Minnesota Agencies

To develop a statewide master plan for siting, ownership, and operation of fire and public safety training facilities. The commissioner of public safety will consult with the Minnesota state colleges and universities, the department of military affairs, and the peace officer standards and training board in preparation of the master plan.

The 1998 Minnesota Legislature directed the commissioner of public safety to prepare, in consultation with affected organizations and stakeholders, a statewide master plan for fire and law enforcement training facilities.

The commissioner of public safety contracted with the Department of Administration's Management Analysis Division to create the statewide plan.
A 15 member advisory committee was established to advise the commissioner and Management Analysis about components of project design and content. The committee included representatives from professional organizations for fire and law enforcement personnel, local governments, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, the Department of Military Affairs, and the public.

The project team collected data through a variety of mechanisms, including:
- six public meetings at locations around the state;
- a statewide survey of fire and law enforcement agencies;
- a tour of some existing facilities;
- interviews with training organizations, specialized facilities, and other states; and background research in trade journals.

The commissioner appointed a 15 member committee to advise the commissioner and the Management Analysis Division on components of project design and content. The advisory committee was composed of representatives from professional organizations for fire and law enforcement personnel, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, the Department of
Military Affairs, the public, and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system (MnSCU). Ad hoc members represented the departments of Natural Resources and Corrections and the Department of Public Safety's Office ofthe State Fire Marshal and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

A complete list of advisory committee members is provided in Appendix A of "Public Safety Training Facility Needs Assessment (HV551.4.M6 P83 2009).
The committee met monthly throughout the project, and many members assisted the project team in collecting data from their organizations.