White Bear Lake City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Firefighter Appreciation Month Proclamation and Bi-annual Report
City Manager and Council Updates
Fire Department Staffing and Budget Discussion
Active Litigation Closed Session
Votes (3)
Adopt the Agenda (with amendment)
Dissent: None
Moved by Councilmember Engstrand [0:23] · Seconded by Councilmember Gerola [0:24]
Staff requested to add a closed session to discuss active litigation regarding a fire service contract dispute with White Bear Township. There was a brief discussion on the placement of this item on the agenda.
Firefighter Appreciation Month Proclamation & Bi-annual Fire Department Report
Dissent: None
Mayor Nickolaysen read a proclamation for Firefighter Appreciation Month. Chief Peterson presented the department's bi-annual report, detailing increasing call volume, staffing (3 chief officers, 1 administrative assistant, 3 full-time captains, 15 full-time firefighter paramedics, 3 full-time firefighter EMTs, 1 part-time captain, 1 part-time captain lieutenant, 5 part-time firefighter EMTs), a tragic fatal fire investigation (press conference scheduled for Thursday), extensive training (all-hazard incident management, water rescue drill with multiple agencies, active shooter training with 21 agencies including Anoka SWAT), a successful Citizens Fire Academy (22 students), Explorer competition success (5th place out of 12 posts with only 4 students), and recent live fire training with council members. He also discussed fire prevention safety tips for charging devices and announced a donation of 1,500 smoke/CO alarms for public distribution. Council members inquired about obtaining smoke detectors, Chief Peterson's role as MN Fire Chiefs Association president, Citizens Fire Academy enrollment, and deeper staffing policy questions, praising the department's work and the value of live fire training.
Motion to go into Closed Session
Dissent: None
Moved by Councilmember Gerola [1:10:50] · Seconded by Councilmember Walsh [1:10:51]
Mayor Nickolaysen requested a motion to enter a closed session to discuss active litigation with White Bear Township regarding a fire service contract dispute, citing Minnesota Statute Section 13D.05 Subdivision 3B for attorney-client privilege.
Notable Quotes (5)
The main thing that they'll see is our ability to handle multiple calls on a regular basis. There are still times that we are out of staff in the area. Doesn't happen a whole lot, but once in a while there's nobody left in our department. They're all out on calls. And so we we kind of cross our fingers right now when that happens, hoping that not another significant call come in.
Being there right now it is not uncommon for the both the ambulances to be out and then there be one person on the fire engine and it's a one person trying to do everything, trying to drive, communicate, watch the CAD, do all of these things by themselves. And that isn't an ideal situation. And so that isn't entirely an uncommon thing.
Um I mean, I have always appreciated your work um but doing the live fire training gives a whole 'nother perspective on what it's like in just a very itty-bitty little period of time um what it's like to wear all the things that you have to wear. Um I mean 50 to 60 lb minimum, and this is better than it was years ago as you were explaining, along with all of the things that you have to put um to keep all parts of your body safe.
So, when we get to 24 at some point, time unknown, what what comes after that? Are Does that Is that a stable staffing number um for a reasonably foreseeable future, or is it immediately obsolete as soon as we get there?
The need for confidentiality in discussing this matter with our attorneys outweighs the purpose of the open meeting law because legal counsel intends to candidly discuss recent developments and provide legal advice on how to proceed. Allowing these discussions to happen in an open session would jeopardize the city's legal position.
Ordinances & Resolutions (2)
Official declaration by Mayor Nickolaysen proclaiming October 2026 as Firefighter Appreciation Month in White Bear Lake.
Statute authorizing the council to hold an attorney-client privilege closed session under certain circumstances.