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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — OCTOBER 13, 2025 5 want six full-time but are asking for three this year. Cities are currently talking about levies between 16-18%. The three FTEs is a lot more appealing for her. Chief Boehlke said the original budget request was asking to hire six. Because of the shock factor, they dropped it back to three this year and three in 2027. Ther is no commitment to that from the cities. They are taking it year by year. The cities can't ignore this. He doesn't believe the part-time staff are going to work any more hours. A lot of people aren't going to risk their lives for such low pay. He thinks they're at a crossroads. They can't hope this goes away. He fears that the brown outs will be even higher next year. He isn't trying to scare anyone. They have been moving in this direction. All three cities need to digest and accept this and support what they are doing. Mayor Grant said there are a number of items relative to the long-term vision and goals. They want to maintain industry standards and deliver excellence. There is no question Arden Hills wants them to deliver excellence. He asked what the industry standards are and where LJFD measures against those standards. He thinks it would be meaningful for the cities to know that. He said their plan includes a new building, which is under construction, a new truck, faster rotation for trucks, three FTEs in 2026, three FTEs in 2027, an admin support person and remodeling Station 130. He wonders if there is anything they don't need. We want a fire department of excellence but these are some very meaty items. Chief Boehlke said the in-depth conversations about response and truck replacement at a faster pace haven't happened because everyone is choking on the personnel. They need the personnel first. The strategic plan is not on a timeline. It is a vision and a working document. What they are looking for, for next year, is the three full-time firefighters. The ladder truck they just purchased is replacing a truck that is 27 years old and cost $500,000 to maintain. The station is needed. Councilmember Monson asked how much slower response times are when there is a brown out. Chief Boehlke said they can get that information. When all three stations are staffed there is a balanced coverage. When Station 130 is browned it's a minimum of 3-6 minutes, depending on where the truck is coming from and what area they are responding to. They only have two crews. It's not uncommon for them to have three or four calls occurring at the same time. Councilmember Monson would like the data on how much longer the response times are during brown outs. She asked what types of calls are being missed during the brown outs. Chief Boehlke said the calls are varied. Councilmember Monson said they are asking for three FTEs in a very short period of time. This is the only option we are being presented. She would like to see the other options. First, she wants to know what they are doing to maintain the people they have now. She'd like to see the economic comparison with increasing part-time wages. That maybe doesn't work, but she wants to see it. Secondly, she said they are targeting the supply side of the issue. She asked what is being done on the demand side. Should we strategically reduce the calls so they aren't going to some of the A calls. She said LJFD does a really great job. She knows recruitment is an issue. However, the City Council has accountability to the taxpayers in Arden Hills. She would have a hard time explaining to residents why a 17% increase was approved when only one option was presented.