Burnsville City Council Approves Pilot Partnership With U of M Physicians to Support Mental Health Crisis Response
BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA – The Burnsville City Council has approved a new pilot collaboration between the city’s Behavioral Health Unit and University of Minnesota Physicians to improve mental health crisis response and long-term care navigation for residents experiencing behavioral health emergencies.
During the April 21, 2026, city council meeting, council members approved a resolution authorizing the use of opioid settlement funds to support the initiative. The agreement allows the city to spend up to $10,000 annually for virtual consultation services provided through U of M Physicians. City officials said the program is designed to assist Burnsville police and fire personnel who regularly encounter individuals facing complex mental health and substance use crises.
Under the agreement, University of Minnesota Physicians will provide virtual consultation services through secure Zoom or Microsoft Teams meetings. Services are expected to include psychiatric consultations for one hour every other week, with additional psychological consultation services available upon request. According to city documents, the consultations will support the Burnsville Police Department’s Behavioral Health Unit, including social workers and other police staff. Officials emphasized that the services will not include direct patient care, but instead will focus on case consultation, assessment guidance, and recommendations for appropriate care pathways.
The initiative is funded entirely through opioid settlement revenue and will not impact the city’s general fund budget. Staff recommended both adopting the resolution and amending the 2026 budget by $10,000 to accommodate the pilot program. The city tied the proposal to its broader strategic priorities surrounding community safety and engagement, stating that Burnsville is committed to “the safety and well-being of our community” and “meaningful relationships and experiences that meet the diverse needs of our community.”
During the meeting, Burnsville Fire Chief B.J. Jungmann explained that the partnership grew out of efforts already underway through the city’s behavioral health and crisis response programs. Jungmann said opioid settlement funds previously allowed the city to establish a full-time firefighter-paramedic position that works alongside the police department’s long-established Behavioral Health Unit.
“This would be a pilot to see how it works with our folks to get that initial case consultation done so that we can help navigate these folks to the appropriate level of care moving forward,” Jungmann told the council.
He explained that responders often encounter individuals dealing with complicated mental health conditions, medication-related issues, or psychological illnesses who may not have access to proper assessment or care. The consultations, he said, are intended to help responders better determine how to assist people in crisis and where to direct them for treatment.
“Really what this is about is that initial assessment, that initial case consult so that we can find that right track or help navigate them to the right track knowing that we aren’t their long-term solution, but we can help them in crisis,” Jungmann said.
Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz praised the proposal during the meeting, calling it an innovative approach to supporting residents struggling with mental health issues.
“When we say we care for our community members, we’re caring for their well-being and their mental health through this pilot program,” Kautz said.
She noted that emergency room transports have often resulted in individuals being released without receiving sustained support, and said the new collaboration could help connect residents with longer-term resources and treatment.
“This is going to help them get the long-term help that they need,” Kautz added.
City leaders described the effort as a unique and creative approach to improving crisis intervention and strengthening connections between emergency responders and mental health professionals.
The resolution approving the collaboration with U of M Physicians was unanimously passed during the April 21 council meeting.
If fully funded, the project would progress through final design and right-of-way work by 2026, with construction beginning in 2027 and continuing through 2028.
Screenshot captured from the April 21, 2026, Burnsville City Council Meeting linked above.
Written by: Will Wight
Transcripts provided to us by Townhall Transcripts.
