HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-06-17 Work Session Meeting MinutesPage 1
MINUTES
OF THE EDINA CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
COMMUNITY ROOM, CITY HALL
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2025
5:30 P.M.
1.0 CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Hovland called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.
2.0 Roll Call
Answering rollcall were Members Agnew, Jackson, Pierce, Risser and Mayor Hovland.
Staff in attendance: Scott Neal, City Manager; Ari Lenz, Assistant City Manager; Andrew Slama, Fire Chief;
Zoe Johnson, City Management Fellow; Brian Olson, Public Works Director; Pa Thao, Finance Director;
Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director; Ryan Browning, IT Director; and Sharon Allison, City
Clerk.
3.1 FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONSE TIME POLICY REVIEW AND OPERATIONS UPDATE
City Manager Neal introduced the topic. Chief Slama presented an overview of response time policy,
staffing challenges, and short- and long-term planning. He shared background on the department, which
was established in 1941 and has provided paramedic-level ambulance service for over 50 years. He
spoke about the unique service model that provides both fire suppression and advanced life support
ambulance service and how response time is a critical performance measure, though no state or federal
standards exist—leaving goal-setting to local discretion. He spoke about the 2008 Comp Plan response
goal that was set at 8-minute and revised in 2018 to 6 minutes and explained how response time is
measured, from when a call is made to when units arrive, emphasizing variables like type of call, time of
day, overlapping incidents, and acuity. He emphasized that fires today escalate more quickly due to open
floor plans, reinforcing the importance of fast response. He spoke about industry standards and
compared national benchmarks (NFPA and CFAI), both using the 90th percentile model to ensure
reliability of the time. Slama proposed 8 minutes and 12 seconds as a more realistic and effective goal
aligned with CFAI standards. He spoke about current average performance that exceeds existing goals
and noted progress in reducing this number but stressed the need for Council to adopt a sustainable
goal informed by real capacity.
Slama spoke about operation challenges and staffing constraints and how call volume was growing
roughly by 4% annually, how staff relief factor impacts scheduling and service delivery, how limited
staffing forces periodic shut down of Medic 3, growing reliance on voluntary overtime, how staff
absences and parental leave further strain capacity in 2025, and highlighted impact of inadequate staffing
on risk and safety, including reduced capacity to respond to simultaneous calls.
Slama’s recommendation in the short-term were to hire 6 FTEs in 2026, prioritize recruitment, and
adopt a realistic response time goal, and in the long-term develop a comprehensive staffing plan, apply
for SAFER grant, and advance Station 3 planning. He emphasized that while physical resources were in
place, investment in people was necessary to meet demand.
Council’s feedback emphasized the need to explain to the public how growing service demand relates to
tax increases and how call volumes were impacted by shutting down Medic 3; asked for a clearer link
between staffing levels and improved response time, including potential benefits from new infrastructure
like Station 3; encouraged a broader approach to risk reduction beyond staffing such as prevention,
community education and mitigation efforts; stressed the importance of supporting staff well-being and
Minutes/Edina City Council Work Session/June 17, 2025
Page 2
cautioned against burnout and attrition, especially as the senior population grows; and finally, concern
about public expectations and what residents are willing to fund, and transparency about the City's
actual capabilities versus its perceived reputation.
Council will consider formal adoption of a revised response time goal and further investments in staffing
at a future date.
4.0 ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Hovland adjourned the meeting at 6:51 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Allison, City Clerk
Minutes approved by Edina City Council, June 17, 2025.
James B. Hovland, Mayor
Audio copy of the work session available.
Sharon Allison (Jul 16, 2025 12:16 CDT)