over to Chief Smith uh, to cover the first couple of slides and then I'll
round it out uh, talking a little bit more specifically about the festival.
» Okay. All right, Madame Mayor Smith. >> Yes. Right.
» You're recognized. >> Well, thank you. Uh, Madame Mayor,
members of the council, I'm going to start with the sort of how we looked at
the risk assessment. Uh, we we look at this nationally, regionally, and then
we're going to talk about some of our local trends, uh, best practices, our
own experiences here in Burnsville, criminal intelligence that we gather
while we look at these community events. And at the end of the day, this is all
about community and staff safety. That's that's the goal of everything we're
talking about. Unfortunately, over the years, different
types of events that we've been concerned about have ultimately led to
violence, which is what has us concerned as we move forward into
this community event.
So, nationally, [snorts]
there's an average of over 20 active shooter incidents per year.
[cough and clears throat] Over half of those are in open spaces which would be
similar to the Burnsville Festival and Fire Muster. Again, that's what we
that's why we have a concern over this particular type of event. And the
incidents of community events have become more common.
We're going to go more nationally here. Not all of these were firearm related,
but to show sort of paint the picture of in Waca, you may recall in 2021 there
was the parade where someone drove a car through and there were five killed and
40 injured. 2024 in Kansas City was the Super Bowl parade. That was a shooting
incident that left one killed and 22 injured. And then more recently in New
Orleans was 14 killed and 57 injured last year.
more regionally. Last summer in June in Minneapolis, there was a shooting up at
Boom Island. Also [snorts] in Minneapolis, in August of 2025, one
killed and seven injured on Third Avenue.
Just this past month, there were four people shot in Martin Luther King Park
in Minneapolis. Metro State's graduation had multiple
shots fired up in St. Paul. And just I believe it was two weeks ago now at the
Eid celebration in Shakabe, there was a homicide. I will also add we are on an
email list that we get emails daily and unfortunately that there's seems there's
a headline that there is another incident I think was it Tulsa had a
shooting >> in the last couple days. So
» um unfortunate things that are happening out out in the community regionally. We
know that we have rival gangs in the metro area and that includes here in
Burnsville and other communities are also looking to increase their security
profile at community events including graduations which of course we're in or
just coming out of graduation season now. And we have had across the metro
increased security presence and I can say that there have been some incidents
where firearms have been located in close proximity to graduations here this
year. Locally here in Burns, we've had our own
incidents, right? In 2024, we had the shooting at Red Oak Park. In 2025, we
had the shooting outside of graduation. A lot of this criminal activity is known
to be tied to gangs. We've also heard of retaliation at threats, and we have
located firearms at some of these funerals as well.
Specific to the festival in FireMuster, in the last 5 years, we've had 130
police related incidents. Uh there's been fights, assaults, drugs, most
commonly related to young adults, um older children. In 2023, there was one
particular incident where we had to call mutual aid from our neighboring
agencies. And we have over the last two years
gained even more criminal intelligence of from our analysts of gang
at least showing up to the festival and fire mustard.
Uh one question that had been asked was how does this compare to uh party on the
plaza calls for service and we looked that up over the last several years.
We've had 11 calls for service. They were actually just officers calling out
as a community oriented policing or detail. So, we haven't actually had any
actual police calls for service. Some of that may be related to time of day and
just uh the activities that are happening there
versus at the fire buster. >> Any on the international festival?
» I don't have that information. We can certainly find that for you.
» Gangs love arts and crafts. [laughter]
Speaking specifically about our special events process within the city is police
department and fire department review all special event permit applications
and uh the festival and fire also [snorts] goes through that same process
that all other special events do. Uh when we look at those we consider trends
history again that criminal intelligence piece and the risk assessment to
determine recommendations. uh we try the least invasive approaches
for community safety factors to determine the the greater need
[clears throat] and in the festival's case for a number of years we've had
significant police presence on those grounds and really prior to implementing
uh the screening at the at the gates we really have maximized
the use of a our internal resources [cough] but b the approaches without any
type of invasive uh screening tools is we've maximized all those tactics that
we could and we still seeing those those criminal activity calls um on the
festival and fire muster grounds. Uh the festival board as well as city
staff agreed and the festival board adopted that they wanted a
family-friendly environment and to provide for the safety and security of
all participants. Those were their their two goals. Uh staff recommended to the
festival board last year to fence and uh have private security control access to
the events to the event. um [cough and clears throat] eliminate the
carnival, replace it with a family-friendly area, implement a
non-supervised minor policy after 7 p.m., ban weapons and face coverings,
and end the parade route at Civic Center. Uh the festival board did adopt
the majority of those. Uh they adopted the fencing and private security to
control access. Uh they kept the carnival but shut it down at 8, did a
non-supervised minor policy at 8 p.m., banned weapons and face coverings, and
then ended the parade route at Civic Center. So last year was was the first
year of that enhanced security presence. Uh from a staff perspective, we did see
a decrease in criminal activity, fights and assaults. Um we were also able to
enforce uh those that were trespassed. Uh they weren't able to return. One of
the recurring problems we had is with an more open environment is we weren't able
to necessarily keep those folks out. It was so porous they could come back in
pretty easily. Um, [clears throat] attendees also commented they
appreciated the security, but the long lines were definitely a concern.
[cough] As far as considerations, um, is, uh, if
the council were to direct staff, uh, to fund the additional security, uh,
funding options would include the economic development fund or the general
fund for that. Um should the council direct staff to do this uh in
consultation with the attorney's office? We believe that the contract should be
managed by staff as a matter of operations and maintain the appropriate
public purpose expenditure. So if if the council directs staff to to fund this,
we believe that the the agreement for the private security and screening
should be held by the city versus making it a donation to the festival nonprofit.
So So that's what I have with that. I'm
going to turn it over to uh I know many from the festival are here to present
the request and talk about their financials.
» Okay. Um council member >> question what what was the reason for
not adopting all the recommendations of staff
» for public safety for the festival? >> Uh madame mayor council August that was
just what we presented. There was discussion on it and um that's what they
amongst the discussion with the board that's what they came up with. So they
were >> right. Okay. Um the members of the board
can uh come to the table please there. >> Yeah.
» And um
and tell us what you're requesting because it appears that you're
requesting money that is not budgeted [cough]
for us. >> Sure.
» Madame Mayor, council members. >> So that people know who's speaking from
our public. >> Sure.
» Yeah. So your name um and that you're the me on the member of the Burnsville
Festival and FireMaster board. >> Sure. Uh I'm Jason Low. I'm an executive
uh vice chair on the Burnsville Festival uh board here. I've got a couple other
members here. >> John Hamilton
and I'm on the board. >> I'm Adam Duckado, the treasurer for the
festival. >> Well, welcome all of you. Okay. Who's
speaking on behalf of the board? um >> the executive vice president.
» Yes, I will. Yep. Please. >> So, I know from the last request it was
to bring some of the financials to the table to you guys to kind of get a
better understanding of how we've been performing over the last several years.
Um Adam's going to speak a little bit to that. And then the next piece is really
kind of around what the policy says when it comes to these legacy events and kind
of how things are are funded and maintained like that. I do want to
revisit that a little bit. That kind of sets the basis for kind of why we're
here and to talk about like is the policy in line with what we'd want? Is
there anything different we may want to do with it as it pertains to this?
So, with that, uh, turn over to Adam for the financials.
» I believe included in your packet is the balance sheet and P&L history of our
festival. Um, we are a nonprofit organization that
tries to fund and spend money according to what
our mission is to provide a good and safe festival for the community.
uh you can see that our our bottom line P&L es and flows uh due to various
factors um but uh it is noted in the um on the financials that we are at cash
basis so the timing of things I will note that you will see in the fiscal
year August or April 1st to March 31st of 26 there's a line item for security
for almost $14,000 that is for the prior year calendar year
25 event just so everybody's aware to [clears throat] clear that up. Um that
that's a piece that was unexpected as requested uh by the city that we felt it
was necessary to take on that expense for the safety of the community and all
members and that's the primary reason why we're here. Uh the other uh
significant line item relevant to this conversation is the entertainment line
item uh where we bring on entertainment, staging, audio,
uh fireworks, things like that to make it um an enjoyable experience for all
and part of that is um >> funded or reimbured by the city.
Um, since we have that background, [cough] can it be put up so it we're
transparent with all of this with what we're talking about?
» Yeah.
[clears throat] Because you're talking to people who are
elected to be the stewards of the public's money.
That's our role and it's our fiduciary responsibility.
So, if we're doing this uh and you're asking for the public's
money and you're presenting your your financials, I think the public needs to
see it. >> They see our budget.
» It's on our website and we talk to them and we everything we do is transparent.
So, I want this to be that as well. We understand as a nonprofit our Yeah.
» financials are >> But you're asking money from the people,
» correct? >> Yeah.
» Yes. >> So that's where that sticky point comes
in. >> Okay.
» One of my major roles with the festival is the fundraising component
which and we are supported supported heavily by the business community.
So, uh, fundraising is not necessarily a very glamorous or easy task, but we
understand that our responsibility is not not only to put on a festival where
everyone feels welcome. But now you add on to that a festival where everyone
feels safe, thus the extra security. And you know, heaven forbid that
something happens at the festival, not only is it going to reflect poorly on
the festival itself, but people don't draw a distinction between festival and
city. They they view it all as in one bucket.
So if something does go wrong, does go bad, it's also reflective upon the city.
And we are going to do everything possible to keep our guests, our
vendors, and our volunteers safe. That's our responsibility.
And you know, whether this council proves it or not, we're going to have
the security. And the impact on that is it leaves less for us to give back to
360 communities and the other nonprofits that we support.
Okay. So, in your statement of activity,
» yes, that would be the next page. Yes. >> Yeah.
» Here's where you can see our detail. Well,
» Adam, you want to walk us through because
» as I was speaking to before, you can see in alpha order, the security line item,
as I was speaking before, is towards the bottom of what you're seeing right
there. And
um we do have the support of the city in um relation to some of the costs of our
entertainment. You can see uh probably 8 to 10 items above that. uh the
entertainment cost. Uh we are in partnership with the city and in the
previous year we received reimbursement uh to the tune of $50,000 from the city
in in support of our festival. And if you look at a comparative numbers
from 23 at 48,000 to 24 to 55 and then the drop to 4,900
uh that is offset by the 50,000 from the city. Um and then for 26
the reimbursement from the city is included
in there. We, for transparency sake, we've prepaid $14,000 for fireworks for
our upcoming 26 event. That's why that looks high. But those are the
significant items as to the discussion today.
If there's any other questions, I can answer to the best of my ability.
» Did you say fireworks were included in your entertainment budget?
» Correct. >> Okay.
And that that reflects the 50,000 the city donated to the muster.
» Correct. >> So 24,000
that's so 10,000 of that is fireworks
» for the 2600 year. 14,000 of that is for fireworks
for the 26th [clears throat] event that has not yet happened.
» Just for comparability. So is the actual budget like 74 then and you're assuming
the 50,000 off of the 24? >> These are the actual give you the 24.
» These are the actuals. It's not necessarily the budgeted but where I'm
going with that is the amount that we spent in the fiscal year March 31st of
26 for the 25 event or related primarily to the 25
event is actually 10,000 not 24,000. 14 of it is related to the 26 event
upcoming. We prepaid that. >> So you got two two years in there. Then
» there's multiple. Yes. It it's an overlap of each year just for
comparative. >> What's your fiscal year then?
» March 31st. >> Okay.
» So this brings you to the end of your fiscal year then.
» Correct. >> All right.
» And what are you renting for60,000? Since you're in a park in Civic Center
Park, >> what are your rental your rental
expenses is 60,981. >> I don't know if Jason knows specifically
more in detail, but there is. >> So that's all the stuff we get from
crown. >> If I can ask a question, I'm sorry to
interrupt. I do not care to go through your budget line item by line item.
The city does not own this project. This is not ours to go through the
budget line item by line item. The only line item that we are concerned with to
talk about here tonight is about security.
» And I would hope that we can get back into this because otherwise we're going
to be here for several more hours. So, could we rope it back to the security
cost and focus in on that, please? >> Uh, I will be happy to do that. I was
just looking because they're asking for money.
And uh if that's the case you can John you said you can raise the money for
that. >> We are trying to
» it's a challenge. So right now >> we are behind target
» and you >> have a lot of expenses and what what we
do here is you know if uh you're you're asking for more money what can
you cut so that you can um provide the finances for your
» that is not the conversation we are having. The conversation is not about
what can you cut from your budget. The conversation is what are their security
costs? If then is council going to fund that or not fund that? That is the
discussion. >> Okay. If that's the case then yes.
» All due respect council member Schulz. This this festival gets $50,000 in cash
of taxpayer money plus another $118,000 in services. And I think it's uh our
duty to find out if that money is being spent properly. And so asking those
questions like I asked about the entertainment, I think that's that's
where the money goes. We need to know that. We have we have a [laughter]
» that really is not the discussion here. Oh, you that's
» you want to have a wider discussion about if they should get a dime from
this city is not the discussion council and if they should have to go over their
budget with council and ask for later that is not this discussion this
discussion is I am going to take this back and okay and and we're not going to
have
» a match people yelling at each other. So if the if we want to go to are we going
to fund this then that's a very easy conversation
» do we want to fund now that because we are already funding it at 50,000 and
then the overhead on all of this for this festival is over a h 100,000 or and
more >> 168,000
» 168,000 in costs that the the people of Burnsville is paying for and you're
asking asking for more. So members of the council,
» we're not going to have the discussion and the answer is no.
» We can have a discussion about the security and in fact I believe they
would like to present on the security and I would like to hear that portion of
it. We were able to hear that from our police and that was very helpful to
hear. I would like to hear specifically about the security from the festival and
I believe you have some some information that would be helpful to us in our
discussion. you have information that's going to be helpful for us to either
decide to fund it or not fund it. It wasn't in a budget.
» Understood. Yeah. No, I understand. I I mean the chiefs did a fine job of kind
of why we did it last year to really give the the proof of why this is
necessary. Um we obviously funded it through the festival last year because
we needed to and and it would definitely worked. Uh part of this is going back to
the policy to say how does this fit within it or is this going to be a
separate line item kind of to BJ's point of do we want to uh have the city then
take this on versus doing an a third party
» it's your festival you're a 501c3 you're responsible for the security of
your festival >> do do we have information on the legacy
policy Could we get a refresher on the legacy policy and what it is as regards
to regards to funding these festivals and
» Yeah, it's the policy is very clear. Bethany, can you pull it up please?
» Because it's very it's straightforward. >> We fund the festival at 50,000. ask
Jason to >> we reimburse you for 50,000 but to have
public safety public works and parks all of that personnel is over and above the
50,000
» Jason what is your understanding of the legacy policy as it relates to your
festival while they're pulling that up for us?
» Yeah, there's really two sections within here. one is definitely addressing the
50,000 or not to exceed 50,000, right, for entertainment, for the the fireworks
and the bands and stuff like that. There is another section, a paragraph in there
should be on page one that talks about for all legacy events, the city will
appoint a staff liaison. Um, but then it talks about the city will also
contribute to the cost of basic city services that'll support these police,
fire, public works, parks, equipment, labor, supplies, all of those things. So
this does fall under the umbrella of of police and that's why we're we're coming
to the table of asking like this is what the policy says whether it's right or
wrong. Um but this is a security matter for us that we know that we've got a
very good partnership with fire and police on this that have supported us
over the years. So, it's really that paragraph that really is the the point
of discussion.
» Is the word contribute? >> Excuse me.
» Is the word contribute? >> Yes.
» Okay. Not fully funded. >> No, it says contribute. Yeah. It's
ambiguous, right? It's a little open-ended.
» And we are contributing $118,000 in services. That's already perfect
festable to this point.
» And you want more? >> Actually, we're just we're coming here
for clarity really as well as hey, you know, we've got these added costs. We'd
like to bring it to the council to talk about it and how it applies to the the
policies and is there what what does that look like going forward?
» Okay. Members of the council.
Well, I'll go first so I don't have to go last. Um,
this is the people's money, but I don't know if there's some
misunderstanding of what this is for. This is a community event for
people
um, of Burnsville and the surrounding area.
This festival has been around for over 40 years. Um,
obviously these are things that they didn't really probably even think about
in the 1980s when they were doing this.
And it would be a shame to see um this festival go away
because in my mind then that means that the bad guys kind of win that we that it
would have if have folded to the intimidation of crime and gang
activity and so on because that's really why we're here.
Um, I've been in John's role as a fundraiser
for this festival [cough and clears throat]
years ago. Um, and it was hard then and it's probably even harder today with the
way the economy is. Um, the challenges today are much different
than they were in 2017. And so to just say go find more money,
go fund raise more, I think kind of oversimplifies the uphill task of of
what that is. Um, you know, as somebody that operates a business in Burnsville,
I get asked for money very very frequently
from different community groups. Um,
and so there's a usually a line of people asking for money, and the bigger
you are, probably the longer that line is. Um, and so I don't know what the
tolerance is for some of our larger businesses in town to just pony up more
money. Um,
so I do want to be sympathetic to the fact
that the city does spend quite a bit of money on this festival,
but if we're going to contrast it to the other festivals, it's kind of in a
different category. It's a different type of festival. Um, it draws
a uniquely larger
type of people. Um,
from kids to, you know, the people that are still hanging around at 11 that are
there to drink beer and play bingo. And there's just a wide swath of of people.
Um, so I'm maybe rambling now, but
I'm not totally opposed to at least doing this on a one-year trial and
[cough] see how it goes. And then maybe we revisit this in a year
and see if John can make headway in finding a security sponsor.
I don't know. >> Yeah. The other thing is we've also made
on the suggestion of public safety, we've made we've shifted, we've pivoted.
We took out the carnival. We've gone with a family fun zone with a
ninja course and more inflatables. We've got the area fenced in. So, we are
trying to do things as it relates to cost containments and crowd control. So,
we aren't running the festival as normal and saying, "Okay, now we need more
money." We've made adjustments to try to enhance the safety and security
of the festival. And uh there are people who may not be happy with some of the
changes we've made, but we're doing it for the betterment of the community, of
our guests, of our vendors, of our volunteers.
So, we are doing everything we can as relates to cost containments to and to
create a safe environment.
» Well, and that's going to make a big difference with the carnival gun. I
mean, I know speaking for myself, that's the one thing my kids look forward to
more than anything is the carnival. >> And I'm hearing it from my son
constantly of no carnival this year and try to explain that we're doing we took
out the carnival from a public safety perspective.
So, we'll see what happens.
» Okay. Anyone else? Cara, >> I I I am happy about zero of this as
probably everyone can tell. Um, I
I think if I think if the city is going to put conditions on and I realize that
they were meant as suggestions, but it's it's never a suggestion when you're told
you need to beef up your security that it stops being a suggestion. Then um
when the city starts to put those parameters
um on these festivals and on these organizations,
there are also consequences not just to the
organization, not just to our residents and visitors, but to the city and and
how how our residents fund this as well. Um
I'm amendable to this year. I'm amendable to this year
helping with this and using the ensuing time to try to figure out a better
solution because my concern is some of our other festivals are going to even
though they're much smaller may start to see some of these parameters happening
with them. Maybe not. I don't know. Um but then we're looking at multiple
escalating costs which I am not interested in um
so for for this year I'm interested in this but what I would like for council
to take up is the ambiguous relation ambiguous language
of the city will also contribute the cost of basic city services because that
is the problem that we're having right now is we have
vague language in our document on how to do this and
that's that's why we're having this discussion because
there was a suggestion of what we had to do cost rights but we do we don't have
in the policy clear language of how to do that. So
my suggestion to council like our work would be that we take this up and maybe
maybe clean that language up and then it's then it's not a well what do we do?
It's like we have clear-cut policies then. But maybe I'm alone in feeling
that our policy in that section is vague or maybe we do want it to be vague to
have latitude. I'm I'm open to that discussion as well.
» Okay. Yes, Council Member Gustson. >> Um [clears throat] we're not talking
about ending the festival funding. We're talking about $18,000.
The rest of your funding is there. The services are there. the the festival has
known since last year that you needed additional security. I would assume the
board would have taken that up to make arrangements to make that happen without
coming to the city for more money. And that's really what we're talking about
here. And it's a you get a fair amount of money from us
already and I and I think you've been you've you already had to do it last
year so you knew it was coming. This is not a surprise to any of you and you
should and I think your board before they voted to do this should have voted
to make plans for adding the security because you're talking you're talking
about private security here. You're not talking about adding more police
officers and things like that. You're bringing you're bringing in machines the
city doesn't own either. So I mean there are there are different things that are
happening in that respect. And so it's it's your responsibility just like it is
any any business out here like Buck Hill and that that does does uh concerts and
that public service tells them the same thing. They have certain things they
have to do to do these things and they do it. They have to pick up the cost and
they figure it in doing and they plan accordingly according to what they have
in their budget. And so for me it's an additional 18,000 at this point. No.
» Okay. Council member Keely, I'm according to uh February 12, 2024 um
legal council to us and this has to do with
the city council conflict of interest limitations. So I think at this point
you are the chair of an organization because the question was asked can a
council member who serve on the board of an [clears throat] organization that
would gain financial benefit from the council uh approval of an item uh bring
the item to the council for discussion while uh abstaining from voting or
discussing the item themselves. Uh the question was also put forward that can a
council member who serves on the board of an organization that would gain
financial benefit from the council uh approve of an item discuss and vote on
the item. Both answers from the attorney is no and he cites state statute along
with that. Uh and also um legal um
um
opinions on all of that. So on both of that, I'm not going to ask you to
comment if you agree with that or >> I don't uh I have a comment to make. I
will not be recusing myself from this vote because there is no conflict of
interest in my opinion. >> Okay.
» First, I serve on the Burnsville Festival strictly as a 100% unpaid
volunteer, meaning I have no personal financial stake whatsoever in this
decision. >> Second, the additional security was not
requested by our board. It was recommended by the city's public safety
representatives. Under the city's established legacy policy event, the
city is responsible for public safety and public works costs for approved
community legacy events. Buck Hill is not a legacy event because the
Burnsville Festival is designated as a legacy event and by the by far the
largest uh with the lowest cost per attendee uh funding compared to the only
remaining festival, the international festival. Um, it aligns with our
standard policy and my participation is entirely
consistent with past practice. City council members who volunteer their time
on boards or legacy festivals have not recused themselves 100% of the time when
this kind of thing comes before us, including you, Madame Mayor, with the
international festival. I think it's only fair given that no interest in the
volunteer, no interest in the nonprofit either. You don't. Dan didn't in his uh
legacy festival other than a desire to give our own personal time to help
just like every other volunteer does for these community events.
I will be voting on this. >> Okay.
» And I will comment more if necessary, but I'm I'm good with what's been said.
» Okay. Um I don't serve on the board of the International Festival, but I do
help raise money for them. I uh but I don't come here and ask for money.
Um, I voted against the uh the the the legacy um
amount 50,000 to the Burnsville Festival and 10,000 to the International Festival
and uh the arts and all that jazz was not was not in
was not active anymore and I voted against that. So for me, because it is
about the people's money, it is a 501c3 and it is a wonderful event for our
community and I hope that it continues and that um
there is money from the people. This is the people's money. It's not a
bank account that comes out of the air somewhere. Mayor, we are very very aware
that this is the people's money that we're asking for that is not lost on
this board or the >> my partners up here and we will continue
to work post festival during festival >> with public safety
» on any adjustments that we need to make to make the festival
safe and secure. But we do not take this request for granted and we had a lot of
discussions about it. But it it's it's an expense that didn't exist
three or four years ago. This is new and maybe the threat is maybe being a little
bit greater, but we do take it that we are asking for the people's money and we
will be proper guardians of that money.
that you need to be proper guide guardians of the safety of the festival.
Our public safety personnel have done an assessment risk and that even though
things change in our in our society, in our country, things change, people make
adjustments. So this is part of the festival's responsibility
and it it's like uh anything else but the thing is
this is not there is not an approval on a budget for
this which means it has to have an amendment to the budget.
» Understood. >> Yeah.
And this is um
for me I voted against it and I'm going to also do the same thing because for me
it's statutoily our fiduciary responsibility is public
safety. It's what our police and fire do each and every day to keep the community
safe. P public works. Make sure that every infrastructure above and below the
ground, all those assets, that's what the people are expecting us to take care
of. Our 76 parks, that's what the people expect of us to take care of. That's
what they're making their tax pay uh their taxes pay for. all of our um
economic development and community development aspects
» everything that we need to do >> call the question
» okay I will call [laughter] the question we've heard that
» yes and I think so the question is do we fund this but I want the people to
understand where this is coming from so the question is called um do we want to
fund the $18,000 that the festival is asking for. And
with that is the uh recommendation from staff that it is
if we're going to find the money for it because we don't know where the money is
coming from. It's not budgeted. We're going to have to find that $18,000.
So the question is, do we fund it? Then we have to come back with an amendment
to the budget as to what then are we going to take away to fund the $18,000.
So nobody wants the festival to go away, but
there are some expenses that in putting on a festival like this that you have to
then own. So the question is do we want to fund
it? And with that is um Chief Jungman, your recommendation was that the city is
um takes control of that contract with the security.
» Madame Mayor, members of the council, staff would does not have a
recommendation. staff would just say for consideration. There's I if the city's
going to fund it, the best practice in this situation would be for the city to
to execute the contract and pay for that directly. If if the city is funding it,
» madam mayor, >> yes,
» when someone calls to question, there is no more discussion and [cough] you have
the thing. >> We have proceeded to lead the discussion
that should not be taking place. >> I'm going to ask for the second time. I
called the question. >> The question is called so who is there's
a motion to uh fund it >> and there been a motion to fund it.
» I I did not >> there might have been if I haven't heard
a motion because the question the question isn't however you call the
questioning chair of the meeting has not respected that and continued the
dialogue. >> Don't you need a motion in a second to
call the question? >> So the who is making the motion
» the question stops discussion. >> Who is making the motion so that then
the question can be called? >> I will make the motion. No,
» I will make the motion. The motion that I will make, although this is not a
formal vote because we are in a work session. So, this is a
» we can vote formally in this out there. It's more televised,
» but we still need to do the vote later to amend the budget. Correct.
» That's correct. Different. >> Is that correct, city manager
» or no? Yeah. Uh, Council Member Schultz, Madame Mayor, members of the council, it
would be my recommendation, and this would be similar to what we've done in
past legacy event conversations, that we would bring back a budget amendment to
memorialize the council's direction from tonight's discussion.
» Perfect. Thank you. Okay. So, the motion I will make is that we fund the $18,000
for security for this legacy event for one year.
Uh, and that is the motion that is on the table.
I will need a second. >> Um, does that include that staff uh
provide if if it's funded that it's staff that will execute the um contract
» contract is currently executed. We'll cancel it and the city will take it
over. >> Does that work? That will not create a
problem with the contract. >> Not a problem.
» Okay, I accept that amendment. >> Okay. And who
» I'll second that. >> There's a motion in a second. All in
favor, please say I. >> I.
» Uh oppose say nay. >> Nay.
» And so that this clerk have the division of the house.
» I do, madam. >> Okay.
But this isn't done because we have to find the money because we have to amend
the budget. >> Half of it's covered by the art and all
that jazz allocation of 10,000. That's not going to be used.
» You haven't used it for years. >> For two years. Oh, then it's all
covered. >> So it's not there. So it
» just because it's not used doesn't mean that it it was budgeted.
» Okay. Thank you very much. >> Thank you.
» Thank you, mayor. Thank you, council, for listening to us.
» Thank you.
» Okay. The next item on the agenda is violent crime reduction unit.
Um, presenting is uh, Chief Matt Smith. You're recognized and the floor is
yours. >> All right. Thank you, Madame Mayor,
members of the council. I am uh, going to talk about the Violent
Crime Reduction Unit. Uh, the Minnesota State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
has had this unit running for the past three, three and a half years. It's a
statewide task force that investigates violent crime, illegal firearms, and
organized criminal activity, and it it really supports the city's
broader violent crime reduction strategy. I think, as we've just been
talking about, we are concerned about violent crime, and this is an
opportunity for us to be part of a proactive unit. We know that violent
crime and and criminals there there are no borders for that. And so this would
allow us to bring an investigator to the BCA's task force and really again
proactively get after some of this violent crime.
Like I mentioned, the the VC crew, as they call it, was created
[cough and clears throat] in 2023 [laughter] using state legislative
funding. It's a multi- agency task force that combines local, county, and state
law enforcement resources. And it would support regional investigations. And an
added benefit is is information sharing. Our
participation, if approved, would be we would assign one investigator full-time
to the BCA's V crew. It's a three-year commitment through a joint powers
agreement. And this investigator would support these regional investigations
involving violent crime, narcotics, trafficking, homicide, and more.
The benefits of this of joining this program, it strengthens Burnsville's
ability to address violent crime. uh should we have an incident here in
Burnsville, this unit would be able to dispatch investigators out to assist us
also. At the same time, our investigator would also take on Burnsville case as
well, part of this unit. So, in that way, it expands our investigative
capacity and gives us access to more regional resources.
Again, working that closely with local, county, and state partners, it improves
our coordination with them. And once again, it supports the ongoing city
council priorities related to community safety and violent crime reduction.
The BCA, the state is offering to pay salary and benefits for this person,
including overtime reimbursement of up to $21,000 annually. They will also pay
for the vehicle, computer, phone, any travel that would be necessary as part
of this this endeavor, uh, and any training.
If we were approved to do this, we we recognize the importance of this
proactive opportunity. We also don't want to rob Peter to pay Paul. We would
like to provide an investigator to this without having to take from one of our
other divisions being patrol or investigations. So our request would be
to backfill that assigned investigator position within the department
by adding an FTE. If state funding were to end in the future, we would stabbing
impacts would be managed through attrition. We are fairly confident that
it will be funded again. So the consideration for council is does
the city council council wish to participate in the violent crime
reduction unit through a joint powers agreement and if so does the council
council wish to approve a state-f funded budgetneutral FTE with a budget
amendment
» okay >> with that I will take any questions or
any questions
Yes, >> Madam Mayor, I love it. I think it's a
great idea given the circumstances [cough] that were laid out in our prior
prior issue about the trends in Minnesota, in our community, and others.
Uh the city has to beef up like we have for the last three years by adding 15
additional police officers. We have to be beef up our men and women on the
street in the boots on the ground and participate in joint efforts like this
that can help uh continue to keep our city safe and thwart the trends that are
sweeping the nation unfortunately. >> Okay, any other comments?
» I think it was a great idea. >> Okay,
» I [snorts] agree. Um and I'm happy [cough] that it's with the BCA. I think
they're doing a very good job in the state right now. Um,
and it's a solid group to partner with on something like this.
» This is a great idea because we also are part of another joint powers agreement
with the county um where we're looking at all of the
other criminal activity. But with this one, the BCA is paying for the person.
This is the big difference between the two, but they're both going to help us a
great deal. This one, they're going to pay the salary and benefits, and that's
what our I want our uh residents to understand about this. It's a great
idea. It's good for all of us, but they're also funding that position. And
um and then what we need to do is backfill while that individual is out.
But because we're not funding this individual, because the BCA is funding
it, we can back that. [cough and clears throat]
» So, >> Madame Mayor, members of council, that's
correct. And I we do appreciate all of the support we've had over the last
several years. >> And like you said, this will add to
that. >> Yeah.
» I I didn't mention we would be the only agency represented from Dakota County on
this task force as well. >> I know. Congratulations. Out of all of
the cities that they talked to, they chose Burnsville. Well, that says
something about the quality uh and the expertise of our officers and the work
that we do and how we deliver it. So, congratulations.
» Thank you, Madam Mayor. >> Madame Mayor, I I think it also speaks
to how crappy the other cities are and how wonderful we are. So, we should
always just put that out there. Haha. [laughter]
No, the other cities do very well as as well, but we we our heads and shoulders
above. [cough]
So, thank you. So, um what we're going to do then is that uh
this will come back then for formal approval at a council meeting
» of the >> Madame Mayor, members of the council,
this would come back at next Tuesday, the 16th council meeting. Okay, very
good. I'm glad that we [clears throat] put this on um work session so the
community can learn about it because this will be on a consent
agenda. >> Madame Mayor, I I would agree. We were
we did want people to hear about this because it is such a a great opportunity
» for us to supply this investigator to the BCA and be part of this proactive. I
think that's the important word here, too. proactive unit to go after violent
crime >> and that's and that's what we're doing
with everything is really understanding because all of us want violent crime off
the streets and so this is good thank you
» okay >> madam mayor members of the council so I
clear on direction I think that I'm hearing the council is unanimously
supportive of participation and the state funded FTE budget amendments Yes.
» Um uh is the council agreeable to that as a consent agenda item?
» Yeah. >> Yes. Next Tuesday, right?
» Yeah. Because um >> the background is such
» Yeah. The background is was very clear that BCA is going to fund our our
officer salary and benefits.
» Madam Mayor, members of the council, that is correct. Um the budget amendment
will reflect um I as city manager don't have the authority to add an FTE to the
budget. So it will reflect an amendment for an FTE. Uh it will also uh reflect
an amendment uh to the budget for the expenditures that would be associated
with that FTE and then the reimbursement revenues in the budget. So uh to make
sure that we're dotting our eyes and crossing our tees from a finance
perspective. >> Well done. Okay.
Very [cough] good. Thank you for bringing it to work
session so our community can learn about it.
» Thank you, >> madame mayor. Thank you.
» Thank you. Uh the next item is the civility pledge. Um Bethany.
» Uh good evening, Madame Mayor and members of the council. The I am uh here
to talk to you about the civility pledge. If you recall, just a few short
months ago on April 14th at your round table discussion, the city council
directed staff to schedule this work session discussion. Um so you could talk
about the possibility of um moving forward with the civility pledge. Uh
that is of course some resources. The National League of Cities um shares
these resources and encourages cities to adopt local pledges aimed at
strengthening respectful public discourse. Um and in your packet tonight
and I have some extra copies here if anyone needs. Um there's a couple
resources that the NLC provides for these. There's a template um
proclamation that um you know it's to lead with civility, dignity, respect. So
there's a template that cities can use as a suggestion. And then there's also
um both a poster and and like a handout plaque um placard for something the
dignity index which is an eight-point scale that measures what we do when we
disagree. So that was the resources that council member Keley shared and that
we're bringing back to you tonight for really your discussion. So just again
bringing this back based on your direction. um and asking if the city
council would like to adopt a civility pledge for it meet its meetings and
interactions
» discussion.
I didn't really have an issue with this the last time we talked about it.
» Yes, >> I'll go. So, council, do you have a
cough drop? Anything? >> I have one in my mouth. Sorry, man.
» It's not working. >> It's just No, it's not working.
» I do think we should adopt this. I think all cities should adopt this. Um, I do
believe that civility is not a sign of weakness. It's a foundation for
effective leadership and I think we uh exemplify that even when we disagree and
have a healthy debate. Um I I we don't need to see eye to eye on every
issue and every vote. Clearly we don't. But that also is a sign of a healthy
debate. So
um you know we can still work hand in hand as we do almost all the time. To me
this this pledge is very simple. It puts public service back ahead of political
theater. And I think at the municipal level, this is where the rubber meets
the road in civility. I'm in support of this.
» Okay. >> I just want to know that we're going to
live by it if we do this.
» Yeah. So I think all of us agree that we all need to be civil
and uh we have lived in Burnsville
and have [cough and clears throat] really nurtured a culture of civility
and values not only on the council uh values that are in this
uh chambers but also the values within the organization
and then how our people exemplify that in our community and how
our residents experience that um civil
compassionate and
kindness in the way that uh our staff works with people. So, if we're going to
um do this proclamation, I would ask my colleagues on a council that we
acknowledge the work that Burnsville has done in the wherees that it's not we're
just not doing this just because this came about because of all of the
activities uh on political violence across the country.
Burnsville has been working on this. I want that to be acknowledged as the
first whereas the second whereas need to acknowledge the work that this
organization has been doing all along to create a culture of civility and values
that deal with truth and compromise and so forth takes a long time to do that.
the things that we do whether it's the festivals or um what we do in our parks
how we engage with our people we've been doing that I want a whereas that
acknowledges all of that and then we can say now therefore because
uh the US conference of mayors uh council member Keley um back in
March of uh of this of last year adopted
a declaration that reaffirms commitment to American values of pluralism,
compromise, truth, and civility. So, we signed all of that.
So I would like for the now for the now therefore the city of Burnsville
uh supports the civility pledge
because we've been doing all of that and so we're saying yeah that fits but I
would like the different whereas as um um Bethany and but um
» madam mayor city manager I think this was made A comment was made I think by
me the last time when I brought this up. I think this is building upon what we
already have and so I agree 100% with your comment.
» Yeah. And that's so um city manager Lindberg
in terms of the proclamation and the different whereases and then the now
therefore we
» I think we can maybe staff should work on some language draft and then bring
» on the proclamation.
Everybody agrees with that on the >> what you how you added to that. Yes.
» Yeah. Because I think I don't want to lose what we just because
» nobody does. Absolutely not. >> We have done a lot.
» Yeah. Okay. Terra is Yeah. So everybody's thumbs up.
» City manager, are we okay with putting together a
proclamation? Uh madame mayor, members of the council, yes, we can absolutely
put together [cough] a proclamation to uh reflect the council's conversation
and commitment to civility um and our our unique past history related to the
conversation. That is not a problem at all.
» Uh for the council's information, we do have a policy that that says that staff
and the mayor coordinate uh proclamations. Uh I could bring a
proclamation back to the council at a work session for further discussion. Um
I don't know if the city clerk has >> just one small point. I believe it's a
resolution. >> A resolution not a proclamation.
» Okay. >> So we can figure out those you know
» which which which tool are we using a resolution to proclamation to
» is that correct? >> Yeah.
» Yeah. >> Whatever whatever is the correct tool
for us to use. >> Okay.
» But the now therefore but don't ever miss the things that we're doing. I
don't want that. And really at the at the end of the day, Madame Mayor
Council, it's it's your choice. Be it a proclamation or a resolution. We can we
can [clears throat and cough] approach it either way.
» Yeah. >> Well, how about if we take a look and
see which is the appropriate tool? >> Mac, just so I'm understanding, were you
suggesting that the from your perspective the more appropriate course
of action would be a resolution? >> Um, isn't and I was just double checking
what we have in the agenda packet is a proposed resolution. Correct. It's
actually a sorry the >> there is a nope it's it's
» there is neither in the >> it it doesn't matter
» I'll I'll look up to see how this is handled
» in other cities and we'll bring it back >> staff if if the council is comfortable
and agreeable staff will look at the appropriate mechanism and draft some
language and I'll come back to you uh with a a proposed path forward that is
most efficient and effective whether that be another work session
conversation or uh we bring that to a regular agenda conversation of the
council. Uh we can [laughter] we can make that determination and communicate
in the future. >> All right. Very good.
» Agreeable. >> Yep. Yep. It's a good path forward.
» I like it. >> All right. Thank you so much. All right.
Um and now the next item is roundt. There's nothing on round table. So
reports. Vince. >> I got nothing.
» Cara, >> nothing.
» Okay. And I have nothing. >> Quick question. Quick question.
» Holiday. >> When will that come back uh to the
council? Roughly. >> I'm I'm leaving for the NLC leadership
uh in early June. And I'm just curious if this
» it'll probably be done in July. >> Would it come back?
» The next work session is July. >> Is that likely how it would come back as
a work session or a >> finished product ready for a council
regular council meeting? >> That's fine. Whichever way. I just want
to get an idea. >> Yeah. Yeah, if there's a if there's a
timing, we can our next meeting is >> I don't think there's a timing.
» No, not so much. I just want to be able to represent the city of Burnsville that
we have uh adopted or will be adopting. Right. That
» either way, >> I think you can say that already.
» Yes, >> we're putting it together. We we
discussed it and >> I do think there is a very efficient
path forward here, Mayor Council. I I don't think this is complicated. So,
» okay. Thank you. That's good to know. And there are a lot of eyes watching.
There are a lot of cities taking this discussion up around the country. Um and
many know that we are talking about it tonight. So I just wanted to uh
» well >> get a sense as to when we would bring it
back for that final proc or re. >> Yeah. Because you know it's something
that everybody's talking about. >> Yeah.
» Dan, I mean we took this up at the US Conference of Mayors last um March. So,
» so did we uh you know and we all signed the declaration but it continues to move
forward. >> Okay. If there's nothing else, um
Michelle, do you have anything? >> Take it to baseball.
» Okay. If there is nothing else to come before us, we stand adjourned by
acclamation. [clears throat]