The Becker City Council met Wednesday (because of Night to Unite) and discussed a couple public hearings, HVAC replacement, a grant application, second quarter financials and a rail and transportation study (see separate story elsewhere in this week’s Citizen-Tribune).

 

Police Chief Brent Baloun asked council to approve a policy and set a public hearing in September regarding the use of body-worn cameras with the BPD.

 

At the conclusion of the legislative session in 2016, Baloun said, the state’s legislature created a process in which those law enforcement agencies choosing to utilize body worn cameras needed to follow a set procedure in order to enhance transparency with their communities and the general public. 

 

Baloun said this process includes the development of a policy supported by local governments, public disclosure of the policy itself and the allowance of public comment regarding the procedures utilized and the policy itself. A public hearing would need to be held prior to the purchase of any equipment. This is to ensure there is a full public disclosure and discussion before implementation.

 

Baloun said numerous concerns were developed within the process. One was personal privacy, another was data retention timeframes, another was when the cameras are turned on or off by the user (officer) and another was officers viewing the videos. These issues, Baloun says, have been addressed in the policy he presented and is based on the recommendations of the legislature and the League of MN Cities. 

 

“This framework of the policy was also recommended by Scott Lepak, city attorney,” said Baloun. “Things can always be changed should legislation require it.”

 

A public hearing date was approved for Sept. 19 and Baloun plans to have the policy posted by the police department on its website as soon as it is given a run-through by council and edits made.

 

The cost for six body-worn cameras is $35,571 through Taser/Axon, which includes unlimited storage, redacting software and new cameras at 30 and 60 months and is within the department’s 2017 CIP. 

 

Baloun said this is a five-year agreement and he is reviewing the possibility of financing 10 cameras to allow each officer their own camera. Cost of 10 cameras would be around $54,711. Baloun says he will be soliciting donations and/or determining other funding options, should they decide to go with 10 cameras.

 

Another public hearing was called for to consider changes to the city’s solicitor code.

 

Pruszinske said a public hearing was necessary since he plans to update the city’s fee schedule relating to peddler’s and transient merchant licenses.

 

The public hearing was approved for Aug. 15 at approximately 6:30 p.m.

 

Pruszinske said the city received two quotes for new HVAC equipment at city hall. 

 

 

Pruszinske pointed out the HVAC is original equipment, circa 1996. He said the HVAC currently in use at city hall has a life expectancy of about 20 years, so the city is beyond that time frame and is beginning to experience major problems. 

 

“We currently have one condenser that needs replacement,” Pruszinske said. “We also have one unit with a bad heat exchanger, so it's time to make the upgrade.”

 

The city has budgeted $69,000 for heating/cooling/controls. 

 

“Because I'm less worried about the controls on the PD (police department) side of the building and more concerned about the HVAC units on the city hall side of the building, I'm proposing we use the approximately 69K out of the CIP to replace the city hall RTU's,” Pruszinske said. “Anything remaining we'll use for controls and upgrades on the PD side of the building.” 

 

The low bid came in from McDowall Comfort Management for $46,226.

 

Pruszinske said the City of Becker has been collaborating with regional economic development partners — including Sherburne County — on coal transition projects. 

 

He said Sherburne County has agreed to submit a grant application for "assisting coal communities" federal funding for a project in the Becker Industrial Park. Multiple organizations, including the Initiative Foundation, Delta Institute, Just Transition Fund, Sherburne County, and City of Becker are working together to gather the information for the application, but Sherburne County offered to take on the submission responsibilities. 

 

The potential grant dollar amount has not been confirmed, but Pruszinske believes it could be around 4-5 million dollars.

 

Finance Director Connie Robinson asked council to approve the second quarter financials for 2017.

 

Robinson said the budget and finance committee held a meeting July 19 to review the June financials. She said it was noted the financials are at or below the budget.

 

Some key items to note in the summary she supplied include the receipt of 70% of the city’s first half of the year tax revenue with the remaining 30% received in July. Also, licenses and permit revenues remain higher than last year and revenues in EDA is due to the Minnesota Investment Fund Grant that was issued to Manufacturing Partners, Inc.

 

The next Becker City Council meeting is Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.