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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-07-13 City Council Workshop Packet AGENDA MAPLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL MANAGER WORKSHOP 6:00 P.M. Monday, July 13, 2026 City Hall, Council Chambers Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D.02, one or more councilmembers may be participating remotely A. CALL TO ORDER B. ROLL CALL C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA D. UNFINISHED BUSINESS None E. NEW BUSINESS 1. Swearing-In Ceremony for One Sergeant and Seven Police Officers 2. Police Department Life Saving Awards F. ADJOURNMENT RULES OF CIVILITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY Following are rules of civility the City of Maplewood expects of everyone appearing at Council Meetings - elected officials, staff and citizens. It is hoped that by following these simple rules, everyone’s opinions can be heard and understood in a reasonable manner. We appreciate the fact that when appearing at Council meetings, it is understood that everyone will follow these principles: Speak only for yourself, not for other council members or citizens - unless specifically tasked by your colleagues to speak for the group or for citizens in the form of a petition. Show respect during comments and/or discussions, listen actively and do not interrupt or talk amongst each other. Be respectful of the process, keeping order and decorum. Do not be critical of council members, staff or others in public. Be respectful of each other’s time keeping remarks brief, to the point and non-repetitive. THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK E1 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP STAFF REPORT Meeting Date July 13, 2026 REPORT TO: Michael Sable, City Manager REPORT FROM: Brian Bierdeman, Public Safety Director PRESENTER:Brian Bierdeman, Public Safety Director AGENDA ITEM: Swearing-In Ceremony for One Sergeant and Seven Police Officers Action Requested: MotionDiscussion Public Hearing Form of Action: Resolution OrdinanceContract/Agreement Proclamation Summary: Sergeant Swetala will be officially sworn in with the Maplewood Police Department in his new role. The Maplewood Police Department also had an open hiring and recruitment process over the past year to fill multiple police officer vacancies. Police Officers Reece Podgorski, Mario Morales, Airion Britt, Benjamin Bowker, Julius Leonard, Amanda Ulvenes and Joshua Pekarek will be officially sworn in with the Maplewood Police Department. Recommended Action: None. Fiscal Impact: Is There a Fiscal Impact? No Yes, the true or estimated cost is $0 Financing source(s): Adopted Budget Budget Modification New Revenue Source Use of Reserves Other: N/A Strategic Plan Relevance: SafetyEnsure public safety and effective emergency response Sustainability Development Background: Sergeant Swetala: Sergeant Swetala has been employed by the Maplewood Police Department for 8 years, the first year as a Community Service Officer, and the remainder as a Police Officer. During his time as an officer, he has been assigned to the recruiting team, the honor guard, the strategic planning committee, the chaplain liaison, and a field training officer. Workshop Packet Page Number 1 of 6 E1 Sergeant Swetala grew up in Lakeville, MN, where he currently lives with his wife, Alexa, and young son, Dallas. He graduated college from Mankato State in 2017 and was homeschooled prior to that. Aside from enjoying work immensely, he also enjoys yard games, movies, card collecting, and playing video games on his days off. He pursued the position of Sergeant because he believed he could contribute even more to the Maplewood Police Department and the community than he had as an officer and informal leader. He plans to spend his entire career serving in Maplewood and is eager to take on this new responsibility with dedication, enthusiasm, and a commitment to continued growth and leadership. Officer Podgorski: Officer Podgorski was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and raised in South St. Paul, where he graduated from South St. Paul High School in 2017. Following graduation, he enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard as a Military Police (MP) Soldier. He attended Minnesota State University, Mankato, from 2017 to 2021, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Law Enforcement. During his time at Minnesota State, he participated in the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program and commissioned as an Army Logistics Officer in 2021. He continues to serve as a First Lieutenant with the 1347th Division Sustainment Support Battalion (DSSB) in Bloomington, Minnesota. In 2021, Officer Podgorski completed his Law Enforcement Skills certification through Hennepin Technical College. He then served as a Correctional Officer with the Washington County Jail in Stillwater, Minnesota, from 2022 to 2025, gaining valuable experience in corrections and public safety. Officer Podgorski joined the Maplewood Police Department in April 2025. He was drawn to Maplewood through recommendations from his father, a Ramsey County Deputy, and a coworker from Washington County, both of whom spoke highly of the department's culture, work-life balance, and opportunities for professional development. In the future, he hopes to serve as a drone operator and Field Training Officer (FTO) with the Maplewood Police Department. Officer Podgorski is married and resides in western Wisconsin. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, traveling, spending time with his wife, family, friends, and dog, and remaining active in his community. Officer Morales: Officer Morales grew up in St. Paul and lived in Maplewood for about three years. One of the main reasons he chose to join the Maplewood Police Department was its commitment to diversity. He attended North Central University and Hennepin Technical College, earning a bachelor’s degree in Law Enforcement with a minor in Business Administration. Before becoming a Community Service Officer with the Maplewood Police Department, he worked full-time in Target Loss Prevention. Officer Morales appreciates the department’s strong emphasis on employee wellness, work-life balance, and mutual support. His professional goals include joining the department’s use-of-force training unit and eventually serving as a detective. Outside of work, Officer Morales enjoys biking and playing soccer. Workshop Packet Page Number 2 of 6 E1 Officer Britt: Officer Britt holds a bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science. He began his career with the Maplewood Police Department as a Community Service Officer (CSO) before becoming a police officer. One of the biggest reasons Officer Britt joined the Maplewood Police Department was the opportunity to work alongside a young, diverse, and dedicated team. His connection to the Maplewood community began in 2013 when he started working as a personal trainer at a local gym, where he spent 12 years before transitioning to the department as a CSO. As a police officer, Officer Britt's primary goals are to be a good partner to his fellow officers and to build strong relationships with the community he serves. He also has a fun personal goal: setting the department record for handing out the most stickers in a single year. Outside of work, Officer Britt enjoys going on adventures with his dog, Tyson, and playing video games with his friends and partner. Officer Bowker: Prior to Officer Bowker joining the Maplewood Police Department, Officer Bowker was in the WI National Guard, worked for Culver’s as an operating partner, and for Triple Canopy as a private security officer. Officer Bowker got his associate's degree in criminal justice at Century College. Officer Bowker says what made Maplewood stand out, and what made it a department he wanted to work for, was the camaraderie between the officers and the support from administration. Officer Bowker says he enjoys helping others and hopes to be a field training officer and a drone operator in the future. In Officer Bowker’s off time, he enjoys playing sports with his family and going to the gym. Officer Leonard: Officer Julius Leonard grew up in Coon Rapids and currently resides in the south metro. He earned his associate’s degree in law enforcement from Hennepin Technical College and will begin pursuing his bachelor's degree at Metropolitan State University this fall, with plans to continue on and earn a master's in social work. Prior to joining the Maplewood Police Department, Officer Leonard worked for three years as a 911 dispatcher with Dakota County 911 and has been a certified EMT for the past eight years. He joined the Maplewood Police Department after Officer Britt, with whom he attended skills training while Britt was a Community Service Officer, spoke highly of the department's close-knit culture and commitment to investing in its officers. Officer Leonard hopes to join the department's drone program and serve as a traffic safety officer. In his free time, he enjoys paddleboarding, camping, gaming, and volunteering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Officer Ulvenes: Officer Ulvenes grew up in Lino Lakes and was homeschooled through high school. She enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard, where she served as a Military Police (MP) Soldier for six years. During that time, Officer Ulvenes also spent more than a year and a half working part-time as a Community Service Officer with the Lino Lakes Public Safety Department. Seeking additional experience, Officer Ulvenes joined the Maplewood Police Department as a Community Service Officer, working in that role full-time for more than a year and a half. While Workshop Packet Page Number 3 of 6 E1 working, OfficerUlvenes earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Metropolitan State University. Officer Ulvenes chose the Maplewood Police Department because of its positive culture and strong commitment to proactive policing and community engagement. As Officer Ulvenes begins her law enforcement career, she is focused on continuing to develop her skills as a patrol officer. In the future, Officer Ulvenes hopes to become both a Traffic Enforcement Officer and a Field Training Officer. In her free time, Officer Ulvenes enjoys cooking, fishing, and spending time outdoors. Officer Pekarek: Officer Josh Pekarek graduated from Andover High School and attended Century Community College. While in college, he worked as a security officer at St. John's Hospital in Maplewood. During his time at the hospital, Officer Pekarek was inspired by the Maplewood Police Department after seeing officers respond to calls with compassion and empathy. He was also inspired by the department's Multicultural Advisory Committee and its commitment to building strong communication and relationships between the police department and the community. As a member of the Maplewood Police Department, Officer Pekarek hopes to become a K-9 handler and a Field Training Officer (FTO). In his free time, he enjoys staying active by going to the gym, golfing, taking walks in local parks with his girlfriend, and spending time with friends and family. Attachments: None. Workshop Packet Page Number 4 of 6 E2 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP STAFF REPORT Meeting Date July 13, 2026 REPORT TO: Michael Sable, City Manager REPORT FROM: Brian Bierdeman, Public Safety Director PRESENTER:Brian Bierdeman, Public Safety Director AGENDA ITEM: Police Department Life Saving Awards Action Requested: MotionDiscussion Public Hearing Form of Action: Resolution OrdinanceContract/Agreement Proclamation Summary: Officers Suedkamp, Born and Stock will be presented with the department’s Life Saving Award. Recommended Action: No action is required Fiscal Impact: Is There a Fiscal Impact? No Yes, the true or estimated cost is $0 Financing source(s): Adopted Budget Budget Modification New Revenue Source Use of Reserves Other: N/A Strategic Plan Relevance: SafetyEnsure public safety and effective emergency response Sustainability Development Background: Lifesaving Award On February 19, 2026, Maplewood Public Safety personnel were dispatched to an electrocution accident at Keller Parkway North and County Road C East. Upon arrival, public safety personnel located a 43-year-old male in cardiac arrest. Personnel immediately began lifesaving measures and restored a heartbeat while en route to the hospital. According to Regions EMS, the patient survived and walked out of the hospital on February 21, 2026, with minimal deficits. Officer Suedkamp arrived on scene and assisted with managing and moving EMS equipment. Once inside the ambulance, he provided chest compressions while EMS providers prepared advanced life support equipment and defibrillated the patient. Officer Suedkamp continued to assist inside the ambulance until the patient was transported. His assistance and care during this incident directly Workshop Packet Page Number 5 of 6 E2 contributed to the successful resuscitation and the patient being able to walk out of the hospital two days later. Officer Suedkamp’s actions during this incident showed exceptional teamwork with his partners and paramedics. Together he provided excellent emergency medical assistance that provided lifesaving care, making a huge difference in the recovery of the patient. Officer Suedkamp’s dedication to our community and public safety is outstanding and he is being awarded the Maplewood Police Department Lifesaving Award. Letters of Recognition Officers Benjamin and Pekarek arrived on scene after EMS personnel and Officer Suedkamp had begun providing care in the back of the ambulance. While their actions do not meet the criteria for a lifesaving award, their professionalism and coordination with fire department leadership deserve recognition. It is important to acknowledge that they responded willing to assist in any way needed to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient. Their actions embody our core mission: to protect life and serve our community. The culture they continue to support allows Maplewood Public Safety to work as a unified team and contributes to our ability to save lives. Lifesaving Award On March 4, 2026, Maplewood Public Safety was dispatched to the 1800 block of East Shore Drive for a report of a 60-year-old male who had cut his throat with a knife. Officer Born was first to arrive on scene with Officer Stock arriving immediately after and bringing the EMR bag. Officers located the patient with a deep laceration to the neck and significant blood loss and immediately began providing care. Officers Born and Stock applied a trauma bandage and direct pressure to control bleeding. This bleeding control proved critical to the patient’s survival. While in the ambulance, the patient’s blood pressure dropped so low that EMS personnel were unable to detect a pulse. After arriving at the hospital, the patient received blood products and was taken to surgery, where the severed veins were clamped and repaired. The actions of Officers Born and Stock during this incident showed exceptional teamwork with their partners and paramedics. Together they provided excellent emergency medical assistance that provided lifesaving care, having a huge impact on the recovery of the patient. Their dedication to our community and public safety is outstanding and they are being awarded the Maplewood Police Department Lifesaving Award. Attachments: None. Workshop Packet Page Number 6 of 6