2024.03.19 Work Session Packet
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
Posted: March 15, 2024
City Council Work Session Agenda
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
6:30 p.m.
Council Chambers/Zoom
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 on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at ______ p.m.
in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 4141 Douglas Dr. N., Crystal, MN and via Zoom. If the agenda
items are not completed in time for the City Council meeting at 7 p.m., the work session will be
continued and resumed immediately following the Economic Development Authority meeting. The
public may attend the meeting via Zoom by connecting to it through one of the methods identified
on the City Council Meeting Schedule for Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
I. Attendance
Council members Staff
____ Onesirosan ____ Bell
____ Adams ____ Gilchrist
____ Budziszewski ____ Therres
____ Cummings ____ Elholm
____ Eidbo ____ Larson
____ Kamish ____ Revering
____ Kiser ____ Sutter
____ Serres
II. Agenda
The purpose of the work session is to discuss the following agenda items:
1. West Metro Fire -Rescue District quarterly update.
2. Moving cannabis location limits to the Unified Development Code.
3. City Council liaison reports.*
4. City manager monthly check-in.
5. Constituent issues.*
6. New business.*
7. Announcements.*
III. Adjournment
The work session adjourned at ______ p.m.
* Denotes no documentation 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.
1
West Metro Fire-Rescue District
March 19, 2024
Crystal Council Quarterly Update
ADMINISTRATION/OPERATIONS REPORT
Calls for Service Report
January 1 – December 31, 2023 Total Calls for Service 2148 Estimated fire loss $ 2,174,929
Crystal 896
New Hope 1167
Mutual Aid 85
January 1 – December 31, 2022 Total Calls for Service 2128 with 2 severe weather
Crystal 959 Estimated fire loss $1,501,240
New Hope 1099
Mutual Aid 68
January 1 – December 31, 2021 Total Calls for Service 2124 Estimated fire loss $1,703,242
Crystal 890
New Hope 1,169
Mutual Aid 65
January 1 – December 31, 2020 Total Calls for Service 1828 Estimated fire loss $1,313,433
Crystal 781
New Hope 983
Mutual Aid 64
Not responded to per COVID-19 Protocols 178
Fires EMS/Rescue Hazardous Condition Service Call Good Intent Fire Alarm Severe Weather Total
Mutual/Auto Aid 50 29%5 1 0 30 25%1 0 85 4%
New Hope 68 39%699 55%107 54%35 56%54 45%204 61%0 1167 54%
Crystal 55 32%561 44%89 45%27 44%35 29%129 39%0 896 42%
Total 173 9%1265 57%197 10%62 4%119 5%334 15%2148 100%
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500 2023 Calls for Service Jan 1 -Dec 31
2
January 1 – December 31, 2019 Total Calls for Service 2018 Estimated fire loss $2,276,913
January 1 – December 31, 2018 Total Calls for Service 1856 Estimated fire loss $632,167
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
Police/Fire Command Staff Meeting
The command staff from the police and fire departments meet quarterly. We held last quarters meeting on
December 5 and discussed the active threat training that was held in October, a couple of addresses that had
numerous calls for service, North Ridge calls for service, and topics for 2024 emergency management training.
2023 Audit
MMKR was onsite to conduct the 2023 audit field work the week of March 4, 2024.
ISO Survey
An ISO Field Representative was on-site on March 5, 2024 to complete a Public Protection Classification (PPC)
survey. This ISO program provides information about municipal fire protection services in each community
they survey to assist insurance companies make informed decisions about risk. Their staff collects information
about the quality of public fire protection in more than 39,000 fire protection areas across the United States.
In each of those protection areas, they analyze the relevant data and assign a Public Protection Classification
— a grading from 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection, and Class 10 indicates
that the area’s fire suppression program does not meet their minimum criteria.
Most U.S. insurers of home and business properties use PPC in calculating premiums. In general, the price of
insurance in a community with a good PPC is lower than in a community with a poor PPC, assuming all other
factors are equal.
A community’s PPC depends on:
• emergency communications systems, including facilities for the public to report fires, staffing, training,
certification of telecommunicators, and facilities for dispatching fire departments
• the fire department, including equipment, staffing, training, and geographic deploy ment of fire
companies
• the water supply system, including the inspection and flow testing of hydrants and a careful evaluation
of the amount of available water compared with the amount needed to suppress fires
• community efforts to reduce the risk of fire, including fire prevention codes and enforcement, public
fire safety education, and fire investigation programs
Our last survey was in 2017 and we were given an ISO classification of 3.
3
Civil Rights Evaluation
As a recipient of a Federal grant we are prohibited from discriminating in our programs and activities on the
basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability and religion and may be the subject of a civil rights
compliance review in accordance with DHS regulation. We were sent a civil rights evaluation tool to fill out
and have one year to develop the following:
• a policy that prohibits discrimination in our external-facing programs and services
• identify the responsibilities of the designated staff person responsible for compliance with civil rights
laws
• a complaints process covering complaints alleging discrimination in the our external-facing programs,
activities, and services (non-employment)
• a procedure for accepting and responding to requests for reasonable accommodations from program
beneficiaries
• a policy on providing access for persons with limited English proficiency
2023 Public Events and Community Outreach
- We held our 12 th annual “Firefighters Fighting Hunger” Food & Cash Drive on 3 -18. It was a
success with $5,404 & 1,291 pounds of food collected at 5 local grocery stores. This year we
were at Crystal Cub, Aldi & Almsted’s; New Hope HyVee & Plymouth Cub (we also spent a
short time at Crystal Target in the lot near Taco bell but left due to the cold and wind)
- Station Tours for Cub Scouts on April 25 th
- The 2023 Bike Rodeo was held on May 4 th, we had Sparky there with our Tower and several
firefighters and explorers
- We had an Engine on display at the Forest Elementary Family Carnival on May 12 th
- We had our Tower and new Engine 1 on display at the Crystal PD Open House on May 13 th
- We had an Engine on display at the Robbinsdale Early Learning Center on June 1 st
- We had an En gine on display at the Sonnesyn Elementary Family Carnival on June 2 nd
- The 2023 Young Mudder was held on June 10 th, we had our Tower there with several
firefighters
- We had an Engine on display at the YMCA Community Event on June 15th
- We had our Tower o n display at the Chester Bird American Legion in Golden Valley on June
17th for their annual Street Dance
- We had our Tower and new Engine 1 on display at the Crystal Airport Open House on June 18 th
- We had our Tower on display at the BLR Holiday Station on June 22nd for the Relief Assn.
Fundraiser
- 25 Year Anniversary & Open House, July 6 th
- Engine 1 in the Whiz Bang Parade, July 9 th
- YMCA Tour of Station 3, July 28 th
- Crystal Frolics, July 27 -30
- National Night Out / Night 2 Unite, August 1 st
- Wet & Wild Water Day, August 4 th
- St. Raphael’s Church Festival, August 5 th
- New Hope Lions Corn Feed, August 9 th
- Tower 1 to the Holy Nativity Childcare Center, August 11 th
4
- Engine 1 to the HyVee Family Event, August 12 -13
- New Hope Safety Camp, August 15 -17
- La Petite Daycare, End of Summer Party, September 1 st
- Armstrong Girls Tennis Team held a Car Wash at Station 3, September 10 th
- Vehicle Fair, September 16 th
- WM Honor Guard to the Fallen Firefighter Memorial Ceremony, September 24 th
- Fire Safety Demo at Ever green Montessori
- New Hope Trick or Trot, October 7 th
- West Metro Truck or Treat, October 31 st
- North Memorial Car Seat Clinic at Station 3, November 8 th
- FF Wallace drove Santa to and from an Event at the Crystal Community Center in a Fire Engine
- The West Metro Auxiliary Annual Craft Fair & Vendor Show at Station 3, December 9 th
- The Tri-City Santa Parade through Robbinsdale, Crystal & New Hope, December 9 th
- Salvation Army Bell Ringing at New Hope HyVee (9 th) & Crystal Cub (16 th)
- Station tours
- Home Safety Surveys
The highlight of our public events was the July 6 25 th Anniversary of the District open house. We had a
fabulous turnout from the communities. We had food trucks, a DJ and lots of demos .
Be a Santa to a Senior
We held our annual event that collects gifts for the residents of Good Samaritan and North Ridge. This year
we did not collect for The Terrace of Crystal (formerly Crystal Care Center) because we partnered with LDI and
they are collecting for the Terrace. We delivered the gifts to the nursing homes on December 14. Along
with firefighters and family members, Walker MacBeath (from the City of New Hope) joined us this year
for the delivery.
SAFER Grant Positions
The 3 new SAFER LTs (Eric Enselein, Jesus Soto & Andy Nichols) started with us full-time on
February 26, 2024.
The integration of three new full-time positions, facilitated by the SAFER Grant, will allow us to staff two
stations during the weekdays. This necessitated the reconfiguration of Station One's sleeping quarters to
accommodate two shared offices. Station Two is being reconfigured to house any overnight crews. Furniture,
equipment, and necessary infrastructure adjustments are being organized to align with the operational needs
of these positions.
Staffing
We are currently at 8 full-time, 58 paid, on-call, firefighters of which 8 are on a leave of absence (LOA). We are
authorized for up to 66 paid, on-call firefighters and will be hiring in 2024.
Class of 2021
On December 13 we held a pinning ceremony promoting the class of 2021 apprentice firefighters to the rank
of firefighter.
5
TRAINING /EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Live Fire
On Saturday, October 7 WMFRD completed live fire training at a home in New Hope.
Mass Casualty/Active Threat
New Hope Police, Crystal Police, and the WMFRD conducted active threat training at New Hope Church on October 17.
Emergency Management
Emergency management training was held for staff from both cities on November 29. The final class in a four -
part series for senior officials was presented by MN Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM).
I closed out our 2021 Public Safety Grants in February.
Captain Wheeler is coordinating IS 300 and 400 training for staff from both cities. This will be presented by a
MN Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) approved trainer.
6
LOGISTICS
New Engines
In 2023 WMFRD took delivery and put into service for new engines. Three of the old engines sold for $225,000
and one sold for $200,000.
Facilities
Logistics has been working with North Memorial Ambulance to create a shared space with the medics posted
out of station 3 and firefighters at station 3. This includes demolition of a wall, replacing the carpet, repairing
drywall, repainting, and new furniture. North Memorial Ambulance is purchasing the carpet and the furniture
and the District made the repairs and painted. This shared space will benefit both parties and build more
comradery between the medics and firefighters.
7
PREVENTION
Inspections/Plan Reviews
From January 1 through December 31, 2023, we conducted 1074 inspections/plan reviews/meetings, of which
468 required a re-inspection. We have completed 397 re-inspections.
We have been working on implementing Brycer Compliance Engine a cloud based third party inspection
reporting tool that helps the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) and inspection companies work more
efficiently. All properties with fire protection systems in the District will be notified by the compliance engine
when they have a system due for testing, past due for testing, or deficiencies on the system in need of repair.
Properties are notified by email, mail, and phone. They use our approved letterhead and verbiage to distribute
mailings and make follow-up calls. This will help ensure that all fire protection systems in the District have
been inspected/tested annually. We will be going live with this program on February 15, 2024.
Home Fire Safety Survey Program
In 2023 we conducted 14 home safety surveys. So far in 2024, we have conducted 2 home safety surveys, a 3 rd
survey is scheduled in February. One of the focuses of the new community outreach person will be promoting
and executing this program. Our goal is to complete 30 Home Safety Surveys in 2024.
Adopt a Hydrant Program:
So far this winter we have not had enough snow to implement this program. In the late fall, 17 additional
residents signed up to adopt their hydrants.
Fire Investigations:
2023 fire investigations:
1/27/2023 46XX Quebec Avenue North - Small commercial fire in an oven
2/10/2023 52XX 35th Avenue North - Small fire on an exterior wall of a residential home
2/18/2023 27XX Winnetka Avenue North - Dumpster fire
3/25/2023 52XX Louisiana Avenue North - Detached garage fire with exposure fires
3/28/2023 70XX 36th Avenue North - Basement Fire in home
3/31/2023 61XX Virginia Avenue North – Fire caused by lightning
4/4/6/2023 84XX 62nd Avenue North - Deck fire from improper disposal of smoking materials
4/8/2023 48XX Winnetka Avenue North -Deck Fire
4/15/2023 45XX Winnetka Avenue North - Apartment Fire from improper disposal of smoking materials
5/12/2023 51XX Idaho Avenue North - House and garage fires
5/23/2023 51XX Edgewood Avenue North - Cooking fire
6/3/2023 72XX and 72XX 32nd Avenue North -Townhome fire due to improper disposal of smoking materials
6/11/2023 77XX 36th Avenue North - small cooking fire in apartment kitchen
6/13/2023 56XX Boone Avenue North - Deck fire due to improper disposal of smoking materials
6/26/2023 33XX Douglas Drive (6 Unit Garage Fire) - improper storage of a grill and/or smoking
7/5/2023 60XX 56th Avenue North - Dumpster /Enclosure/Fence fire
7/14/2023 56XX West Broadway – Vehicle Fire
7/18/2023 46XX Quebec Avenue North - Paint Booth fire
7/31/2023 56XX West Broadway - Dumpster Fire
8/10/2023 30XX Flag Avenue North - Vehicle Fire
8/25/2023 55XX West Broadway - Vehicle Fire
8/25/2023 30XX Gettysburg Avenue North - Garage/House fire
8/27/2023 79XX 37th Avenue North - House/Garage/Deck fire
8
8/31/2023 27XX Douglas Drive - Food warmer appliance fire in a business
9/1/2023 60XX West Broadway - Fan fire in living room
9/2/2023 81 and Corvallis Avenue North - Vehicle fire
9/4/2023 52XX Scott Avenue North - Garage fire
9/5/2023 60XX 36th Avenue North – Grease Fire
9/8/2023 34XX Major Avenue North - Small Appliance fire
10/4/2023 28XX Flag Avenue North - Small ceiling fan fire in bathroom
10/4/2023 78XX 45th ½ Avenue North - Vehicle Fire
11/11/2023 29XX Douglas Drive - Small cooking fire on stove
12/1/2023 92XX 27th Avenue North - Small oven fire
12/1/2023 84XX Bass Lake Road - small stairwell fire out report due to improper disposal of smoking materials
12/2/2023 42XX Oregon Ave North - Small cooking fire on stove
In 2023 we conducted 35 fire investigations. The following is breakdown of where the fires occurred and wha t
caused the fire:
3 Dumpster fires
5 Vehicle fires
24 Residential fires (Here are the causes of our residential fires: cooking, lightning strike, electrical issues,
improper disposal of batteries, and improper disposal of smoking materials).
3 Commercial Building fires
In 2022 we had conducted 50 fire investigations.
2024 fire investigations:
1/4/2024 – 56XX Winnetka Avenue North (vehicle fire)
1/7/2024 – 92XX 27th Avenue North (dumpster fire)
1/11/2024 – 37th Avenue North and Douglas Drive (vehicle fire)
1/14/2024 – 53XX Georgia Avenue North (small appliance fire)
1/14/2024 – 56XX Quebec Avenue North Apt XXXX (cooking fire, spread to kitchen and dining area)
1/14/2024 – 64XX 27th Avenue North (small stove fire)
1/20/2024 – 56XX Perry Avenue North (detached garage fire w/exposure fires to vehicles and house)
1/29/2024 – 72XX 43rd Avenue North (small garbage can fire)
1/30/2024 – 56XXPerry Avenue North (small electrical fire)
2/2/2024 – 27XX Hillsboro Avenue North (smoke in an apartment from a cooking fire in a pan)
2/2/2024 – 70XX Fairview Avenue North (small basement fire)
2/10/2024 – 48XX Utah Avenue North (detached garage fire)
Page 1 of 2
___________________________________________________________________________
FROM: John Sutter, Community Development Director
DATE: March 14, 2024
TO: Adam R. Bell City Manager (for March 19 work session)
SUBJECT: Staff preferred option for modifying cannabis buffer distances and moving
them from licensing to zoning (Unified Development Code)
BACKGROUND
In 2023 the City Council adopted an edible cannabinoids licensing ordinance which included
the following buffer distances, measured from property line to property line (not door to door):
• 1,000 feet from any school
• 500 feet from any park or residential drug/alcohol treatment facility
STAFF PROPOSAL
Based on the February 6 discussion and subsequent Councilmember input, staff would
propose the following changes:
1. Remove the buffers from the licensing ordinance and add them to the zoning
ordinance/Unified Development Code (UDC) with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2025.
2. Exclude Robbinsdale Learning Center as a school AND reduce the buffer for the remaining
school properties from 1,000 to 500 feet to match the other buffers.
3. Apply the buffers to off-sale alcohol and tobacco in addition to edible cannabinoids and
(eventually) cannabis stores, subject to nonconforming use rights (being “grandparented”)
which would allow existing businesses within the buffers to continue but not expand.
4. Create a window of opportunity for any licensed off-sale alcohol and tobacco businesses
located within a buffer zone to get an edible cannabinoids license from the city before Jan.
1, 2025 so their edible cannabinoid sales become grandparented on Jan. 1, 2025 just like
off-sale alcohol and tobacco.
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Cannabis Buffer Distances
Page 2 of 2
EFFECT OF STAFF PROPOSAL
The city currently has 9 off-sale alcohol licenses (table attached):
4 would continue to be permitted uses on Jan. 1, 2025 (black “A” on the attached map).
5 would become grandparented on Jan. 1, 2025 (gray “A” on the attached map)
The city currently has 21 tobacco licenses (table attached):
9 would continue to be permitted uses on Jan. 1, 2025 (black “T” on the attached map).
12 would become grandparented on Jan. 1, 2025 (gray “T” on the attached map)
The attached map illustrates the effects of the staff proposal.
COUNCIL DISCUSSION REQUESTED
Staff requests Council discussion regarding the staff proposal to remove the buffers from the
edible cannabinoids licensing ordinance and add them to the UDC to include off-sale alcohol
and tobacco with current licensees being grandparented as illustrated in the attached tables
and map.
Black A on map
(permitted under
proposed
ordinance)
Gray A on map
(grandparented
under proposed
ordinance)
Company DBA Address
1 Missy Hope Inc. Hope Liquor 111 Willow Bend
1 Liquor Barrel Liquor Barrel 2728 Douglas Dr N
1 Mejron
Investments Inc
The Wine Thief &
Ale Jail 3600 Douglas Dr N
1 Ashley's Liquor,
Inc.Ashley's Liquor 4920 West Broadway
1 Klever Liquor Inc Klever Liquor 5120 56th Ave N
1 SuperValu, Inc
Cub Wine &
Spirits 5201 36th Ave N
1 Advancer
Mercantile, LLC
Liquor Barrel
Wine & Spirits 5628 West Broadway
1 RPSM LLC Adair Liquor 6001 42nd Ave N
1 Zahid Beverage
Group LLC
Crystal Liquor
Warehouse 6200 56th Ave N
TOTAL
Black A on map
TOTAL
Gray A on map
4 5
Current Off-Sale Alcohol Licenses
Black T on map
(permitted under
proposed
ordinance)
Gray T on map
(grandparented
under proposed
ordinance)
Company DBA Address
1 Crystal Tobacco &
Cigar Outlet Plus,
Tobacco Outlet 123 Willow Bend
1 Main Grocery &
Tobacco Inc
Mini Grocery &
Tobacco
2708 Douglas Dr N
1 Trilogy LLC Trilogy LLC 2712 Douglas Dr N
1 Liquor Barrel Liquor Barrel 2728 Douglas Dr N
1 Almsted
Enterprises Inc
Almsted's Fresh
Market
4200 Douglas Dr N
1 Ashley's Liquor,
Inc.
Ashley's Liquor 4920 West Broadway
1 Himalaya LLC dba
36th Ave Smoke
36th Ave Smoke
Shop
5101 36th Ave N 104
1 Klever Liquor Inc Klever Liquor 5120 56th Ave N
1 SuperValu, Inc Cub Wine &
Spirits
5201 36th Ave N
1 Charles R Knaeble
VFW Post #494
VFW Post #494 5222 56th Ave N
1 SuperValu, Inc Cub Foods #30124
(1601)
5301 36th Ave N
1 Northern Tier
Retail LLC
Speedway #4052 5359 West Broadway
1 Holiday
Stationstores, LLC
Holiday
Stationstore #300
5410 Lakeland Ave N
1 Dark Horse Vapors
Inc
Dark Horse Vapery 5522 West Broadway
1 PurpleRose Cigar
and Hookah
PurpleRose Cigar
and Hookah Shop
5530 West Broadway
1 Advancer
Mercantile, LLC
Liquor Barrel
Wine & Spirits
5628 West Broadway
1 RPSM LLC Adair Liquor 6001 42nd Ave N
1 Tobacco 18 LLC Tobacco 18 6016 42nd Ave N
1 Zahid Beverage
Group LLC
Crystal Liquor
Warehouse
6200 56th Ave N
1 Walgreens Co Walgreens #5883 6800 56th Ave N
1 Northern Tier
Retail LLC
Speedway #4187 7818 36th Ave N
TOTAL
Black T on map
TOTAL
Gray T on map
9 12
Current Tobacco Licenses
CITY MANAGER
MONTHLY CHECK-IN – MARCH 2024
Objective 1 – Work with City Council to develop Long Range Vision for the continued
implementation of Council priorities:
• City Council Work Session on March 14 for Long Range Vision/Strategic Planning
Objective 2 – Policy Facilitation – Implement the Longe Range Vision/Strategic Planning for
continued implementation of Council priorities:
• Thriving Business Community
o Continuing to work through Cannabis zoning regulations - work session on 3/19
o Staff is continuing to assist with potential redevelopment opportunities and business openings
• Strong Neighborhoods
o Continuing to work with businesses on THC/Cannabis sales compliance
o Working with HRG on organized organic waste collection
• Brooklyn Center is meeting on 4/8 to discuss and the HRG will meet right
after that.
o Met with MnDOT regarding JAZB Ordinance Amendment process.
o Continuing to work on the Crystal Cove Aquatic Center project – Bid opening is 3/26
o Working with residents/property owners to address code violations and traffic concerns
• Sound fiscal policies and practices
o Continuing to seek additional outside funding for projects
o Working with MN DEED to receive 2023 State funding for Crystal Cove project
o Conducting 2023 Audit work
o Continuing to implement 2024 Capital Program
• Welcoming and inclusive community
o Inclusion & Diversity Commission – The Commission is working on 2024 Work
Plan and recruitment.
Objective 3 – Re-establish the Environmental Quality Commission with a clear and engaging
purpose and a sustainable future:
• Scheduling subject matter experts to speak on environmental and sustainability issues for the
future of the commission
• Continuing to research other cities’ environmental commissions to develop framework
Objective 4 – Create an atmosphere of better teamwork, open communication, enhanced
employee performance, and where staff feel empowered to help make decisions:
• Hired new Public Works Director – April 15 start date.
• Supporting staff wellness and continuing professional growth and development
• Connecting with neighboring city managers on various local issues
• Continuing participation in city manager leadership/peer group and metro and state
professional organizations
• Recreation Dept. hosted 2024 spring “Coffee Break” teambuilding with employees
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov