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He noted increased costs in assigned counsel, due to a high volume of indigent defendants. Judge Carroll reviewed the Court's budget, stating that it is asking for a 1% increase in its budget. Personnel comprises 89% of the budget. President O'Malley thanked the Judge for his work and spoke about potentially reclassifying portions of the dangerous dog ordinance to minor misdemeanors. Councilmember Rader thanked the Judge for his and his staff's work on evictions. He asked to be kept in the loop on the Court's efforts to work with landlords and tenants. Councilmember Neff inquired whether landlords were receptive to the Court's outreach and efforts to try to keep tenants in their homes. Judge Carroll indicated that a plan developed by the Court is now the statewide standard,which was crafted with the help of landlords. Chairman Bullock asked whether the computer overhaul was paid for out of the special projects fund and what the financial position of the fund might be in the next year. Judge Carroll noted that the special projects fund is appropriated by the Court to avoid continuously going back to Council for large sums of funding. Chairman Bullock asked if COVID continues to be an acute crisis into the next year whether the general budget would need to be tapped to assist the Court. Judge Carroll stated that as of now funding would come from City Council and that the Court is monitoring what will happen with Senate Bill 3 in the Ohio Legislature, which would reclassify 5h degree drug felonies to misdemeanors, which could potentially benefit municipal courts. The Judge noted that he and the Clerk have reviewed the budget and feel confident that the Court can operate on it over the next year. Fire Department Chief Dunphy delivered a presentation that covered the following topics: • Department structure • Fire Prevention • 2020 Year in Review • 2021 • Training & Education Chief Dunphy provided an overview of the department's organizational chart, and its roles and responsibilities. The department is staffed by 90 firefighters who work in three companies across 24-hour shifts. Chief Dunphy explained the various divisions within the department. Chief Dunphy explained that COVID-19 dominated 2020 department operations. He discussed the department's leadership role in distributing PPE to its members and all City Hall employees. He noted that firefighters began universal masking very early on, which significantly reduced the spread of COVID among the department. When cases did occur,plans were in place and protocols were followed to keep transmission low. Additionally, the department took a lead role on the internal COVID Task Force and set up early and regular communication with assisted living facilities in Lakewood. 3