2026.03.03 Work Session Packet
4141 Douglas Drive North • Crystal, Minnesota 55422-1696
Tel: (763) 531-1000 • Fax: (763) 531-1188 • www.crystalmn.gov
Posted: Feb. 27, 2026
City Council
Work Session Agenda
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | 6:30 p.m.
Upper Community Room/Zoom
Pursuant to due call and notice given in the manner prescribed by Section 3.01 of the City
Charter, the Crystal City Council work session was held on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at _____
p.m. electronically via Zoom and in the upper community room at city hall, 4141 Douglas Dr.,
Crystal, Minnesota. If the agenda items are not completed in time for the regular city council
meeting at 7 p.m., the meeting will be continued and resumed immediately following the city
council meeting.
I. Attendance
Council members Staff
____ Onesirosan ____ Bell
____ Budziszewski ____ Tierney
____ Cummings ____ Therres
____ Deshler ____ Elholm
____ Eidbo ____ Hubbard
____ Kamish ____ Kunde
____ Kiser ____ Struve
____ 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) Tobacco ordinance updates (price, flavor, and size limitations; Kratom).
3) Constituent issues update.*
4) New business.*
5) Council comments and 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.
West Metro Fire-Rescue District
City Council Quarterly Update
February 2026
1. Operational Overview & Service Demand West Metro Fire-Rescue District continues to maintain strong operational readiness while managing sustained call volume levels. 2025 Total Calls for Service: 2,265 • Crystal: 1,023 • New Hope: 1,154 • Mutual/Auto Aid: 88 Call volume in 2025 exceeded 2024 totals and continues a multi-year trend of elevated service demand. This sustained workload places continued pressure on both full-time and paid-on-call staffing resources. Key operational updates include implementation of the updated Incident Command System (ICS), launch of the 2026 West Suburban Fire Academy no West Metro students, continued community outreach expansion (207 outreach events in 2025), and ongoing facility and fleet improvements.
2. Financial Position – General Fund (Unaudited as of November 30, 2025) Total Revenues: $3,065,214 Total Expenditures: $2,662,730 Net Operations: $402,483 positive General Fund Balance: $688,051 Revenues are tracking above budget due to intergovernmental grants and interest earnings. Expenditures are below total budgeted levels, resulting in a positive operating position. Personnel and health insurance expenses remain the largest cost drivers.
3. Capital Planning & Asset Management Capital Fund Balance: $1,588,176. The District continues to follow its structured capital replacement plan to avoid escalating maintenance costs and reliability concerns. Proposed 2026 Vehicle Replacement: • Replace 2011 ½-ton pickup • Replace 2013 1-ton pickup (downsized to ¾-ton) Total Purchase Request: $137,304 $130,000 is included in the approved 2026 Capital Plan, with the balance funded through unrestricted capital funds and sale of existing vehicles.
4. Pension & Insurance Commitments 2025 Paid-on Call Firefighter Pension Contribution: State Aid $438,106 District $35,198 Workers Compensation Premium (2026): $75,909 Property/Casualty Premium (2026): $16,963
5. SAFER Grant Sustainability – Strategic Policy Issue The District currently utilizes three SAFER-funded positions (Logistics, Training, and Community Outreach & Risk Reduction). The grant expires February 2027. Without these positions, daytime staffing would be reduced to a single staffed station, potentially increasing response times in the northern response area by up to four minutes. The loss of these roles would also result in increased overtime costs as remaining full-time staff absorb SAFER-related responsibilities. Fire Board direction is to permanently fund these positions and incorporate them into long-term financial planning. The goal is to include these into the 2027 budget with minimal impact to the city contributions.
Summary for City Council West Metro Fire-Rescue District remains operationally stable, financially sound, and strategically positioned to manage long-term capital and staffing needs while maintaining strong emergency response coverage for Crystal and New Hope.
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
DATE: February 27, 2025
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Manager Adam R. Bell
RE: Overview of Potential Amendments to the Tobacco Ordinance and Consideration of a
Kratom Sales Ban
Background
The purpose of this memo is to provide an overview of potential amendments to the tobacco
ordinance in the City of Crystal and to outline policy questions for City Council consideration.
These items are presented for discussion and direction only. If the Council expresses interest in
moving forward on any of the items described below, staff would return with proposed
ordinance language for consideration at the March 17 meeting.
I. Overview of Proposed Tobacco Ordinance Changes
Council is being asked to consider whether it wishes to pursue additional regulations related to
the sale of tobacco products within the city. The concepts under discussion include:
1. Minimum price for tobacco products: Establishing a floor price below which tobacco
products may not be sold, with the intent of reducing access to very low-cost tobacco
items, particularly those that may appeal to youth or price-sensitive consumers.
2. Minimum size or quantity requirements: Requiring tobacco products to be sold only in
minimum package sizes or quantities (for example, prohibiting the sale of single items or
very small packs). This approach is intended to discourage impulse purchases and reduce
affordability.
3. Ban on flavored cigarettes: Prohibiting the sale of flavored cigarettes within the city. This
proposal would apply only to cigarettes and would not extend to other flavored tobacco
or nicotine products unless directed otherwise by Council.
II. Consideration of a Ban on Kratom Sales
In addition to tobacco-related items, Council is being asked whether it has an interest in
prohibiting the sale of Kratom within the city.
A. What is Kratom?
Kratom is a plant-derived substance made from the leaves of a tropical tree native to Southeast
Asia. It is commonly sold in powder, capsule, or liquid form and is marketed for effects that can
range from stimulation at low doses to sedation or pain relief at higher doses.
B. Health Impacts and Concerns
Kratom interacts with opioid receptors in the brain and can have psychoactive effects. Reported
health concerns include dependency, withdrawal symptoms, nausea, elevated heart rate, liver
toxicity, and, in some cases, serious adverse events when combined with other substances.
While some users report perceived benefits, kratom is not approved by the FDA for medical use,
and regulatory approaches vary widely across states and local governments.
Currently, the State of Minnesota does not regulate kratom other than prohibiting its sale to
minors.
Policy Questions for Council Direction
Council is asked to provide feedback and direction on the following questions:
1. Is there interest in establishing a minimum price for tobacco products?
2. Is there interest in establishing a minimum size or quantity requirement for tobacco
products?
3. Is there interest in adopting a ban on flavored cigarettes (excluding other flavored
tobacco products)?
4. Is there interest in adopting a ban on the sale of Kratom within the city?
Requested City Council Action
Other than providing feedback and direction to staff, no formal action is requested.