2023.02.14 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Abdulle indicated this was amazing work. He thanked the County for their vision and for working on this new initiative. He asked how feedback would be taken from the public going forward. Ms. Hamrick discussed how feedback would be taken from the community to learn how the ARI response model was serving individuals. Councilmember Abdulle encouraged the County to find ways for individuals living in apartments to provide the County with feedback. He inquired how community responders would be responding to calls. Ms. Hamrick stated she did not believe the County would have enough funding to provide community responders with vehicles. She indicated the County was looking into utilizing American Rescue Plan funding in order to reimburse individuals for mileage. Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas stated at the City’s most recent strategic planning session, the Council expressed interest in having an embedded social worker within the Public Safety Department. She asked how the City could go about making this happen. Ms. Hamrick noted she could connect with Director Paetznick to discuss this matter further. Director Paetznick asked the County to speak further regarding the new staff members that would be brought on to assist with the ARI initiative. Ms. Hamrick reported the County would be hiring 32 new FTE’s, two of which were for planning support. She indicated seven would be placed in the dispatch center. She stated five individuals would serve as supervisors and embedded social workers in the emergency communications center. She explained another seven individuals would be added to the mobile crisis center. She reported six positions would be added to public health and two remaining positions would remain open to meet future needs. She discussed how difficult it was to hire social workers at this time, but noted the County was working to increase upstream recruiting. Worksession adjourned at 6:16 pm Respectfully submitted, Terri Spangrud City Clerk