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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026/05/06 - ADMIN - Minutes - Police Advisory Commission - Study Session Police advisory commission meeting May 6, 2026 7:00pm If you need special accommodations or have questions about the meeting, please call Police Lt. Matt Blomsness, 952.928.1422, or the administration department at 952.924.2505. Police advisory commission Wed., May 6th | 7:00pm Westwood Rm., City Hall – 3rd Floor Meeting Minutes 1. Call To Order – Welcome Guests – If Any Chair Karl Gamradt called the meeting to order. Two community guests were welcomed: Thomas Hines and Jerry Fredenberg, both noted as interested community members who had attended recent prior meetings. Also in attendance were Deputy Police Chief Siar Nadem, Lieutenant Greg Weigel, and new PAC Staff Liaison Matt Blomsness. 2. Roll Call Present: Chair Karl Gamradt, Vice Chair Saul Eugene, Commissioner Jillian Dixon, Commissioner Michael Rydberg, Commissioner Diane Slais, Commissioner Jay Wolkenbrod Absent: Daniel (excused), Kari Holmes A quorum was established. 3. Approval Of Agenda Chair Gamradt proposed one addition to the agenda: a discussion item regarding an ICE community forum, to be placed between items 7 and 8. He explained this topic had been carried over from the previous meeting with the intention of discussing it at this session. After brief clarification for members unfamiliar with the item, the agenda with the addition was approved unanimously. Motion to approve the agenda as amended was made and seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 4. Approval Of April 2026 Minutes Members confirmed they had reviewed the April minutes. No edits were proposed, with Chair Gamradt noting the minutes appeared to accurately capture the prior discussion, including policy suggestions. Motion to approve the April 2026 minutes was made and seconded. The motion carried unanimously. 5. Old Business This item led directly into the discussion of the ICE community forum, which had been carried forward from a prior meeting. ICE Forum Discussion Police advisory commission meeting May 6, 2026 7:00pm Chair Gamradt opened discussion on the possibility of hosting a community forum focused on immigration enforcement (ICE/DHS) related policies. He noted that existing department policies — specifically Policy 413 (Immigration), Policy 431 (First Amendment assemblies), and the Mobile Field Force policy — would serve as the substantive foundation for such a forum. After discussion, Lieutenant Weigel suggested that rather than staging a standalone ICE-specific event, the commission incorporate relevant policy and FAQ content directly into the existing Community Conversations format. This was broadly supported by the commission, as it would expand attendance and reduce the logistical burden of organizing a separate large event. Deputy Chief Nadem recommended the presentation focus on FAQs rather than dense policy language, noting that the City's website already contains substantial FAQ content on immigration-related topics that was developed in direct response to community concerns. The commission agreed that the revised Community Conversations format should be organized around three primary topics: (1) community policing philosophy, (2) the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) and domestic resources, and (3) DHS/immigration-related FAQs. Chair Gamradt proposed opening each topic with a framing question to gauge audience understanding and generate dialogue, with Commissioner Dixon suggesting the format alternate between short informational segments and open discussion to maintain engagement. The group agreed to use sticky notes or a similar low-cost tool to capture audience responses to opening questions. Commissioner Wolkenbrod raised concern that the commission had previously committed to holding community forums and town halls without follow-through, stressing the importance of actually delivering on commitments this time. Commissioner Rydberg echoed this, proposing that the commission generate a concrete schedule of events and present it to staff liaison Pat for execution, rather than waiting for dates to emerge organically. Deputy Chief Nadem reflected on a broader outreach challenge identified through recent survey data: a significant portion of St. Louis Park's growing population consists of younger residents and new arrivals unfamiliar with the department's long-standing community-oriented policing philosophy. He emphasized that communicating the department's history and values to this demographic is an important goal, and that the PAC is well-positioned to help close that gap. 6. Updates – Community Conversations With The PAC Building on the prior discussion, Commissioner Rydberg proposed establishing a working calendar of community engagement events through the fall, suggesting: Parktacular in June, a Community Conversation in July, National Night Out in August, the Friends of the Arts show in September, and another Community Conversation in October. Lieutenant Weigel indicated that tabling at community events should not present a logistical obstacle and encouraged the commission to connect with staff liaison Pat to formalize the schedule. Commissioner Slais raised the longstanding suggestion of engaging Ken Sysko, the police department’s neighborhood block captain coordinator, as a channel for distributing information and event invitations to residents citywide. It was noted that while the block captain contact list cannot be shared directly, Ken can push information out on the commission's behalf. Police advisory commission meeting May 6, 2026 7:00pm Lieutenant Weigel confirmed that there had simply been no information to disseminate previously, and that this approach would be viable once materials are ready. The commission was aligned on a revised Community Conversations presentation framework with the following structure: a brief introduction to PAC (no more than five minutes), a segment on community policing (with an opening framing question), a segment on BHU and domestic resources, and a segment on DHS-related FAQs. The prior presentation was acknowledged as too text-heavy and too long, and Chair Gamradt committed to producing a substantially overhauled version for review at the June meeting. A brief evaluation card or feedback sheet would continue to be distributed to attendees. Deputy Chief Nadem highlighted several existing community engagement efforts — including regular coffees at Lenox Community Center, outreach to 55-plus apartment communities, Basketball in the Park, Fishing with a Cop, and the Senior Citizens Academy — and encouraged commission members to attend and participate. New Staff Liaison Blomsness, who oversees the community outreach team, confirmed there would be room for commission members to accompany officers at outreach events. 7. Updates - Community Survey Chair Gamradt proposed that the commission use its June meeting to finalize its own internal version of the community survey — incorporating the work previously presented by Humphrey School students — while simultaneously sending it out for broader feedback from city departments and leadership. Lieutenant Weigel challenged this approach, suggesting that the PAC produce a definitive final version first to prevent a fragmented process where multiple stakeholders provide conflicting revisions simultaneously. The commission agreed that the June agenda would include a focused review of the survey design and implementation recommendations, drawing on prior discussion (including the January meeting) and the student presentation materials, which Chair Gamradt committed to redistributing. The finalized document, along with the commission's commentary on both survey design and implementation, would then be presented to the City Council at the anticipated July study session. Commissioner Rydberg noted some personal reservations about the survey effort given competing priorities, but the commission consensus was to move forward efficiently given that the foundational work had already been completed. 8. Senior And School Outreach School Outreach Commissioner Dixon provided an update on the progress of establishing a school credit pathway for youth PAC members in partnership with Park High School. She noted that the initial estimate of 30 hours for credit was likely too high for a single year and would need to be revisited with principal Paddock. She confirmed that PAC and youth commission flyers had been posted around the school, though engagement levels were not yet known. Police advisory commission meeting May 6, 2026 7:00pm Commissioner Dixon also raised structural concerns about the timing of youth member recruitment relative to the school year, noting that because eligibility is limited to juniors and seniors, and appointments often occur mid-calendar year, students can face very limited windows to accumulate the required hours. Chair Gamradt agreed this was a meaningful barrier and suggested the commission raise with the City Council both the timing of youth appointments and whether term limits should be clarified when a member transitions from a youth seat to a full adult seat. Commissioner Dixon proposed that fall appointments (around November) and early summer appointments (June or July) might better align with the school calendar, allowing students to begin during natural transition points. The commission agreed to raise these structural concerns in the upcoming council meeting. Chair Gamradt also noted that he had previously visited Park High School classrooms to recruit for youth commission positions and suggested this practice be resumed. Senior Outreach Commissioner Wolkenbrod raised the importance of including seniors in PAC outreach efforts, noting their distinct needs and the value of simply having someone to talk to. Deputy Chief Nadem confirmed that the department's community outreach team already conducts regular engagement at Lenox Community Center, including fraud prevention presentations and informal conversations with seniors. Staff Liaison Blomsness added that the Senior Citizens Academy offers a shorter, accessible format compared to the full Citizens Academy. 9. Other Workplan Updates No additional workplan items were presented beyond those discussed under prior agenda items. 10. New Business No new business was introduced. 11. Other Business No additional other business was raised. 12. Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made and seconded. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned. Next regularly scheduled meeting: Wed. 06-03-26, 7pm (City Hall – 3rd Fl. Westwood Rm., 5005 Minnetonka Bl., St. Louis Park, MN 55416