This transcript has been formatted with speaker names based on the context provided and the dialogue within the text. Note: While the provided list of council members includes specific names, the transcript features individuals addressed as "Council Member Wayan" and "Council Member Troutman" who were not on the initial list. I have used the names as they were addressed by the Mayor during the meeting. *** **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** yeah did I get it right how about that thanks all right I'm ready good evening everyone I'm going to call to order the April 9th city council meeting it is 7 PM if you are able please join stand and join us for the Pledge of Allegiance thank you we have the open Forum you can call into the open Forum by dialing 4156550001 use webinar access code 2632 188 8516 and the password is is 1 two 3 4 it doesn't look like there's anyone on the line all right if you're here in person when you come up you can identify yourself with your name and your address and sign in on the sheet and then I'll start timing after that and everyone has three minutes um I have one request to speak is there anyone else that wants to turn one in um all right so it looks like we have a second request so we can get a sheet back to Mr ernster so I'm G to go ahead and call on Heidi gbor from and you can come on comment up **[00:00:00] Heidi Gyore:** good evening mayor and council members Heidi gyore 6915 Wentworth here in Richfield um I am confused about something and I'm hoping that you can help me understand I realize that you can't say anything in response to me here but I probably am not the only one to have this question so I hope that perhaps an explanation can be given on the city of richfield's website and or in the suncurrent um as recently as today the city of Richfield is encouraging the public to give input put on a survey for the new Wood Lake Nature Center building by urging us that we need your Insight whether you're a daily user or have never been to Wood Lake we want to know what you would like to see in a new facility but in last Thursday's suncurrent newspaper of April 4th in the small print legal notices I noticed that there was a request published for a construction manager for preconstruction and Construction Services for the Nature Center building along with specifications of what was to be included so I guess that the first piece of clarification that I'm looking for is that without full funding yet and still giving the public uh perception that our input is being sought and considered for how long have specific plans been set for the tear down and construction of a new building at Wood Lake and the second piece of clarification is the information that has been publicly shared is that this is to be a building to replace the Aging infrastructure of the Nature Center building but the city's solicitation for a construction manager specifies that duties will include removal of an approximately 4,000 square foot building and construction of a 19,000 square foot building that means that the new building will be nearly five times the size of the current space with this information together with the questions in the survey I'm led to believe that thought is being given to or plans are possibly already made to make this the big fitness center and banquet space that some have been angling for for years so a third question is are you going to continue to Value what the city has always termed in the past as the gem of Richfield Woodlake Nature Center as a Nature Center or are we going to take away more of the nature within the park to build the 19,000 square foot hulking fitness center and banquet facility with space for Nature Center activities within it I and I would imagine others uh will be interested in being presented with a transparent view of what is actually happening with this wood Lake Project thank you **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** thank you all right and then I believe there was another person Mr erster did you want to speak to D **[00:00:00] Larry Ernster:** hi Larry erster 6727 aliot Avenue South I have a process question that uh just came to me uh really didn't plan on speaking tonight but tonight on the proposed ordinances tonight's supposed to be the second reading on the salary proposal and and as a citizen in the first reading we haven't been really offered here's what we're going to do there's been a a three different options tonight we have three different options and so does it qualify that the city hasn't really presented a reading here's what we're going to do to the citizens but instead offered well here's things we may or may not do without a decision being made now if I reading the uh the papers tonight the packet it appears that what you want to do is increase salary by thousands of dollars give a raise in addition to their annual increase and we could end up with with a 7% property levity increase of 7% in our property taxes so it's a process question does what you've proposed actually qualify as a reading since no decision has been made on what you're going to do that's my question thank you **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** is there anyone else who wishes to speak and no no one else has called in so we're going to um close the open forum and move on to the approval of the minutes of the city council work session of March 26 2024 and the city council meeting of March 26 2024 **[00:00:00] Council Member Wayan:** I move approval of both sets of minutes **[00:00:00] Council Member Hayford Oleary:** second **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** it's been moved and seconded to approve both sets are there any corrections or changes all in favor please say I **[00:00:00] Council Members:** I **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all opposed all right we will move on then to the next part we have the approval of the agenda **[00:00:00] Council Member Wayan:** so moved **[00:00:00] Council Member Troutman:** second **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** it's been moved and seconded to approve the agenda are there any questions or changes all in favor of approving the agenda please say um I **[00:00:00] Council Members:** I **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all opposed and we've approved the agenda all right next we have the proclamation celebrating Arab American heritage month and I realized I don't have a copy up here so I'm going to read it from up here and then we'll be joined by the um member of the HRC that's joining us so let me open this up here to find it first here and maybe do I even have it in here okay thank you for your patience we're getting there and um we're gonna welcome a representative of the HRC Michael Ezra and thank you for page 12 okay make it easier just to go to 12 all right so I'm going to read it and then we'll you can join me up at the podium **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** whereas Arab American Heritage Month celebrates the beautiful intellectual and cultural heritage of Arab Americans and all their achievements and contributions to Richfield Minnesota the United States and the world and whereas Arab American Heritage Month began as an initiative in 2017 and with only a few states and cities it is now being recognized on a national level which began in April 2021 as President Biden became the first US president to Proclaim Arab American heritage month and whereas over 3.5 million arab-americans have contributed to many facets of American society including Arts business economics education and social services and whereas we celebrate the accomplishments of such distinguished arab-americans as journalist and speaker norori and representative Rashida Talib from Michigan and whereas Arab Americans have faced discrimination racial profiling and violence both domestically and abroad and whereas the city of Richfield is proud of the people community and business of Arab Americans and is looking forward to the continuing success of AR Arab Americans in our community now therefore I Mary Supple mayor of Richfield on behalf of the city of Richfield city Council to hereby proclaim the month of April 2024 as Arab American heritage heritage month in the city of Richfield and call on the people of revi to observe this month with appropriate programs activities and ceremonies and continue to honor the contributions of arab-americans throughout the year proclaimed this ninth day of April 2024 so if you want join me so thank you for receiving this Proclamation and also thank you to the Human Rights Commission did you want to add something **[00:00:00] Michael Ezra:** sure a quick statement here all right thank you mayor Supple and uh councel I would encourage all members of our community to listen to our Arab neighbors so that we may learn from them and Elevate their voices **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all right thank you so much thank you very much and then um clerk Leslie can I we get the signed copy we'll get that officially done after the meeting thank you all right is there any other comments or questions all right let's see moving on we have the consent calendar so I'm going to turn it over to city manager Katie Rodriguez **[00:00:00] Katie Rodriguez:** thank you mayor the consent calendar contains several separate items which are acted upon by the city council in one motion once the consent calendar has been approved the individual items and recommended actions have also been approved no further Council action on these items is necessary on tonight's consent calendar item a consider the approval of the first reading of an ordinance amending section 925 relating to the abatement of Public Health nuisances and assessment of abatement costs to property Item B consider the the approval of the new opioid Services agreement with the city of Bloomington effective January 1st 2024 through December 31st 2028 item C consider the adoption of a resolution identifying the need for livable communities policy development funding and authorizing an application for Grant funds item D consider a request for an for an amended planned unit development for a Time extension of an amendment to the construction agreement for a multistory parking ramp at 1401 77 Street East Audi Richfield item e consider the approval of the Intensive comprehensive peace officer Education and Training 2024 Grant between the city of Richfield police department and the Minnesota Department of Public safety's office of Justice programs to fund a non-traditional police officer candidate item F consider approval of a resolution authorizing the utilization of a construction manager at risk process for the Woodlake Nature Center building project and authorizing staff and the City attorney to complete the selection process and engage in contract negotiations item G consider the approval of the CDC infrastructure Grant Services agreement with the city of Bloomington effective January 1 2024 through November 30th 2027 the urban I'm sorry item H the urban urban area security Initiative Program funds address the unique risk-driven and capabilities based planning organization equipment training and exercise needs of high threat high density urban areas based on the cap on the cap capability targets identified during the hold on one second threat and Hazard identification and risk assessment process and Associated assessment efforts and assist them in building an enhanced and sustainable capacity to prevent protect against mitigate respond to and recover from acts of terrorism and I submit all these items for your consideration as part of tonight's consent calendar **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** I wanted to clarify in item H um we're considering accepting that uasi Grant agreement so just to clarify that **[00:00:00] Katie Rodriguez:** that is correct **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all right is there a motion **[00:00:00] Council Member Wayan:** so moved **[00:00:00] Council Member Hayford Oleary:** second **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** it's been moved and seconded do we have any discussion I want to thank all of the staff for all of the grant writing they've been doing there're a lot of resources that are coming into the city because of the hard work of the staff and when you go through here and at the majority of this consent calendar is grant money that we're bringing into the city all all right is there any other discussion all in favor of approving the consent Calendar please say I **[00:00:00] Council Members:** I **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all opposed all right we have approved the consent calendar next we're going to move on to proposed ordinances and I'm going to turn it over to council member Wayan **[00:00:00] Council Member Wayan:** thank you mayor um this items to consider the second reading of an ordinance amending subsection code related to City Council salaries for 2025 and 2026 chapter 2 Section 210 of the city code establishes the salaries of the city council subsection 210.14 provides that salaries of council members shall be reviewed by the city council by May 1st in each year in which an election is held pursuant to section 200 of the code an ordinance amending the salaries established by this section must not take effect until after the next succeeding municipal election the city has a 30-year history of providing the same cost of living increase to all of its employee groups the attached ordinance provides for increases in 2025 and 2026 to match the increases provided in the general pay plans for those years the anticipated cost of living increase for 2025 and 2026 is not known at this time the cost of living increase has has been 3% for the past 7 years and the 2025 increase will be set as part of the budget process in the past city council has also reviewed their salaries compared to other metropolitan cities uh there's information attached in the full packet on other metropolitan cities City Council salaries even with a 3% increase the city council salary would be in the middle of the pay scale for surrounding Metropolitan City salaries um so just to clarify uh this is not related to the uh work session topic for uh City staff uh salaries and pay um this is just for the five elected positions um the staff have anything to add on this item we're available for questions **[00:00:00] Council Member Wayan:** okay thank you um so then I would make the motion to approve the second reading of the ordinance amending subsection related to City Council salaries and approve a resolution authorizing summary publication of said ordinances **[00:00:00] Council Member Hayford Oleary:** second **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** okay it has been moved and seconded do we have any questions comments discussion I did have one question um it says in the staff report that it'll be part of the budget process can you kind of go through the steps for that **[00:00:00] Katie Rodriguez:** I can thank you mayor Supple so so each year we um we look at Cost of Living increases and we study that and check with our peer cities and then um give direction to the directors not only for cost of living increases but also uh to keep their budgets within certain parameters and that Direction gets given to them as part of the budget package in may we have not made that determination yet um however it has been col as for both Richfield and neighboring City well not even neighboring cities cities regionally has been about 3% but that has not that decision has not been made yet and so the past practice has been that the Council salaries are set to be consistent with the cost of living increases not Merit increases but cost of living increases that are set for the general pay plan **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** so to to reiterate what council member Wayan said this is separate from the comp and class study that we is at the work session **[00:00:00] Katie Rodriguez:** that is correct this is just for the elected positions and it refers to just the cost of living increase what we discussed at the work session was specif specifically the general and the specialized pay plans which is about 300 staff and looking at uh updating pay plans for them based on a 18-month study **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** thank you are there any other comments or questions all in favor please say I **[00:00:00] Council Members:** I **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all oppos we have approved the second reading and the authorized the summary publication next we'll move on to item six and I'll turn it over to council member Troutman **[00:00:00] Council Member Troutman:** thank you mayor uh this is a notification regarding the Richfield police department's plannned acquisition of unmanned aerial vehicles uavs and providing opportunity for public comment at a regular regularly scheduled uh meeting no other Council considerations or decisions are required unmanned aerial ve aerial Vehicles uavs commonly referred to as drones are used to assist law enforcement uh law enforcement with Public Safety and emergency responses law enforcement agencies across the country have utilized uavs because of the beneficial impact on Public Safety including the ability to gather information in response to realtime mercies missing persons crime scene documentation fugitive searches assessing severe weather damage community events and traffic accident mapping the Richfield police department plans to join 100 plus other law enforcement agencies in Minnesota with its own UAV program the city's use of the drones will be guided by Minnesota State Statute 6251 19 which governs the use of unmanned aerial aerial vehicles uh by law enforcement the statute requires a law enforcement agency to provide an opportunity for public comment before it purchases or uses a UAV at a minimum the agency must accept public comments submitted electronically or by mail the governing body with jurisdiction over a budget of a local law enforcement agency must provide an opportunity for public comment at a regularly scheduled meeting uh to fulfill this requisite the Richfield police department will accept public comment through an online survey via the Department's Facebook page and through an opportunity for comment at a Richfield city council meeting uh so the notification of um regarding the police department's planned acquisition of an unmanned aerial vehicle uavs providing an opportunity for public comment at a regular scheduled meeting um so we're going to we're going to open this up this is a this is a public hearing um is there anybody uh that would like to speak on the subject **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** we need to we're the date thank you that's why all this is the notice of the public hearing thank you I I I read that slightly wrong um so so this is uh there's no there's nothing mayor and council member **[00:00:00] Katie Rodriguez:** this is the public hearing okay it was not clear oh glad we clarified **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** yes so this is this is the this is the public hearing did I did I did I see that hand um Larry or Mr ernster Excuse me all right so we've opened up the public hearing and **[00:00:00] Larry Ernster:** iar 6727 alot Avenue South first I fully support the acquisition of this and I support the chief uh but I I've just been back from vacation early this morning so I haven't had a chance to prepare so I'm going to use this part of the public here to point out again process process um I think it's strange that uh if you look at the consent calendar item G consider the approval of the CDC infrastructure Grant with the city of Bloomington it's now April you want to consider the grant that started in January 1st uh it seems like a little mismanagement M there same thing if you look at item v consider the approval and I'm not against that I'm I I have fully support the program same thing I fully support Item B which is the opioid agreement however the process you're asking for approval for something that started in January 1st it seems uh more mismanagement and if I may so many times things are brought to the city council kind of a hurry up we have to do it or we'll lose it again if you look at uh the livable communities policy program uh the applications are due April 22nd **[00:00:00] Council Member Troutman:** Mr ernster uh mayor could I just interject only because we and this is just a clarification a point of order if there are comments that are not gerain to the subject is it appropriate to have um ongoing public comment that's not responsive to the topic of the public comment um if you could stick to the UAV question that would be great **[00:00:00] Larry Ernster:** okay um well again I fully support the chief in his acquisition of his drone all right thank you I couldn't resist pointing out City mismanagement **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all right thank you is there anyone else that um city manager Rodriguez **[00:00:00] Katie Rodriguez:** yes mayor and councel and I did want to correct myself I said this was a public hearing it is actually a public comment so it is not a formal public hearing **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all right does anyone else wish to comment on the uavs um did you want to um Chief henthorn did you want to go through the information with staff planning to present that **[00:00:00] Police Chief Jay Henthorne:** yes thank you Madame mayor members of the council I have tonight here Corey Smith who is the sergeant um who has been developing our our unmanned a aerial vehicle program for the last year and a half this is something that we've looked at um that other cities have had um we've modeled ours after uh some of what we've learned from other communities um both um in their programs but also looking at federal and state statutes so I'd like to invite him up to the podium um to have present a short PowerPoint um about what our program would look like like and obviously the statuto guidelines that we must follow um when we uh Implement a program like this **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** okay welcome and then after you're finished if there are further comments that anyone in the audience wishes to make we'll allow that as well so welcome and go ahead **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** thank you madam mayor and uh City Council Members I got a quick PowerPoint I'll go through um it should cover most of the state statute and kind of the idea around it um also with me today is Sean quali he works for vert on man Solutions he's going to be uh the company that we're going to be acquisitioning the drones from and doing some of the uh initial training for us uh so some of the UAV benefits uh there were Force multiplier they provide the ability to cover a larger area in a short amount of time um you know it extends kind of our ability on the on the ground with a few officers and getting a a higher overhead view kind of gives us the bigger picture of you know whatever the situation may be uh we can quickly deploy a UAV search area for suspects and missing persons and gives us a situational awareness provides a live feed with uh and gives officers live and accurate information to help with uh decision making during uh events **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** there a short video if it'll play this is um one of a not in Minnesota but another uh agency that that used drone with thermal technology to to find a missing 2-year-old that was lost in the woods it's a short video see here there's the officer on foot looking for the looking for the child and you'll see the Drone pan over to where the child is out in the woods which would be pretty hard to find uh at night without the use of the Drone and then the the officer flying the Drone can then guide the officers directly into the child or or firefighters First Responders uh you know to to rescue or save people uh there's over now there's over 100 Public Safety agencies currently using UAV technology throughout Minnesota numerous others are currently taking the steps necessary to start their own programs providing their communities with invaluable technology and life- saving capabilities according to the FAA there's currently over 50,000 Public Safety agencies with UAV programs throughout the United States and 17,9 185 of those are law enforcement agencies um so kind of the way that we're going to be Staffing it we'll have a program Commander that oversees the UAV program and ensure that department policies and state and federal laws are followed the commander will approve training ensure proper data collection and reporting to the BCA and the FAA **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** uh the sergeant will head up the day-to-day operations over the program be responsible for training documentation and supervision of all of the pilots um and then a lead pilot that'll be in charge of training maintenance and inventory of all the aircraft and its equipment some of the potential deployment scenarios we could look at would be life safety search and rescue of vulnerable or missing adults and children emergency situations that pose a risk to Public Safety water rescue flood weather assessments natural disaster response uh crime scene and accident reconstruction and mapping Community engagement and uh Public Works and inspections uh some of the fa rules and regulations that will guide us is must fly ad 400 ft and some areas in Richfield will actually be lower than that due to the proximity to the airport uh the drone needs to be kept within a visual line of side at all times by uh the pilot and the visual Observer uh can't fly in any restricted airspace without a waiver from the uh FAA the UAV must yield right away to all Aircraft and the UAV must not fly over crowds of people **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** Minnesota State Statute 62619 states that all authorized uses will comply with statute uh and um 62619 sub2 which requires a search warrant except as provided in 62619 sub3 and I get into that in the next page uh UAV are shown to significantly reduce exposure of the community to life and safety risk by allowing First Responders to leverage time distance and cover when handling violent dangerous and treacherous situations uh some of the prohibitive uses well all the prohib of uses per 62619 are the agency must comply with all fa requirements and standards the agency must not deploy a UAV with facial recognition or other biometric matching technology unless expressly authorized by warrant the agency must not equip a UAV with weapons and the agency must not use the UAV to collect data on public protests or demonstrations unless expressly authorized by a warrant or an exception that applies under subdivision 3 **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** uh this is subdivision 3 the authorized uses during or in the aftermath of emergency situation that involves the risk of death or bodily harm to a person over public event where there's a heightened risk to the safety of participants or bystanders to counter the risk of a terrorist attack by uh specific individual organization that the agency determines the credible intelligent uh indicates a risk to prevent the loss of life and property and natural or man-made disasters and to facilitate operational planning rescue and Recovery operations in the aftermath of these disasters to conduct a threat assessment and anticipation of a specific uh uh event to collect information from a public area if there's Reasonable Suspicion of criminal activity to collect information for crash reconstruction purposes after a serious or deadly Collision occurring on a public roadway over a public area for officer training or Public Relation purposes and for purposes unrelated to law enforcement at the request of the government entity provided that the government entity makes the request in writing to the law enforcement agency and specifies the reason for the request and the proposed period of the use um agency data the BCA agency stats this is I tried to find current ones but they haven't posted them yet um so as of 20 20 22 there's been 98 agencies reporting using their uas and a total of 376 deployments 1328 were for training or Public Relation purposes 699 were during or in the aftermath of an emergency situation that involves a risk of death or B harm to a person 488 of them were for crash reconstruction purposes and 561 for other uses regarding Public Safety **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** transparent accountability every use the UAV will be reviewed before uh approval by a unit supervisor and each flight will be thoroughly documented third party software will store and upload all flight data this includes the dates time altitude speed and direction of the UAV and the camera any complaints can be thoroughly investigated with the stored flight data UAV flights program costs and additional data requirements will be sent to the FAA monthly and BCA annually based on statute and privacy the agency must not use a UAV to conduct random surveillance activities per 62619 drones will not be deployed to Target uh drones will be deployed to targeted felony level crimes K9 searches and state patrol helicopter assistance uh no facial recognition capabilities for State Statute policy um and the rich police department does not use it and all the drones that we will have are consumer drones the same drones that anybody would be able to purchase on their own um deployment will be to look for a specific suspect or suspects we are not looking for additional crimes or using it as a proactive tool and non-evident footage must be deleted as soon as possible and no event later than seven days after collection and that's per state statute and that's it so I'm uh any questions my have **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** does council have any questions council member Troutman **[00:00:00] Council Member Troutman:** thank you mayor and and thank you for that uh that presentation and um and thanks to to Chief hentor um who I had I had a few questions about about the the the Drone program and and and still still do um but but first I'd want to say that I recognize that it's an important and a useful tool and it's it it's it's obviously a tool that would be useful I can imagine folks there there there's not a simpler easy way to cover Wood Lake in a timely manner you know if you're trying to find some that's the best use if anybody gets y many times we've had people lost in there and yep even it's it's hard to cover that large of an area you know even with every officer other is assisting so yeah it's a perfect example absolutely **[00:00:00] Council Member Troutman:** um so I I'd just want to say that and initially I will say that the the policies and the exemptions that exist right now just by Statute are are really large and they're really significant so things like when it says there's no fa facial recognition well that's that's true and you there are there are a multiplicity and growing number of ways that you can recognize people that are not your face and so by saying we don't just just because you're you're identifying one stream of uh of General recognition doesn't mean there there not a lot of other means of recognizing people collecting data um and so they're probably too granular for one just because I haven't had the time to go through I'll just give you my general sense reading that is that it the concern for privacy is it it seems apparent both in the State Statute but I really appreciate uh Chief circulating the the city policy which I know is still in draft form um but I just really want to highlight and lift up the opportunity we have to take people's civil liberties seriously I know that the chief does I know law enforcement does but that um as like within that presentation I I I could go on but I I have I have real concerns so um so I'd love to see that policy I'd love to see that policy with consideration um not given to to how we're retaining data under what circumstances we would share that data with other agencies um state or federal or County and then um how we how we collect not just face recognition but cell phone signals or other you know other means of collection that you know don't exist now but in 18 months you know surely surely will **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** I say concerns there uh um I mean the the capability of them again like I said they're consumer drones so they don't really have that level of Technology nor would we ever purchase any because it would violate State Statute um and again they'd be directly targeted a specific situation or scenario they're not used to look for any additional information regarding you know whatever they're directly deployed for um and then you know as far as retaining any type of footage or evid it would be only used for evidentiary purposes no different than body camera or Squad video or surveillance video or anything else it would be part of of the actual case File itself um and then anything else that was deemed unnecessary would be deleted generally I mean State Statute is within seven days but you know most of them the cards would be wiped um my understanding typically right after the deployment if it's if the information is not necessary so and then as far as the draft policy you know we can work on getting copies of that and again it's still in draft form so still working out to find details of it thank you **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** other questions comments council member Hayford Oleary **[00:00:00] Council Member Hayford Oleary:** um I had a couple questions about the public comment process um you mentioned that the Department's Facebook page would have a survey or some email link or something like that um looks like that isn't up yet is that when is the timing for public input will be accepted **[00:00:00] Police Chief Jay Henthorne:** council member hey for we'll get that up this week we we have a draft ready to go um that we're reviewing at this time but we'll have that up um by the end of the week and then it'll be up for a couple of weeks probably **[00:00:00] Council Member Hayford Oleary:** okay um and can that input be shared with us as well I'm not sure what you do with the input that's received **[00:00:00] Police Chief Jay Henthorne:** that form once we get all the survey results I can send it out to the council members **[00:00:00] Council Member Hayford Oleary:** okay thank you I'd appreciate that I'd also ask if it mentions the Department's Facebook but I hope it could also go on the general city Facebook and our uh email list just because I know not everybody follows the Department specific one uh my other question is just process-wise if the if the policy were to change like in some of the ways that council member Troutman mentioned if there were some sort of I don't know some sort of future sensor of of concern and we're permitted under State Statute and RFD or RPD decides to do that do we have to notify the public that there's a change in policy or do we just have to notify them at this initial purchase **[00:00:00] Police Chief Jay Henthorne:** having read the statute I believe that um if there's any changes made statutorily we would change our policy I don't think that we have to go back out and have public comment period on that um but I would have to defer to our City Attorney Mary Tietjen **[00:00:00] Mary Tietjen:** mayor and Council I I agree with Chief henthorn's interpretation of that **[00:00:00] Council Member Hayford Oleary:** okay um and then my other question is um I guess how when when we're not looking for additional crimes or it's a proactive tool How firm is that commitment if if if the Drone did witness something else in the course of pursuing something and you have that footage is it a violation of your of your uh policy to prosecute the violation that was witnessed incidentally **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** or it it wouldn't be if if let's say we were looking for maybe somebody that uh let's say an elderly person that without all that got lost and was walking through wood Lake yeah uh you know if we happen to see something else you know it's it's used we're the Pilot's going to be directed at looking for the missing person or if somebody maybe ran from us on foot and they're running through backyards they're looking for that I you know if something else is witness you know per state statute it that's not what it can be used for it can be used for random surveillance it's it's for a specified Mission um whenever it's deployed and it'll only be deployed and used for specific things just not you know officers besides training aren't just going to go throw the Drone in the air and and go look for crimes that's that's not what it's to be used for and it will not be used for and and state statute it cannot be used for that so um you know it's it will be used for you know like for good example um for if we have any type of like big you know events within the city it can be used to uh for you know U the to check the area you know prior to to look for any type of threads um you know it's not to be used to for just random reasons it will be for specified trainings or for direct deployments for a purpose **[00:00:00] Council Member Hayford Oleary:** okay thank you **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** other comments questions council member Wayan **[00:00:00] Council Member Wayan:** um I think the point that you've mentioned a couple times of them being like the same kinds of drones that are available to Consumers um is important and uh I would guess I'm in a majority of people and that I've never looked at what drones you can buy as a consumer um and so I if possible when we I don't know if it's um what format the survey is in but in in any announcements we do if we can include a picture I'm guessing they're the like small helicopter style ones **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** I actually own personally a couple of the one of the ones that we're looking at actually two of the ones we're looking at getting so um I've been flying drones for for years and years even before I was a cop so um yeah for sure we can we can send something out of the specific models makes and everything that we're going to be purchasing from from vertic and you can go on the websites there's videos it tells you everything it's capable of um you know if you have questions specif I can I can gladly answer those for you I'm kind of a well versed on them as well as as Sean is since she sells them but um yeah they're anybody can get them they're you know they're they're nothing they're not military grade there's nothing that you can't go to Best Buy and or to you know online and purchase the same exact drones so yeah and that's I mean it is uh it's a a valid concern and in other cases there are uh I believe military technology that we don't need in uh small communities and so I just want to make sure no one is seeing the headline of this and thinking we're getting like one of the small airplane drones that's got weapons and stuff yeah the FAA and State statue regulate that and we you know we're we're purchasing the same ones that all the agencies around are using um you know it's it's they're the ones that are used throughout the country and throughout the world so it's not it's not anything out of out of ordinary we're getting the same ones that most public agencies use because they they work well and they're reliable so **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** and I believe maybe this is putting staff on the spot I believe our fire department already has one **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** they have a tether drone um that that's tied to a rope there's a lot of Licensing and uh regulation a lot of stuff that has to be done to the FAA to even get the license to be allowed to fly um as a public uh you know public uh safety entity um now that isn't to say that once we do get them you know fire needs help with anything you know with thermal cameras and stuff like that we we're going to work throughout the city for anywhere from Public Works to fire to Public Safety everything that needs to be used so it'll it'll be available to pretty much anybody that that needs to use it so **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** that's a good lead into the question I had um a lot of the guidelines here seem to be talking about an exterior drone but well we have some small ones so that you could go into a building that was on fire to look for um people that need rescuing and things like that **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** yeah we we are planning on getting a smaller one that's capable of flying indoor easier they can all go indoors but they're they're a little bit harder to control inside um they can't handle heat very well because they're made out of plastic so it would depend um on the situation whether it could be used for um but there are certain scenarios I'm sure it could be used and it would be available if they needed it yes there there will be a smaller uh we plan on purchasing a smaller one that'll be able to go indoors so there will be a couple of different sizes so that we have some variety to it correct yeah yeah each of them have different kind of types of capabilities that will be used for certain different scenarios **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all right thank you council member Hayford Oleary mentioned the online survey and we got the clarification on that and we're going to open it up for a comment tonight but it sounds like if we have it open on the um Facebook survey for a couple of weeks people could also come next council meeting to the open Forum if they want to make additional comments is that correct **[00:00:00] Sgt. Corey Smith:** yes they could come and make additional comments at the open Forum if they choose to **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all right are there any other questions comments is there anyone in the audience that has any further comments they would like to make all right come on up thank you **[00:00:00] Maryann Kelly Wright:** my name is Maryann Kelly Wright and I live at 6926 Wentworth I'm all in favor of these drones I think they're terrific I as a taxpayer just have a couple questions about how many you're going to acquire what the cost is going to be and whose budget that will come out of thank you **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** thank you Chief henthorn could you respond to that **[00:00:00] Police Chief Jay Henthorne:** I believe we're purchasing three drones two smaller ones one larger one um it comes out of the public safety budget uh it will be using um forfeiture funds to purchase these um and that's money that doesn't come necessarily out of the general fund but out of forfeiture fund which by State Statute can only be used for training equipment or Vehicles so forfeit like if there was a criminal activity and can you define the for forfeiture fund for us yes forfeiture funds um come to us through cases that uh we work um through Public Safety that may have um either narcotics vehicles uh money attached to them they go through the code process once there's a conviction um the money is usually forfeited and split up between the public safety entity the state and the county at a certain percentage and that M money is is what we call a special revenue account and then that money is used um to offset some of the costs like a drone program or some of the other equipment costs that we need uh on a yearly basis **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all right didn't you did that answer your question ma'am except for cost oh do we know about the it's in the I believe the cost **[00:00:00] Council Member Wayan:** of the Drone program with all the ler the three drones the training is $31,000 I believe yes on the staff report council member willing pointed out it's under the financial impact it's $ 31,600 **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** is there anyone else who wishes to to comment okay go ahead **[00:00:00] Heidi Gyore:** Heidi gyore again 6915 Wentworth um I just want to say that yeah I'm in favor of this I've often wondered in the past if we already had some drones that were being used but but it sounds like a great tool and yeah go for it thank you **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** are is there any did anyone call in online all right is there anyone else who wishes to comment now correct me if I'm wrong we don't actually take a vote on this is that correct all right so if there is no further comment or questions then we'll move on with the agenda thank you so much for the presentation next we have the city manager's report **[00:00:00] Katie Rodriguez:** thank you mayor and council members um I wanted to announce that this is uh city clerk's Dustin Leslie's last meeting with us and he is moving to another city in another role and we wish him the best and really want to thank you um Dustin for all your work and especially with elections and it's um we are asked to do more with elections and uh I felt like we you just fantastic job stewarding that so thank you and that's all I have **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** I would like to add our thank you as well from from myself personally and I'm guessing on behalf of the rest of the council for all your work and best wishes in your new um new adventures whatever you're moving on to is there anyone else who wishes to say anything council member Troutman **[00:00:00] Council Member Troutman:** yeah thank you um I just want to also wish you wish you all the best and um and thank you not just for uh helping us um run our elections which I can't mention and not also lift up the fact that Minnesota has some of the highest voter participation in the state and Richfield has some of the highest voter participation um in or or the country and Richfield has some of the highest voter par participation in the in the state so in your tenure here you've shephered well you know an institution that we utilize you know more than on a percentage B basis almost any other city in the country um and also because um the your your office is a lot of times the first experience that people have uh with Richfield I just want to thank you for serving uh my neighbors well uh so thank you and good luck **[00:00:00] Council Member Hayford Oleary:** yeah thank you Dustin um I've really appreciated your work your professionalism and just your enthusiasm for Richfield that's been obvious since the first time I met you um yeah it's you you clearly care about the work you've shown up for Richfield um and I'm very grateful and I know that your your new employer will be very lucky to have you **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all right thank you moving on we will go to claims and payroll **[00:00:00] Council Member Wayan:** I'll move claims and payroll **[00:00:00] Council Member Hayford Oleary:** second **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** it's been moved and seconded to approve claims and payroll is there any discussion all in favor of approving claims in payroll please say I **[00:00:00] Council Members:** I **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all opposed we've approved the claims in payroll next we'll move on to the hats off to Hometown hits council member Wayan **[00:00:00] Council Member Wayan:** uh thank you uh just a hats off to all of our Muslim neighbors who are finishing up Ramadan and celebrating Eid uh starting tonight **[00:00:00] Council Member Hayford Oleary:** um I was just going to take my hats off to Community Development staff for finally getting I mean in cooperation with the council the developer uh getting the buildings at 101 e66 uh demolished that project has been going on for many many years I know the Neighbors on that block have been very frustrated so having a positive step forward um I know has been yeah a uh a struggle for staff a struggle for us all so it is just awesome to finally see something happening there and that those dilapidated buildings finally gone **[00:00:00] Council Member Troutman:** on the ligher notee I'd like to thank all the Richfield residents who posted the parks and wreck meme with regards to that demolition uh on the on the rich Phil Community page um can I add since a resident uh asked specifically they are required to fill in the holes uh that has been asked specifically um but uh on on a more on a more serious note uh uh call me uh Dennis one of our human rights Commissioners was not at the last meeting because her husband fell ill uh and then um and then died the next morning uh and so I just want to take a moment to recognize ize um George uh Anthony Dennis who's a longtime Richfield resident uh longtime uh employee uh the Richfield Public Schools um was a charter uh member of his uh of his church uh that's still thriving and when you leave a legacy of a community behind you um it's it's an incredible thing but our thoughts and prayers are with uh with C me and um just want to take my my hand off to uh uh to to George Anthony Dennis and um and uh just just say thank you for his service thank you **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** council member Troutman um I wanted to do a hats off to Patricia ibone who um works with our police department and this past Friday we had at the community center in cooperation with Richfield Community Ed and Meera and vep and several other organizations and the Richfield police department we had El Elia del nino and over 450 people showed up for the event and they had activities for the kids to do resources for the parents and it was just a fabulous Community event and it was great to see so many people there so hats off to Patricia and the whole team with that we have no further business I would entertain a motion to adjourn the meeting **[00:00:00] Council Member Wayan:** so moved **[00:00:00] Council Member Troutman:** second **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** it's been moved in second to adjourn the meeting all in favor please say I **[00:00:00] Council Members:** I **[00:00:00] Mayor Mary Supple:** all oppose we have adjourned.