2020.02.04 Work Session Packet
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
Posted: January 31, 2020
City Council
Work Session Agenda
February 4, 2020
6:30 p.m.
Conference Room A
Pursuant to due call and notice given in the manner prescribed by Section 3.01 of the City Charter,
the work session of the Crystal City Council was held at ______ p.m. on February 4, 2020 in
Conference Room A, 4141 Douglas Dr. N., Crystal, Minnesota.
I. Attendance
Council Members Staff
____ Budziszewski ____ Norris
____ Deshler ____ Therres
____ Kiser ____ Gilchrist
____ LaRoche ____ Serres
____ Parsons
____ Adams
____ Banks
II. Agenda
The purpose of the work session is to discuss the following agenda items:
1. West Metro Fire-Rescue District quarterly update.
2. Environmental Quality Commission recommendation regarding polystyrene.
3. Constituent issues update. *
4. New business.*
5. Announcements.*
III. Adjournment
The work session adjourned at ______ p.m.
*Denotes no supporting information included in the packet.
Auxiliary aids are available upon request to individuals with disabilities by calling the City Clerk at (763) 531-
1145 at least 96 hours in advance. TTY users may call Minnesota Relay at 711 or 1-800-627-3529.
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West Metro Fire-Rescue District
Crystal Council Update January 21, 2020
ADMINISTRATION/OPERATIONS REPORT
Sarah Larson, Fire Chief
Preliminary 2019 Data
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Calls for Service (2019 Preliminary)
January 1 – December 31, 2019 Total Calls for Service 2017 Estimated fire loss $$2,398,754
Crystal 830
New Hope 1097
Mutual Aid 81
January 1 – December 31, 2018 Total Calls for Service 1856 Estimated fire loss $632,167
Crystal 820
New Hope 973
Mutual Aid 57
January 1 – December 31, 2017 Total Calls for Service 1922 Estimated fire loss $588,517
January 1 – December 31, 2016 Total Calls for Service 1573 Estimated fire loss $1,637,094
January 1 – December 31, 2015 Total Calls for Service 1514 Estimated fire loss $657,914
January 1 – December 31, 2014 Total Calls for Service 1663 Estimated fire loss $1,861,162
January 1 – December 31, 2013 Total Calls for Service 1448 Estimated fire loss $357,182
January 1 – December 31, 2012 Total Calls for Service 1349 Estimated fire loss $169,900
January 1 – December 31, 2011 Total Calls for Service 1638 Estimated fire loss $318,749
Crystal Significant Fires
05/24/2019 Apartment Fire 7700 Block of 36th Avenue North
06/13/2019 House Fire 5700 Block of Yates Avenue North
06/14/2019 (2) Garage Fires 4200 Block of Welcome Avenue North
10/16/2019 House Fire 4800 Block of Hampshire Avenue North
11/26/2019 Business Fire 5600 Block of 56th Avenue North
12/4/2019 Garage Fire 4300 Block of Welcome Avenue North
12/31/2019 House Fire 6500 Block of 62nd Avenue North
Major Apparatus Report
The District is in the process of developing a report outlining options for the replacement of their major
apparatus.
Food Drive
Our 9th annual “Firefighters Fighting Hunger” Food Drive collected 2,641 pounds of food and $5,625.00 for
The Food Group & PRISM. According to The Food Group, that’ll provide nearly 13,000 meals to those in need.
To date, we have collected 11,444 pounds of food and $51,149 in cash for a total of 111,834 meals since we
started our food drive in 2011.
30 WM firefighters, auxiliary and family members started the day with a pot -luck brunch and then spent the
day food driving at 6 local grocery stores (Almsted’s, Aldi, Target, New Hope HyVee, Crystal Cub & Plymouth
Cub).
Normally we only collect for The Food Group but this year a meal delivery truck from Serenity Village
Community Church in Crystal stopped by with a delivery of 446 pounds of fresh perishable food. The Food
Group was closed for the weekend so a firefighter family member made arrangements to have the perishable
food stored in the refrigerated cooler at his employer (Almsted’s in Crystal) until Monday when arrangements
were made to deliver it to PRISM food shelf in Golden Valley for immediate distribution.
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Truck -or-Treat Halloween Safety Event
For the 5th year, we promoted Halloween safety in both cities by staffing all 3 stations and having crews out in
the neighborhoods in our “small rigs.” We again handed out close to 2000 glow sticks.
2019 Public Events
Here is a list of many of the events we participated in 2019:
Blood pressure checks for Crystal City Staff at the All City Coffee Break in February
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) First Aid & Fire Safety training for the new parents at the New
Hope Learning Center
Firefighters Fighting Hunger Food Drive
A station tour and truck ride for the winners of this “Tour & Ride” silent auction item at a Good
Samaritan fundraiser
The Bike Rodeo at Sonnesyn Elementary
The Tower was at the Crystal Little League Opening Day
ECFE Spring Party
Sonnesyn Elementary School Carnival
Forest Elementary School Carnival
The Tower to the Crystal Library for the May 18 Human Resource Commission event
A station tour and truck ride for the winners of this “Tour & Ride” silent auction item at a Neill
Elementary fundraiser
The Vehicle Fair at CCC
EMS support at the Cooper High School Graduation
Pub-Ed event at Juntos Daycare
Young Mudder at Lions Valley Place Park
Pub-Ed event at a 34th Avenue Neighborhood party
Airport Open House
An Engine was in the procession for the West Metro Torch Run as it passed through New Hope
Duk Duk Daze
o Fireworks both nights
o Kiddie Parade
o Truck and Hose Demo
o Daytime EMS Standby Crew
West Metro Fire Open House
Crystal Frolics
o Fireworks both nights
o Water-ball
o Honor Guard at Opening Ceremony
Wet & Wild Water Day
New Hope Lions Corn Feed
National Night Out / Night 2 Unite
Serenity Church Village Fest
New Hope Safety Camp
New Hope Church Picnic
NowMart FUNdraiser and Grand Opening
New Hope Garden Apartments NNO Event
Midland Shopping Center Kids Fest
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Neill Elementary Fire Safety Demo
TMS Johnson Concert EMS and Fireworks Standby crew
2700 Block Party
9-11 “Day of Remembrance” events at ALL of the schools in New Hope and Crystal
Brunswick Church Fall Fun Fest
Cavell Neighborhood Party
Yates Block Party
Trick or Trot with New Hope Park & Rec
Trunk or Treat at Holy Nativity Church
Trunk or Treat at Cornerstone Church
Cavanaugh Neighborhood Halloween Party
The West Metro Fire Halloween Safety Event
Tower and Crew assisted BPFD during the Funeral of Police Officer Emily Krob
Fire Safety Presentation to New Hope ECFE
Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army at Hy-Vee and Crystal Cub
Fire Prevention Education
We were very busy conducting fire safety programs in elementary schools in the District this past October and
November. In the fall we teach fire safety in kindergarten thru 2 nd grade. The programs are developed
specifically for each grade level. These programs grow from grade level to grade level. Below is a list of
schools we visited:
Sonnysen Elementary School
RSI Elementary School
Neil Elementary School
Meadow Lake Elementary School
Forest Elementary School
Beacon Academy
Each school is dedicated one full week so that they can schedule their individual classrooms. We reached out
to roughly 2,160 kid’s ages K-2nd grade.
Blood Drive s
West Metro held 4 blood drives in Crystal during 2019 that collected 82 units of blood.
February = 20
May = 17
August = 27
December = 18
Retirement / Resignation
We had 2 retirements/resignations in 2019, Firefighter Karsten Nelson retired with 20 years of service and
Firefighter Ryan Sodd resigned with 18+ years of service.
Home Safety Survey Program
We completed 41 Home Safety Survey’s in 2019, 23 of those were in Crystal.
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2019 General Operating Budget
The general operating budget is tracking to come in on budget. Part-time wages are over budget but this
is being offset by grants and reimbursements from the state.
2019 Capital Projects Completed
Purchased Computers and Pagers Budget $20,000 Expenditure $10,362
Station 1 and 2 Extractor/Dryer Budget $40,000 Expenditure $42,325
Turnout Gear Budget $37,000 Expenditure $35,244
Installed Station 2 Signage Budget $0 Expenditure $3,540
Radio Encryption Budget $40,000 Expenditure $37,707
(2) AEDs Automatic External Defibrillators Budget $2,500 Expenditure $2,227
(2) Staff Vehicles Budget $95,000 Expenditure $93,995
Total $234,500 $225,400
2020 Planned Capital Projects
Computers/Pagers $20,000
SCBA $450,000
Station 1 Breathing Air Compressor $25,000
Turnout Gear $40,000
AED’s $2,500
Staff Vehicle $55,000
Total $592,500