HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-28-2016 Council Work Session PacketCity Council Work Session
Monday, March 28,5:00 p.m.
Orono City Police Training Room
AGENDA
1. Sensitivity and Bias Training (45 Minutes) POLICE TRAINING ROOM
2. Police Chief Update (20 Minutes)
3. City Administrator Verbal Update (15 Minutes)
4. Future Work Session Topics
Work Session Topics or Requests
Annual:
• Budget and Goals: part of June, all of July, August and October.
• City Administrator & Police Chief update (3 times per year for 15 minutes)
• Joint Planning Commission/Park/Council meeting for check-in/direction (11/9/15)
Additional topics:
• Emerald Ash Borer and presentation from 3 Rivers regarding invasive species (LL)
• Sewer Connection Fees Policy (MG)
• Marina licensing (MG)
• Construction Hours — Truck Traffic (LL)
Previous Work Session Topics
February 22, 2016
• Comp Plan Timeline
• Customer Service
• Planning Commission Appointment
• Lurton Park Update
January 25, 2016
• Hennepin County Lake Access
• Navarre Trail Connection
• Intersection Improvement Grant for County Road 15/19
• Council Packet Information and Electronic Packets
November 23, 2015
• 2016 Budget
a. Non -Union Compensation
b. Capital Improvement Program (CIP)
c. 2016 Public Works Plan
d. Fee Schedule
• City Administrator Verbal Update
• Future Work Session Topics
MEMORANDUM
TO: ORONO CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CORREY FARNIOK, ORONO POLICE CHIEF
SUBJECT: Sensitivity and Bias Training
DATE: MARCH 28, 2016
In October of 2015 Commissioner Lindsey spoke to the Orono Police Department related
to sensitivity and bias training. During that presentation it was recommended that we
continue this discussion with staff and City Council so the message comes to our
leadership as well.
Commissioner Lindsey will be attending the work session to provide training on the
nationally elevated topic of bias. His biography for your information:
Kevin Lindsey, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights
Kevin Lindsey was appointed Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human
Rights in February 2011. He had previously served as a civil litigation attorney in the
Office of the Ramsey County Attorney, and has 20 years of experience in resolving
complex legal and public policy questions.
As Commissioner, Lindsey is responsible for a department whose mission is to make
Minnesota discrimination free. The Department of Human Rights enforces the Minnesota
Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, gender, religion, color,
creed, nationality, age, disability, sexual orientation and other characteristics protected
under the Act. Discrimination is prohibited in employment, housing, public
accommodations, public services, business, credit and other areas.
Commissioner Lindsey is also committed to calling upon government agencies to
collaborate more closely to address racial and economic disparities. Governor Dayton has
asked the department to play a prominent role in improving diversity in hiring and diverse
contracting opportunities among state agencies. As part of that process, the department is
conducting an evaluation of diversity across agencies and assessing affirmative action
efforts and best practices.
MEMORANDUM
TO: ORONO CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CORREY FARNIOK, ORONO POLICE CHIEF
SUBJECT: Police Chief Updates
DATE: MARCH 28, 2016
City Councils will be updated on the following items.
-Heart Safe Community Initiative
-Crime Prevention — Property Security Assessment and Retail Shoplifting Prevention
-Hennepin West Mesonet (weather stations)
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EN N E P I N WE 13T M E S 0 N E T
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Fact Sheet
Description: The HennepinWest Mesonet is a network of remote sensors which provide highly -
accurate, near real-time measurements of weather, soil and water conditions. This data is
immediately sent to a central database where software automatically develop graphic products
to show what is happening across Hennepin County and surrounding areas for emergency
leaders to use in critical situations. Information is also archived for future analysis.
Purpose of the mesonet network: The HennepinWest Mesonet is a life -safety tool designed to
gather and synthesize vital data on weather, soils and water to help emergency leaders make
critical public warning and tactical decisions. Recent experiences across the Twin Cities metro
area reveal a long-standing vulnerability to dangerous weather or human -caused conditions
that form very quickly without clear advance indications. Fatal tornadoes in Rogers, MN (2006)
and in North Minneapolis, MN (2011) both point to a need for more complete and rapid surface
observations from a network of sensors spread across the area. A fatal landslide in Saint Paul,
MN (2013) also shows that near real time soil temperature and saturation data across the
metro could be useful in providing alerts for evolving dangerous conditions. Other
vulnerabilities exist in our area to rapid -onset flash flooding, straight-line winds or hazardous
materials releases which require many sensors with quick detection capability to provide useful
pubic warning or evacuation decision-making.
Purpose of individual stations: One of the most important features of the HennepinWest
Mesonet is having sensor stations located across a wide area in order to be able to see threats
develop in real time to trigger key warning decisions earlier. A station located at an airport 25
miles away is poorly located to provide useful warning indications across a whole region. Also, if
these stations do not report data that is in real-time, their use for warning is negligible. Each
Mesonet station represents the small area where it is located and helps protect the residents
and infrastructure located there by providing high-quality immediate data.
Description of individual stations: Stations are located on a small patch of ground about 40
feet square of natural grass, which is surrounded by an area free from any wind obstructions
out to about 90 feet from the center. A 30 foot aluminum structure holds most of the sensors
that detect wind speed, direction, temperature, humidity and barometric pressure. Rain
gauges and soil sensors are placed on or in the ground nearby. Stations use solar energy and
require no external power. Data is sent via cellular phone or radio to the network data base.
Depending on circumstances, a small perimeter fence may be installed to protect the
equipment at the station.
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iHENNEPIN WESTMESONET
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much does a station cost?
A: Stations are located on lands which are owned by Hennepin County, or on lands of other public
jurisdictions or corporate partners by agreement. Station equipment costs around $9,000 to obtain with
basic sensors. Mesonet technicians install and maintain the equipment and the site. Site study and
installation costs are variable depending on the requirements for the location. Cell data transmission
from each station cost about $300 dollars a year.
Q: What standards are used to set-up and maintain the HennepinWest Mesonet?
A: The standards used to select station sites and to set-up sensor instruments are from the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United States National Weather Service (NWS). The
calibration, maintenance and sensor replacement standards are those used by the Oklahoma Mesonet,
the pioneering first Mesonet established in the nation.
Q: Is the data available to the public?
A: Yes. The HennepinWest website has a lot of useful data and graphics. It can be found at
<http; hennepinwestmesonet, org>
Q: Is the Mesonet just used for natural hazards like extreme weather?
A: No. Accurate and up-to-the-minute weather data from a nearby sensor station is crucial for
emergency response leaders to take actions and make quick evacuation decisions for accidents where
toxic chemicals are spilled. Reliable local weather data is also vital for fighting fires. The data is also
critical to respond to a terrorist attack where chemical, radiological or biological agents are dispersed.
Q: Are there other uses for the Mesonet besides public safety?
A: Yes. Anyone needing very accurate, locally specific weather data can use the HennepinWest Mesonet.
Sectors that should consult this data include agriculture, transportation, construction, building
heating/cooling engineers, turf grass and landscape managers, environmental monitors, and others.
Mesonet data can also be used for academic research. Residents who just want to keep up on the
weather should also consult the Mesonet.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who operates the HennepinWest Mesonet?
A: Hennepin County Emergency Management, with the guidance of an advisory board made up of many
other departments and agencies.
Q: Why are existing weather stations not adequate?
A: The overall number of surface stations in the Metro area today is too small to provide the fine detail
optimal for many public warning decisions. The locations of most existing stations are at public airports
or along interstate highways so data is not relevant for people and facilities located away from these
stations. Many stations were set up to report climate information that is old (up to one hour) rather
than up to the minute real-time data, which makes them nearly useless in warning and evacuation
situations. Networked private stations are often located poorly and can get erroneous readings for
winds or temperatures. Few of these stations are ever calibrated or maintained using strict operational
accuracy standards which may also lead to unreliable measurements.
Q: Can't other tools, such as Doppler radar, do the same job?
A: No. Doppler radar is a fantastic tool, and has been made even more useful after recent upgrades
made by the National Weather Service, however there are some things that radar cannot do at all,
cannot do as well, or cannot do as quickly. Some of these shortfalls relate to the length of time that
Doppler needs for a single scan —five minutes. Another is that the radar beam cannot see the surface
due to the curvature of the Earth, so a Doppler radar picture actually shows what is taking place a
thousand or more feet in the air. Hazardous material incidents require surface wind measurements to
accurately model. Finally, when areas are very close to the radar site, ground clutter or other radar
beam characteristics can degrade performance near the surface. Mesonet stations and radar
complement each other and can be used together to develop accurate real-time situational awareness.
Q: Is the Mesonet station structure an antenna?
A: No. An antenna is defined as a conductor or system of conductors used for either radiating
electromagnetic energy into the atmosphere or for collecting electromagnetic energy from the
atmosphere. The station structure itself does not collect or broadcast any electromagnetic energy.
However, when cell phone signals are used to convey data from sensors to the database a tiny cell
phone antenna no larger than one on a personal cell phone is used.
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Item 3
The City Administrator will give a verbal update of various issues at the work session.
One topic for discussion is the work session topics for next quarter. Please review the
following list:
Work Sessions for 2nd Quarter of 2016
I'm requesting consensus on topics for the upcoming work sessions in the next quarter.
April:
• Road priorities and funding
• Printup ordinance request for treatment related facilities, etc.
• Assessor presentation and contract process
• Cemetery Road ownership and business parking
May:
• Goals for 2017
June:
• Goals tied to priorities/direction for 2017 budget preparation
• Gillespie report to council (regular meeting?)
Other possibilities from your ongoing "Work Session Topics or Requests":
• Emerald Ash Borer (LL), 3 Rivers invasive species presentation
• Sewer Connection Fees Policy (MG)
• Marina licensing (MG)
• Construction Hours — Truck Traffic (LL)
Jessica's list:
■ Resident survey in 2017 for Comp Plan and priorities?
■ Police contract formula changes