Early Birds: ZOOM Meeting only today and thru the end of the year. We had 21 participants today. We usually start the meeting online at 7:15 AM Mike Palm, Bob Alexander, and Dick Anderson were the first to log on.
Guests: John Quincy of SSG and Linea Palmisano, Minneapolis 13th Ward City Council member
Honorary Members: Karen Holtmeier, Ron Britz, Dick Lindskoog, Dick Nelson, and Martin Peyer were in attendance.
President Jim Erickson brought the meeting to order with a ring of the bell and a moment of silence.
Announcements
- ZOOM link is https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8372506494?pwd=RStMTVU4bVVDTU0vZU5UdXNSWTZoQT09 or meeting ID 837 250 6494 password is Breakfast
- 2021 Craft Talk scheduling. Please contact Craig Blixrud to get on the calendar or with your ideas for craft talks.
- We are looking for suggestions for new members. A great time to join as the dues are currently waived and ZOOM allows easy access to meetings.
Pot of Gold: None today
Business Exchange/Sharing: Bob Alexander, Jon Peterson, Dick Nelson, Ron Britz, Chuck Shreffler, and Jim Christianson all had some business exchange to share. Mike Palm shared that the 2020 Boat Cruise will not take place due to too much ice. Lots of members had something to share today as we went around the ZOOM horn.
Craft Talk
John Quincy introduced Linea Palmisano of the Minneapolis City Council. She represents the 13 th Ward which covers SW Minneapolis and is deeply involved in the 2021 Minneapolis City Budget. As part of that discussion is the defunding or not of the MPD budget by several mission dollars.
Linea indicated that there are a lot of challenges in the budget due to expected revenue decreases from the pandemic.
The MPD currently has a budgeted level of 888 officers, but they do not have that many due to retirements and challenges in hiring new officers. Budget proposals are to have as low as 750 officers and to off load some of the calls for help to mental health professionals that are not licensed police officers. Who and how they make the determination as to who goes out on a call are yet to be determined.
One benchmark comparison with other cities indicate that a staffing level of 850 officers would be the right size for a city like Minneapolis.
A very interesting discussion and insights as to how the City Council works.
Thanks to Council Member Linea Palmisano for presenting and answering questions today.
Please register with Jim Erickson at 612-325-3009 or jim@solomonssg.com
Looking ahead
December 16 – Mike Conley (Karen Holtmeier guest speaker) via ZOOM
December 23 and 30 – No meeting
January 6, 2021 – Bob Alexander’s first as President.
Attachments
Mortgaging The American Dream, R. Michael Conley
2021 Craft Talk Schedule – Sign up today!