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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/02/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes City council study session St. Louis Park, Minnesota Feb. 13, 2023 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Lynette Dumalag, Nadia Mohamed, and Margaret Rog Councilmembers absent: none Staff present: City Manager (Ms. Keller), Fire Chief Koering, Deputy City Manager (Ms. Walsh), Engineering Director (Ms. Heiser), Project Engineer (Mr. Sullivan), Community Development Director (Ms. Barton), Race, Equity, and Inclusion Director (Ms. Guess), Communications and Technology Director (Ms. Smith), Fire Department Chief Medical Director (Dr. Wilcox), Deputy Fire Chief Wolff, Assistant Chief Anderson Guests: Paul Danicic, Park Nicollet Foundation 1. REI and fire department – community health Chief Koering, along with fire department staff, presented the report on the proposed community health project for the city. Mr. Danicic explained the role of Park Nicollet and a grant recently given to the fire department from the Park Nicollet Foundation. Chief Koering noted the Park Nicollet Foundation will fund a full-time care coordinator for the fire department, for three years. Mayor Spano stated there has been interest regionally in this program. He also thanked the Park Nicollet Foundation for their support for the city and community and appreciated their generosity over the years. Councilmember Mohamed noted she met one of the students in the CNA program. She stated many communities have multi-generational families living together and sometimes there is no support system for these families with aged relatives. She asked if the city is doing anything around this issue. Chief Koering stated they do sometimes make recommendations about alternative care but added they have also learned about this issue. He noted care coordination will help the department do more specific work related to this, community health workers will assist on this issue, as well as look like the community and population they are serving. He added the department has had difficulty connecting in the past with faith leaders of some of these communities, so they are working on this as well. Councilmember Mohamed asked if this will be a paid internship . Fire Chief Koering said yes, it will. Ms. Keller added community health workers will understand and will help translate for the fire department. DocuSign Envelope ID: 2262773C-E2B7-4F78-855E-B65728EA2E42 Study session minutes -2- Feb. 13, 2023 Councilmember Rog asked if there is information on the city website about this program and the podcast, as well as the relationship with Park Nicollet . Chief Koering stated yes this will be done soon, but noted the program is still being built and they wanted to discuss it with the council first. Councilmember Rog commented on the sign outside the police station, noting it did not have any contact information on it. Councilmember Rog mentioned “most trusted resource” and asked how we know . Chief Koering stated there have been studies on this and noted one by the New York Times that looked at who people trusted the most. Next to their clergy, the fire department is who they trusted the most. He stated people share things with firefighters that they won’t share with others, and the firefighters get the whole story. Then they can take that information to update the person’s care team. Councilmember Rog noted many do not call 911 in an emergency. Chief Koering stated people do call 911 and many times for non-emergency events but noted that some do not call because it can lead back to law enforcement. He explained if they can connect people to the appropriate resource, they do not call 911, adding in the future he would like to work on having another number to call. Councilmember Rog asked if we assist with health insurance or healthcare homes, and how does the city help close that gap. Chief Koering stated the city does not provide health insurance or recommend any type of insurance . He noted that United Health Group did present at Perspectives, and they also recommend physicians, as well as the Creekside Clinic. He explained the care coordinator will reach out to get folks to help with this. Councilmember Rog asked whether the Care Resource Connection and Community Health Alliance have a board of directors. Chief Koering stated this is a collaboration and the fire department works on getting resources they provide out to the community . Councilmember Rog asked if they would present at the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) conference in November. Chief Koering stated they would like to do that . Councilmember Rog stated now is the time to develop a community health commission for the city. Councilmember Dumalag asked about the funding, who is providing what, and if it is administrated directly to the city. Chief Koering explained the Park Nicollet grant came directly to the city in the fire department. He added the care coordinator applies for grants and the funds are allocated however the grant is written and it is divided up with the Alliance. Ms. Keller added the care coordinator will be a city employee and staff will work on what this position will look like over the next 3 years. Chief Koering stated Park Nicollet has been very open about what the expectations are for the grant for the care coordinator and much of the data will be driven by Park Nicollet. He added the non -profit will work with the fire department on reporting for their 501c3. DocuSign Envelope ID: 2262773C-E2B7-4F78-855E-B65728EA2E42 Study session minutes -3- Feb. 13, 2023 Councilmember Dumalag asked if there are any concerns with HIPPA. Fire Chief Koering stated they have a community health system that is HL7 compliant, and it conforms to the necessary regulations, but is outside the walls of the healthcare system. Dr. Wilcox stated the data is looked at collectively versus by patient. Councilmember Dumalag asked if calls are tracked, is the data reconciled as to how the call was taken. Chief Koering stated data is looked at from the time the person is met and follow-up. Councilmember Brausen thanked everyone for their work and stated he is supportive of this. He asked how Care Resource Connect makes money and if the city pays a fee to them. Chief Koering stated the care coordinator is paid a stipend by the fire department budget. Councilmember Budd asked about the 501c3 and if they will have more access to data . Chief Koering stated they are considered a provider and the care coordinator has access to the Epic medical chart system at Park Nicollet and other health care systems, which helps with care integration. Councilmember Budd asked if the city care coordinator will have that same access. Chief Koering stated yes, with access to Epic as well. Councilmember Budd asked about skilled nursing facilities, if that is different than a senior living facility, and if this initiative will have any involvement in senior living. Chief Koering stated skilled nursing is different than senior living and noted there are similar relationships with senior living depending on whether they are independent or assisted living programs. Councilmember Budd stated she is impressed with the idea of “most trusted” and the cross integration. She asked what Care Resource Connections geographic scope is. Chief Koering stated it covers a variety of healthcare through fire departments and is a grass roots program based on care coordination that happens outside the walls of healthcare. Mayor Spano asked what’s preventing other communities from doing this work. Chief Koering stated he has met with many others on this, adding it’s a very complex topic and where it fits in. He stated many fire chiefs are ready to do it, but they are watching St. Louis Park first. Mayor Spano asked if Allina is doing this or others. He also asked what the healthcare foundations and healthcare institutions can do to promote community health. Ms. Danicic stated the Methodist Hospital president and director were both supportive of the Park Nicollet Foundation doing this. Dr. Wilcox stated programs are dependent on which healthcare insurance plan is available and sustainability. Dr. Wilcox added healthcare continues to be a fee for service concept in this country, so this type of community program where prevention of care is in place, is not considered . He added until fee for service in healthcare declines and reimbursement is based on quality of care and keeping patients healthy in and out of hospitals and clinics, this will DocuSign Envelope ID: 2262773C-E2B7-4F78-855E-B65728EA2E42 Study session minutes -4- Feb. 13, 2023 continue in the short- and long-term. He stated we are faced with a healthcare crisis in this country as the numbers of healthcare workers continues to decline, as does acce ss in rural and city settings. He stated we need to find ways to innovatively develop healthcare and EMS has become very important in this work, noting this program is exemplary in using EMS as resources and part of the medical team. Councilmember Rog stated the National League of Cities is interested in this work and this could be a great place for the fire department to present. She asked how this community program, and the Cadet Program may interact as areas of programming. Deputy Chief Wolff stated the Pathway students will have medical and fire training and they would gain experience on runs. He noted this might be more of a community health opportunity, so there is potential for cross training and preparing cadets for careers as firefighter. Councilmember Rog thanked the Park Nicollet Foundation and stated she wants to make sure data is collected by race. Deputy Chief Wolff noted this will be the case and it is already one of the department’s data markers. 2. 2023 Alley Reconstruction (4023-1500) – project update Mr. Sullivan presented the report. Councilmember Rog referenced alley D and asked if the rental property is not coming through. Ms. Heiser stated it was a rental, but the person lives there now. She added the owner wants to work with the city, but they haven’t been able to connect with the owner. Councilmember Rog asked if there were also railroad permits needed for alley D. Mr. Sullivan stated whenever the city works adjacent to the railroad there is a notif ication process, and the permit assures safety of railroad operations. He added until all these easements are secured, they will not move forward. Councilmember Rog asked how this project will be communicated if it moves forward . Mr. Sullivan stated communications would be sent out, depending on when the project will be completed. Councilmember Rog asked if these projects could be pushed to 2026 when the pavement management project begins. Ms. Heiser stated anything is possible, and staff will rely on bids. She added staff will review all the alleys left, budget, and race equity will be reviewed. Councilmember Rog asked if this information will be on the website. Mr. Sullivan stated yes and additional details on the projects will go out in an email. Councilmember Rog stated she is supportive of the strategy and implementing it. Councilmember Brausen asked if alley D is on a dead end. Mr. Sullivan stated yes and only serves five parcels from 28th Street to the south. Ms. Heiser explained the history of this alley, noting it was on private property and the resident was told the city would not DocuSign Envelope ID: 2262773C-E2B7-4F78-855E-B65728EA2E42 Study session minutes -5- Feb. 13, 2023 maintain it any longer. She added the area has been surveyed and the process is almost completed. Councilmember Brausen stated he is supportive of removing alley A as it just services one resident, adding he is sure more will be discussed with the resident. Mayor Spano stated he has no problem pulling these alleys off, adding he is interested in where this will go with the resident. Councilmember Rog added on alley D, she struggles with the expense of alley reconstruction. She stated there were issues with driving on private property, so there are reasons to make it a public access area. Ms. Heiser stated these items will be on the consent agenda in the next meeting for approval. Communications/meeting check-in (verbal) Ms. Keller noted Monday is President’s Day and a holiday so city offices will be closed. She stated the council will meet on Tuesday and swear in the new council member. Mayor Spano noted cloth wash rags are not to be flushed down toilets, as this caused the city to come out and work on the water main in his neighborhood. Written Reports: 3. Managing change in residential areas update 4. 2022 fourth quarter investment report The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor DocuSign Envelope ID: 2262773C-E2B7-4F78-855E-B65728EA2E42