The Metropolitan Council convened on October 22, 2025, beginning with a recognition ceremony honoring individuals and organizations, followed by a regular council meeting at 4:00 p.m. The council reviewed an annual report from the Bridge Center for Hope, declared two emergency items, processed numerous condemnations, and approved a range of resolutions, contracts, and budgetary amendments. Key discussion centered on opioid settlement fund disbursement and juvenile detention center infrastructure funding.
Charlotte Claymore, Executive Director, reported that since opening on February 11, 2021, the Center has served 13,766 individuals, admitting 13,019 (95% admission rate). Of those, 9,840 walked in voluntarily; 3,179 came via first responders (BRPD 54%, EMS 25%, sheriff 17%). The homeless disposition is 8.62%. The Center launched mobile crisis response (40 hours/week, crawl‑walk‑run approach). Councilwoman Amorosa’s public hearing had no objectors.
The council adopted DPW recommendations with modifications:
Good afternoon. Y'all can hear me? All right. We'd like to welcome you all to our Metropolitan Recognition meeting for today for the October 20 second meeting. Um, first we're going to start with an input um with Mayor President Sid Edwards who will recognize the breast cancer awareness month. Yes. I'm I'm sorry, I'm not Mayor Sid Ellis. Uh Kelly Leduff, Executive Director of Federal Programs. So we'll start with uh Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Uh, first of all, good afternoon. Thank everyone for being here today. Um, I'd like to recognize October as Breast of Cancer Awareness Month, a month we honor the survivors and remember those we lost. We stand with everyone currently fighting this disease. We also want to thank organizations, health care workers, and advocates who continue to raise awareness and support early detection and treatment efforts. Let's continue spreading the awareness and encouraging regular screenings that save lives. And now that that part's out of the way, I'll speak from the heart a second. I know for a fact this is an issue that affects a majority of families, including mine, my my grandmother, who's now deceased that was a survivor of breast cancer. So is anyone here that's a survivor of breast cancer that would like to come up and be acknowledged. That's a good good room. So we good on that. Thank you. Yeah. So next we have EMS Stars of Life Recognition. We are proud to recognize three of our standing employees who have been selected for the National Stars of Life Award in Washington, D.C. You want to go through the names? Yeah, I got it. All right. Thank y'all for having us here and giving the opportunity to recognize our folks because today we're recognizing three outstanding members of our department, our EMT of the year, our paramedic of the year, and our communications officer of the year. Each of these individuals has also been selected to represent our department and the city at the on the national stage at the American Ambulance Association Stars for Life, uh, where they will join EMS professionals from all across the country to be honored for their service. While they're there, they'll get an opportunity to meet U.S. House members, Senate members, and take part in events celebrating the work of EMS providers nationwide. Uh our department couldn't be prouder. These three individuals truly represent the best of the best at their provider level and their positions within our department. And what makes this award especially meaningful is that our of the years is nominated by their peers. They are recognized for their excellence uh and how they stand out within their ranks. This is not the motivation from administration. This is uh recognition for the work that they do. Um our EMT of the year, Braxton Empson Empson, uh he's been with our department for two years. And even though that short time, he's made a strong impression on his peers. He's been working full time while attending paramedic school, which is not an easy task. Uh so he's committed to growth and his excellence and a great example uh of his work ethic. And I wouldn't be surprised one day back whenever he successfully completes paramedic school that he may be back up here recognized as paramedic of the year and not EMT of the year. But at this time, I'd like to recognize uh present you, Braxton. Could you come up? Yeah. And present you with your stars of life medal on behalf of the department and American Ambulance Association. Our paramedic of the year, Dylan Mosenheimer. Dylan has been with East Batten Root GMS for eight years. He's a preceptor, which means he takes the time to train and mentor the next generation of medics, and something that takes both skill and patience. But another uh interesting point is Dylan is a legacy paramedic.