HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019/01/10 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes
City council workshop session
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
January 10-11, 2019
January 10, 2019: The workshop was called to order at 4:10 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Councilmembers Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin,
Rachel Harris, Anne Mavity, Thom Miller and Margaret Rog
Staff present: City Manager (Tom Harmening), Deputy City Manager (Nancy Deno), Racial
Equity Manager (Alicia Sojourner), Management Assistant (Maria Carrillo Perez),
Facilitator (Kay Adam), independent consultant, co-facilitator (Mahad Ibrahim PhD), facilitation
assistant (Moe Saif).
City council participated in a workshop and discussed the following items:
Overview of carver governance – discussion
o Council would like to check in on carver governance mid-year
Unpacking outputs from SWOT session
Intercultural Conflict Style Inventory
Conversation on norms
o Council discussed and were in consensus on the majority of the norms and
agreed that the following should be scheduled for further discussion:
Media interactions/council member expressing point of view due to its
complexity and gray area.
Being public with positions/opinions; when an issue is unresolved or
when a council member voted against it.
Going out after meetings, is it still happening?
Give staff at least 5 hours to respond to questions
Adjourned at 9 p.m.
January 11, 2019: The workshop was called to order at 8:30 a.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Councilmembers Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin,
Rachel Harris, Anne Mavity, Thom Miller and Margaret Rog
Staff present: City Manager (Tom Harmening), Deputy City Manager (Nancy Deno), Racial
Equity Manager (Alicia Sojourner), Management Assistant (Maria Carrillo Perez), Director of
Community Development (Karen Barton), Director of Engineering (Debra Heiser), Director of
Operations and Recreation (Cindy Walsh), Director of Inspections (Brian Hoffman), Chief
Information Officer (Clint Pires), Police Chief (Mike Harcey), Fire Chief (Steve Koering),
Communications and Marketing Manager (Jacque Smith), Chief Financial Officer (Tim Simon),
Facilitator (Kay Adam), independent consultant assisted by (Mohad and Moe).
City council continued the workshop with the following focus:
Systems thinking
o Interactive activity
o Small group discussion focused on unpacking systems thinking
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City council workshop session -2- January 10-11, 2019
4 Habits – with ideas, outcomes and measures for accountability
Small group work on ideas for the 4 habits
o Habit 1: Systems thinkers consider and issue fully and resist the urge to come to
a quick conclusion. They take the time they need to fully understand the
dynamics of a system/issue before taking action. Group: Jake Spano, Thom
Miller, Cindy Walsh, Alicia Sojourner, Clint Pires
Idea: Study sessions need to stay at the big bowl level, focused on ends
not means.
o Habit 2: Systems thinkers consider the short-term and unintended consequences
of actions. They look ahead and anticipate not only the immediate results but
also the effects of actions taken today down the road.
Idea: This group was not able to complete their work and plan to meet
again and report back. Group: Margaret Rogg, Steve Hallfin, Maria
Carrillo Perez, Steve Koering, Debra Heiser
o Habit 3: Systems thinkers change their perspectives to increase understanding.
They actively search for different points of view and are able to change their
minds as they learn about new perspectives. Group: Tim Brausen, Anne Mavity,
Karen Barton, Nancy Deno, Mike Harcey.
Idea: Council study session meeting in the community
o Habit 4: Systems thinkers make meaningful connections within and between
systems. They actively explore how relationships among pieces of a system
affect their understanding of the whole. Group: Rachel Harris, Tom Harmening,
Brian Hoffman, Tim Simon, Jacque Smith
Idea: Right sizing public process and engagement
Action steps moving forward:
o Habit 2 group to finish their work.
o Provide details of the 4 habits actions to council as we move ahead.
o Schedule time for continued discussion on the 4 areas of council norms as listed
from Thursday.
o Mid-year check in on carver governance and habits/workshop activities.
4 p.m. Adjourn
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, City Clerk Jake Spano, Mayor
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