HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/11/08 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Regular Official minutes
Special city council meeting
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Nov. 8, 2021
1. Call to order
Mayor Spano called the special meeting to order at 6:15 p.m.
1a. Roll call
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Lynette Dumalag, Rachel Harris,
Larry Kraft, and Margaret Rog
Councilmembers absent: Nadia Mohamed
Staff present: City Manager (Ms. Keller), City Clerk (Ms. Kennedy), and Elections Specialist (Mr.
Sund)
Guests: none
2. Resolutions, ordinance, motions, and discussion items
2a. Canvass results of Nov. 2, 2021, municipal general election. Resolution No. 21-
131
Mayor Spano stated the post-election audit is open to the public, as well as pre-election
processes.
Elected for City Council:
Margaret Rog
Tim Brausen
Lynette Dumalag
Sue Budd
Ms. Kennedy stated overall the election process went well and there was a good turnout
of voters and participation given what was on the ballot.
Councilmembers Rog and Kraft noted they were pleased with the election process and
how well things were run.
Mayor Spano stated candidates and issues drive voters to the polls. He noted the
number under and over voting seemed fairly low and asked for details on this from
staff’s perspective. Ms. Kennedy stated staff has been very thoughtful and deliberate on
educating voters about how to vote a ranked-choice ballot and working to ensure
election workers are communicating the same messages on Election Day. She stated the
extra work and intentionality around voter outreach and education has resulted in many
positive outcomes, including lower error rates on ballots.
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Special City Council Meeting -2- Nov. 8, 2021
Mayor Spano thanked all those who ran for office and added his appreciation for the
work by elections staff.
It was moved by Councilmember Harris, seconded by Councilmember Brausen, to adopt
Resolution No. 21-131 declaring results of the Nov. 2, 2021, Municipal General Election
and set the date and time for post-election review.
The motion passed 6-0 (Councilmember Mohamed absent).
Ronald Warner, Lake Forest community, stated he is concerned about the lack of
candidates for both council and school board and his neighbor did not vote because the
race was uncontested. He opined an uncontested election diminishes the democratic
process in a community, which is robust in its involvement. He also noted no one
showed up for the public hearing on NordicWare and there was no public participation
at the planning commission meeting on the same topic either . He contrasted this with
the City of Minneapolis where there were multiple contested and diverse candidates,
and stated he was envious of this. He believed there was something wrong with the
direction the city is being run and the obsessiveness with creating multi-story rental
properties, because renters do not have as much concern for the city as homeowners.
He stated democracy dies under these conditions, something is wrong , and asked the
council to put together a task force to address this issue.
3. Adjournment
The special meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor
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