Nov. 10 -- ROCHESTER -- A proposal to use what remains from $5.3 million in 2023 state public safety support will be reviewed Wednesday.
The Rochester City Council will receive details during its 3:30 p.m. study session on plans for the nearly $900,000 remaining from the one-time state allocation. The funds must be spent on local public safety programs.
Earlier this year, the council approved spending $4.4 million on 11 initiatives, ranging from supporting staff in the city attorney's office to funding training and equipment purchases in the city's fire and police departments.
The proposal for the remaining funds would continue some fire and police equipment purchases, while also supporting renovations on unfinished space at the city's Fire Station No. 2, 2185 Wheelock Drive NE.
"Most of these items reflect needed investments that would need to be made in the future through other funding sources," Deputy City Administrator Aaron Parrish wrote in a report to the council ahead of Wednesday's study session.
The plan calls for using $370,000 for an early renewal and extension of the city's contract with Scottsdale, Arizona-based Axon Enterprises, which provides the police department's body cameras, Tasers and related items, as well as support services.
The goal of the Axon extension is to lock in prices and mitigate the current contract's anticipated impact on the city's 2025 and 2026 budgets.
Another $140,000 is being proposed for the continued purchase of fire department "turnout gear," which is the protective clothing worn by firefighters when responding to fires.
Parrish's report states the city has been working to replace the safety equipment in an effort to meet federal safety standards. The proposed purchase seeks to complete the effort while limiting the impact on the city's overall budget.
In addition to equipment purchase, the proposed renovations at the Wheelock Drive fire station would transform unfinished space in the city's newest fire station.
When the station was built, plans called for eventually using the space for future dispatch needs, but nearly $300,000 could be used to transform the space for interim use by the city's Emergency Management department. The added area would free up space in the station's existing classroom space, and the renovations could offset future remodeling expenses.
"This investment will allow a baseline utilization of the space for Emergency Management and position (it) for future public safety needs," Parrish wrote of the proposed renovation.
The proposed spending plan set for review Wednesday also includes $94,000 for vehicle replacements and workstation upgrades related to Emergency Management.
Of the $4.4 million in public safety spending approved earlier this year, city staff is also set to recommend reallocation of approximately $220,000, with $20,000 set for potential fire training.
The remaining $200,000 was planned for a pilot program to enhance outreach to the homeless community through the Rochester Police Department. Since the pilot program was proposed, the city has also provided funds for Olmsted County's new Drug and Alcohol Response Team, which provides some overlapping services.
The proposal set for Wednesday's review could allocate the $200,000 to other outreach efforts through the police department.
A final council decision won't be made, but input during the discussion is expected to inform a recommendation to be presented for a future vote during an upcoming council meeting.
Wednesday's study session, which will be held in council chambers of the city-county Government Center, was moved from the typical Monday schedule due to the Veterans Day holiday on Monday.
Meetings scheduled to be held during the week of Nov. 11 include:
Rochester
-- Charter Commission, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in room 104 of City Hall, 201 Fourth St. SE.
-- Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Commission, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in room 104 of City Hall.
-- City Council study session, 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers of the city-county Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE. The meeting will livestream at www.rochestermn.gov/meetings/council-meetings and be available on Spectrum cable channel 180 or 188. Rochester Canvassing Board will review Nov. 5 election results at start of study session.
-- Sustainability and Resiliency Commission, 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in room 104 of City Hall, 201 Fourth St. SE.
Olmsted County
-- Housing and Redevelopment Authority, 4 p.m. Tuesday in board chambers of the Government Center, 151 Fourth St. SE.
-- Olmsted County Canvassing Board, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Olmsted County Elections Office, 2122 Campus Drive SE.
-- Olmsted County Board Retreat, 8:30 a.m. Friday in room 161 at 2117 Campus Drive SE.
Rochester Public Schools
-- School Board, 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the boardroom of the Edison Building, 615 Seventh St. SW.