City of Brooklyn Center

Sagging Pants should be illegal!

2010-07-27T23:42:00.005-05:00

I think we should adopt the same laws as Flint, Michigan!

Early Retirement Buyouts in the City of Brooklyn Center’s Police Department

2010-03-05T10:00:00.002-06:00

Early Retirement Buyouts in the City of Brooklyn Center’s Police Department
(Similar Savings may apply for all City Departments)

This narrative is an objective attempt to point out the cost benefit of providing senior police officer buyouts and how the buyouts WILL save the City of Brooklyn Center hundreds of thousands of dollars. This issue can be resolved as a “WIN WIN” proposition for both senior police officers and the City of Brooklyn Center’s City Manager, Curt Boganey. Moreover, this issue shouldn’t become an issue of pride, stubbornness, nor a power play between the city management and police union personnel. The issue should be resolved based on objective reasoning and prudent money management. After all, this is about public monies and the real benefit will come to the “Tax Paying” citizens of the City of Brooklyn Center.

Here we’ll layout the terms of the issue and let the public decide what’s a “WIN WIN” solution for both police personnel and city management.

**FACT**

Recently the same issue (senior police officer buyouts) was brought before the City of Brooklyn Park’s City Council. The local police union, representing the Brooklyn Park Police personnel, presented their buyout plan. The analysis clearly showed the cost savings to the City and the benefit to the senior officers. The City Council moved to approve the buyout plan that was offered. The plan provides huge savings to the City and additionally provides better management control of the attrition element that is eminent.

**These proposed terms are the same as Brooklyn Park’s approved terms**

The Brooklyn Center senior police officers will receive a severance package that includes the following:

1. Age 52 or older qualifies senior police personnel
2. 100% sick time, vacation, and holiday pay at time of retirement
3. Upon retirement, Health Care coverage to the age of 65 yrs.

These terms realize a City savings of approximately $30,000.00 per year for each senior officer that’s replaced by a new hire. The savings to the City would yield $90,000.00 per officer that leaves at 52 years rather than 55 years.

The Police budget cost savings has clearly been recognized and acknowledged by the City of Brooklyn Park. However, the City of Brooklyn Center (Curt Boganey) has refused to even look at the possibility of working with senior officers on the early buyout option. Furthermore, there has been no acknowledgment of the hundreds of thousands of dollars that could be saved annually. The senior officers of the Brooklyn Center Police department are disappointed that Curt Bogany is reluctant to bring this option forward. Instead, Mr. Bogany chooses to talk down the option in closed door meetings and refuses to consider the tax savings to the people of the City of Brooklyn Center.

Please let Mr. Boganey and the Brooklyn Center City Council know that you want better fiscal management of City funds.

Brooklyn Center City Manager, Curt Boganey, email: cboganey@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

Mayor Tim Willson
7007 Dallas Road
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
phone: 763-503-5729
voice: 763-569-3450
Term of Office - 1/1/07 - 12/31/10
mayorwillson@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

Councilmember Kay Lasman
4407 Woodbine Lane
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
phone: 763-560-6689
voice: 763-569-3448
Term of Office - 1/1/97 - 12/31/12
councilmemberlasman@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

Councilmember Tim Roche
816 69th Avenue North
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
phone: 763-772-3017
voice: 763-569-3447
Term of Office – 1/1/09 – 12/31/12
councilmemberroche@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

Councilmember Dan Ryan
6442 Indiana Avenue North
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
phone: 763-535-4177
voice: 763-569-3445
Term of Office - 1/1/07 - 12/31/10
councilmemberryan@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

Councilmember Mark Yelich
6018 Beard Avenue North
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
phone: 763-486-6001
voice: 763-569-3444
Term of Office – 1/1/07 – 12/31/10
councilmemberyelich@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

City of Brooklyn Center Homeowner and Tax Payer!

The Wall

2009-09-28T15:00:00.001-05:00

Your comments are welcome! You may contact us at info@cityofbrooklyncenter.com

Police Patrol Details

2009-09-28T10:09:00.003-05:00

Comments on the current police details (POPS/Commercial):

Recently, I’ve observed a growing divide between patrol and the other details at the police department (POPS and Commercial). It’s unclear to me if this presumed divide was expected by the administration or is just the end result of a poorly thought out initiative. I believe that the police administration has committed to many resources to these details leaving the patrol division scrambling to maintain the minimum man power and to handle calls in a safe and timely fashion. The over-budgeted details may look good for the police chief. However, the underlying effect is stressing the continuity and working environment within the police department. Initially, we were told that the details would help the uniformed patrol officers when patrol was inundated with calls (reports, transports, bookings, pending calls, etc). Lies, Lies, Lies........ Blah, Blah, Blah........ Instead, a detail officer may assist by twiddling their thumbs waiting for a uniformed officer to respond to take over and finish handling the call.

News Flash to the administration and detail officers – The detail officers are still police officers for the City of Brooklyn Center and if their current job description doesn’t read that way........... It’s time to change their job description back to what it should be!

Recommended Solutions:

1. Immediately cut the details in-half and reassign detail officers and resources back to the patrol division. This will cut overtime expenses and will bring back the cohesiveness that has recently been lost.

2. Rotate interested personnel through the details (POPS/Commercial) every six months.

** The current budget concerns will be solved with this simple solution. The answers are NOT found in the schedule as admin currently thinks. This proposed change will immediately cut the overtime expenses by giving some much needed relief to the uniformed patrol schedule.

** The backbone of this police department is the uniformed patrol division (always has and always will be). It shouldn’t be compromised regardless of anyone’s personal agenda!

Patrol/Labor - Together We Stand Divided We Fall

Out – Patrol Officer Brooklyn Center Police Department

Brooklyn Center Crime Statistics

2009-06-05T19:44:00.003-05:00

Crime Statistics information for the City of Brooklyn Center.

Click Here!

Police Membership Vote on Contract

2009-01-28T12:36:00.007-06:00

A tentative contract agreement was made between the City of Brooklyn Center and the police wage negotiating committee earlier today. A vote is forthcoming with the membership of the police union this evening. Contract Passed

Brooklyn Center Police Wages

2009-01-23T09:29:00.006-06:00

Taken from the Chief's weekly update:

"I would like to start this week’s update with a GREAT JOB to all. Our preliminary numbers for 2008 list a decrease in violent crime citywide by 7.24%. All categories of violent crime are down and we continue to see a significant decrease in auto theft. Arrest numbers are up by 63.66% for juveniles and 19.22% for adults. Part 1 Cleared by Arrest is also up by 22%. The data is the proof of all the hard work you do. Thank you."

I think the City Manager should take note and open up some reasonable wage negotiations ( for the busiest suburban department in Hennepin County)! There has been union discussion of collectively refusing senior officer pay (and S.O. duties) as well as F.T.O. responsibilities until we get a better contract. We will not accept the "We can't give you anything" approach.

Disappointed BC Officer!

Police Wages 2009 - Need Support

2009-01-18T22:16:00.005-06:00

Dear City Manager,

I wanted to write you and express my appreciation for your wonderful Police Department personnel. With that said, it would be nice for you to acknowledge (for once) that your Brooklyn Center police officers do work hard and acknowledge that they have a very challenging and dangerous job working in your diverse community! The police call load for any Brooklyn Center officer far surpasses the average call load for other officers that work for comparable departments within Hennepin County. I challenge you to listen to the police radio and witness it for yourself. You should be proud of the wonderful men and woman officers that you currently have representing your community. You're lucky to have men and woman that hold a high work ethic, because if it were me, I would be running for the door! You might ask yourself.........Why would I say that......the answer is quite simple.........YOU TREAT YOUR OFFICERS LIKE CRAP, excuse the french!

Police work is a unique job and YOU should treat your officers with that in mind, they're not engineers, finance people or public works personnel. These officers head to the problems in your fine community with great pride, while other people are running in the opposite direction.

I've recently been informed of your recent wage negotiations with the police department. I learned that you denied all of the requests brought forward by the police wage committee, citing tough times and no money. This must be a JOKE.......How much money was spent on landscaping Xerxes Avenue last fall? How much are you going to spend for the fancy utility readers? How much more landscaping or streetscaping are you planning to do in 2009? CURT, it's all about priorities. I own a house in Brooklyn Center and pay my taxes. I ask that you be open minded when speaking with these good people.

I know there is money in your budget for some creative WIN-WIN solution. The police officers have already demonstrated that they're willing to negotiate and now it's your turn. Arbitration costs a lot of money and I do NOT want my tax dollars spent in this manner. Now isn't a time for arrogance, pride, stubbornness, or incompetence! Let's get the job done and avoid arbitration.

Please support our Police Officers, let the city manager, council and Mayor hear from you!

City Manager, Curt Bogany, phone 763-569-3300 info@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

Mayor Tim Willson 7007 Dallas Road Brooklyn Center, MN 55430phone: 763-503-5729voice: 763-569-3450 Term of Office - 1/1/07 - 12/31/10 mayorwillson@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

Councilmember Kay Lasman 4407 Woodbine Lane Brooklyn Center, MN 55429phone: 763-560-6689voice: 763-569-3448 Term of Office - 1/1/97 - 12/31/08 mailto:12/31/08councilmemberlasman@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

Councilmember Tim Roche 816 69th Avenue North Brooklyn Center, MN 55430phone: 763-772-3017voice: 763-569-3447Term of Office – 1/1/09 – 12/31/12 mailto:12/31/12councilmemberroche@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

Councilmember Dan Ryan 6442 Indiana Avenue North Brooklyn Center, MN 55429phone: 763-535-4177voice: 763-569-3445Term of Office - 1/1/07 - 12/31/10 mailto:12/31/10councilmemberryan@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

Councilmember Mark Yelich 6018 Beard Avenue North Brooklyn Center, MN 55429phone: 763-486-6001voice: 763-569-3444Term of Office – 1/1/07 – 12/31/10 councilmemberyelich@ci.brooklyn-center.mn.us

Transit Station - Bus Hub

2008-12-31T10:04:00.001-06:00

Comment of the week:

That transit station is the worst thing ever built in Brooklyn Center. The apartment buildings across the street from it are full of criminals and low life's. Just that 1 block area accounts for 50 % of all police and fire calls in the Brooklyn Center area.

Education District #286

2008-12-30T23:04:00.001-06:00

Education buzz!

Community Development

2008-12-30T23:03:00.002-06:00

Comments about community development issues

Politics

2008-12-30T23:02:00.001-06:00

Political commentary...............

Police

2008-12-30T23:01:00.002-06:00

Police & crime issues...............

The Wall

2008-12-30T23:00:00.002-06:00

Miscellaneous and anonymous posts!

You can contact the editor of this blog at info@cityofbrooklyncenter.com