HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020/07/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular Official minutes
Reconvened city council meeting
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
July 21, 2020
1. Call to order
Mayor Spano called the meeting to order at 8:45 p.m. (reconvened from July 20, 2020)
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Rachel Harris, Larry Kraft, Anne
Mavity, Nadia Mohamed, and Margaret Rog.
Councilmembers absent: None.
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), Racial Equity
Manager (Mx. Sojourner), Police Chief Harcey, Fire Chief Koering, Communications Manager
(Ms. Smith), Senior Management Analyst (Ms. Solano), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Pappas).
2. Resolutions, ordinances, motions, discussion items.
2a. COVID-19 pandemic: face coverings
Mr. Harmening noted staff followed council direction from last night’s meeting and
drafted the proposed ordinance that is in front of the council this evening. He stated
they made it clear non-compliance is a petty misdemeanor and that signs would be
installed in all windows. He stated staff will need to contact businesses, and added an
exemption for polling places was included, as election laws do not require someone to
put on a face covering.
Mayor Spano noted the word “refreshment” in the ordinance and asked for an
explanation. He asked also about maintaining 6-foot distancing and wondered how that
would be handled if there were changes on the 6-foot measurement in the future. He
also asked about the polling places exemption portion and about the exception for
public and private schools.
Councilmember Kraft stated it seems reasonable for the ordinance to take effect as of
Monday to allow for communications and electronic versions of signs that can be
printed and displayed.
Councilmember Kraft made a motion with change of effective date with provisions to
Monday, July 27, 2020, and Councilmember Mavity seconded.
It was moved by Councilmember Kraft, seconded by Councilmember Mavity, to adopt
Emergency Ordinance No. 2589-20, requiring face coverings within buildings in St. Louis
Park, with enforcement beginning on Monday, July 27, 2020.
Councilmember Harris stated her understanding that the proclamation went into effect
immediately and asked for clarification on that and what are the differences for the
ordinance. Mr. Harmening stated the proclamation the Mayor adopted only lasted 3
DocuSign Envelope ID: 98CBD0E6-A8FC-456B-A1E9-8DEEA34EE8F3
City council special meeting -2- July 21, 2020
days and is no longer in effect. The provisions in the proclamation will now be more
permanent in the ordinance. He stated if adopted tonight, it is not in conflict with the
proclamation.
Councilmember Harris asked what can be done to clear up any misunderstandings and
offered a friendly amendment to adopt the ordinance tonight .
Mr. Harmening stated if adopted tonight, the provisions in it will not be enforced until
Monday, July 27, 2020.
Councilmember Kraft declined the friendly amendment and noted Monday, July 27,
2020 is appropriate for enforcement.
Mr. Harmening stated this will be announced by saying that on July 21, 2020 the council
adopted an ordinance that requires people to wear face masks and the requirements
will not go into effect until July 27, 2020. He reiterated the ordinance would be adopted
tonight.
Councilmember Mohamed asked if the ordinance is effective on Monday, July 27, how
will the city get masks to people, what is the plan for distribution of masks so folks can
get them by the enforcement date, and the access plan. Mr. Harmening stated staff i s
working on a communications plan for this that will include outreach to citizens and the
business community. He stated staff is also working on a plan for distribution of face
coverings and added the city ordered 5,000 reusable masks. In the meantime,
disposable masks will be available to those in need.
Councilmember Rog stated there are common areas in multi-family buildings. She asked
if signage can also be included there by the city, as they are being to businesses . Mr.
Harmening stated this had not been discussed yet; however, Ms. Deno stated there is
downloadable signage that can be emailed to owners and managers and staff will do
this.
Mx. Sojourner also noted that Mr. Gray has been in touch with NOAH property
managers during COVID to check in on them, and if the ordinance passes, he will
navigate support to them as well.
Councilmember Rog stated she is supportive and added it would be helpful if the
signage to businesses would include a message to be kind or include a positive message
about how to treat one another. She added she is comfortable and will support the vote
to mandate masks.
Councilmember Mavity stated she will support this, adding there is confusion and that
will continue until such time there is clear guidance from the state. She noted staff will
need to manage this confusion. She stated there is no reason to wait to enact this even
if not enforced until Monday and added the council has been talking about this for far
too long.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 98CBD0E6-A8FC-456B-A1E9-8DEEA34EE8F3
City council special meeting -3- July 21, 2020
Mayor Spano agreed about signs and including important positive messages and having
them in various languages. He stated he will support the motion and the effective date
on Monday, July 27.
Daniel Colitove, 2613 Webster Ave., asked how the council will protect disadvantaged
people who cannot wear face masks for a medical condition, so they have equal access
to stores and are not discriminated against, especially if a state mandate is enforced. He
has concerns about this and if there is a decision on a national or state level and it is
stronger than the city mandate, how people will be protected.
Mayor Spano stated there is a provision, Exception C, which addresses this and exempts
those with medical conditions legally from the mandate. He added if a stricter decision
is made by the state, that would take precedent over the city’s law.
Mr. Mattick advised that is correct and the city would be subject to the state law.
Beth Troller, 2150 Rich Drive, stated she supports passage of the city ordinance . She
stated residents of multi-family facilities need the council’s help as many are not
wearing masks in common areas, even though signs are posted asking them to do so.
She stated this is a definite concern especially for the elderly. She asked the council to
please pass the ordinance.
Councilmember Rog asked if there is a benefit to requiring multi-family properties to
post signage in common areas just as the businesses will be required to do. Mr.
Harmening stated while the ordinance does not require signs in multi-family properties,
staff will provide a downloadable sign that can be placed in common areas.
Ms. Solano stated housing staff is working on communicating this and will make sure
properties have what they need.
Councilmember Rog asked if signage should be mandated in multi -family properties. Mr.
Harmening stated the draft of the ordinance does not mandate multi-family properties
provide signage.
Councilmember Rog noted Mr. Colitove’s concerns also on the medical reasons for not
wearing masks and hostilities about the force of law behind the mandate.
Councilmember Brausen stated he will support this, noting we are all in this together.
He added it does infringe on citizen rights, but also feels we must work together.
The motion passed 7-0.
Councilmember Mohamed stated this has been a difficult decision and this is a yes vote
for her. She would like access and an education program for residents, along with
information on racial issues on mandating masks. She stated we are all in this together
and should not be policing each other but protecting each other.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 98CBD0E6-A8FC-456B-A1E9-8DEEA34EE8F3
City council special meeting -4- July 21, 2020
Councilmember Kraft thanked Councilmember Mohamed for her comments . He called
on the governor to do this statewide and would hope to have this as a federal mandate,
in order to open schools, the economy and protect the health of all.
Mayor Spano asked staff to update the letter to the governor, and to encourage the
state adopt the mask mandate as well.
3. Adjournment
The special meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor
DocuSign Envelope ID: 98CBD0E6-A8FC-456B-A1E9-8DEEA34EE8F3