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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/01/23 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session11ISt. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES M I N N E S O T A CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA JANUARY 23, 2017 The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Gregg Lindberg, Anne Mavity, and Thom Miller. Councilmember absent: Susan Sanger. Human Rights Commissioners present: Katherine Arnold (via video conference), Greg Gidden, Michelle Kornblit, Margaret Rog, and Will Poulter. Multi -Cultural Advisory Committee Members present: Jocelyn McQuirter, Sandy Johnson, Justin Grays, Angie Martinez Grande. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), JCPP Coordinator (Ms. Martens), Community Liaison (Ms. Freedman), Police Lieutenant (Mr. Harcey), Deputy City Manager/Human Resources Director (Ms. Deno), Communications and Marketing Manager (Ms. Larson), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Staple). Guest: Gordon Goodwin, Center for Social Inclusion. 1. Joint Meeting with the Human Rights Commission and the Multi -Cultural Advisory Committee Mayor Spano explained the primary purpose of the discussion is to allow members of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Multi -Cultural Advisory Committee (MAC) to share thoughts and provide input regarding their relationship with the City Council. Gordon Goodwin, Center for Social Inclusion, provided background information on his career experience and the logistics for the meeting. He reviewed the intent for the meeting and the put -pose of the groups being able to provide input to the City Council on their roles and how they would like those roles to be received by the City Council. He began with a group exercise asking attendees to think about ground rules for the discussion, specifically actions that would be beneficial for productive conflict resolution. He asked the attendees to share their input with one member at their table and then with their table as a whole. He then asked each table to provide one item or behavior that they feel would be beneficial or would not be beneficial for the discussion. He reviewed the steps that brought the groups to the meeting tonight. He asked what the groups would like to have seen happen at the meeting in November. Committee Member Johnson stated that she was not at the meeting but her expectation was that there was going to be a dialogue. She stated that it was a surprise to hear that a document was going to be created. She stated that it was her impression that some people did not feel welcome at the meeting. Committee Member Grande stated that the initial meeting began with a report from the city, and she expected that the second meeting would provide more of a directive of what would be expected from the groups. She stated that it was also mentioned that the groups were supposed to be creating reports, which was a surprise to them. She felt that the dialogue that occurred was Study Session Minutes -2- January 23, 2017 stifled and blocked. She stated that it was unclear why the groups were invited to the meeting or what the roles would be. Commissioner Rog stated that for her, it was not the meeting per se, but the feeling that they took away from the meeting. She stated that after the meeting, the shared feeling was that there was surprising lack of interest from hearing the contributions of the people who attended the meeting. She agreed that the meeting was an odd setup, as there was not enough space. She stated that if people are asked to take time out of their schedule to attend, it is frustrating when their input is not valued. She thought that there was pushback from the council regarding membership on the Vision Committee and towards the suggestion for diversifying the City Council. Committee Member Grande stated that she attended the meeting with the intention of better understanding the role of the MAC. Mr. Goodwin asked how people feel in regard to the relationship between the three groups. Commissioner Kornblit referenced an earlier meeting that she attended where the racial equity training was explained and that her expectation for the follow-up meeting in November was to hear more about how the groups would assist the city and be involved in the process. She stated that the groups heard that a more formal report was requested and that a rubber stamp on the item would be asked for rather than receiving actual input. She explained that based upon the council's reactions, the input was not being heard at the meeting, or the responses provided were not received well by the council. Committee Member McQuirter stated that when initiatives are shared in that manner it seems like voices are not being heard. She stated that MAC is diverse, and she felt that the group was not asked for input. Committee Member Johnson stated that it is more than just being at the table and being heard. It is being included. Mr. Goodwin noted that the bylaws for the groups were included in the packet for this meeting. He asked where the city stands in terms of this effort. Commissioner Gidden noted that the intent for the meeting was for the city to share the initiative regarding race equity as it was being developed. Committee Member Grande stated that it was her impression that the council would be asking for input from the groups and it would be determined how the groups could participate. Commissioner Arnold stated that it was her understanding that the city would be expanding the training so that the HRC and MAC could be involved in the initiative. Mr. Goodwin explained the process the city is following in this initiative with the work starling with GARL. This is in the beginning stages and work has not been done at this time to outreach. The focus has been normalizing internal conversations and understanding with staff, then into organizing and operations. He asked if there was mention of a plan. Committee Member Grande stated that there was not a plan mentioned, but at the second meeting there was a plan that was shared, and it felt like the groups were simply part of a check- Study Session Minutes -3- January 23, 2017 off list that they had met with the groups. She asked the expectations of MAC so that the group could decide if they would like to participate. Mr. Harmening stated that while staff has an opinion on the roles of each group, it would be the decision of the City Council. He added that the normalizing work that has been done was internal, and that the plan was further related to internal aspects. He added that the next steps would include rolling it out to the community and input and direction is needed on this. He stated that his interpretation from the council is that they would like the HRC and MAC to be involved in the community dialogue. Mr. Goodwin stated that it sounds like the groups are intended to be involved in the larger community dialogue. He explained that the process would be to review the internal policies to ensure that there is an understanding of racial equity. He stated that the community engagement piece would address how the message goes out to the community. He asked if there are more items outside of their roles for which the groups would like clarification. Commissioner Kornblit stated that she would like more clarification on the expectations and role of the HRC. She stated that in regard to the race equity topic, it appeared that the groups were brought in to check off a box and were not given sufficient time to discuss the topic and provide input. Commissioner Rog stated that in regard to body cameras, the HRC had a lot of good information but were not clear on how that information should be shared with the City Council. She suggested that perhaps a more standard protocol should be developed for commissions to provide information to council. Commissioner Arnold stated that one of the issues is timing, as the groups are often brought in too late to provide meaningful input in the process, which does not seem productive or helpful. She stated that perhaps the groups could be brought into the discussions earlier. Mr. Goodwin stated that perhaps a job description would be helpful. Commissioner Gidden agreed that the timing contributes to the "rubber stamp" feeling, as the commissioners are brought in, but there is not sufficient time for them to provide input. Therefore it seems that they are not able to assist the process in a meaningful way. The group took a short recess at 7:40 p.m. and reconvened at 7:50 p.m. Mr. Goodwin asked if there were other elements that caused misunderstanding between the groups and what could help. Commissioner Rog stated that she is interested in racial equity issues and feels that the HRC has the ability to build momentum for change in the community. She stated that there is a question of whether the city is ready for the change in racial equity that the HRC would like to spark. She stated that if the city is not ready for it, she would like to know that because it is frustrating to feel that their input and the time they spend does not matter. Mr. Goodwin clarified that the HRC is wondering if it is helpful for that group to hold public forums and meetings to spark conversation on the issue or whether they are acting too far ahead of schedule. He asked the council if they have had conversations regarding what the council Study Session Minutes 4- January 23, 2017 relies on the HRC for and what the roles of the HRC and MAC will be for the racial equity initiative. He asked if there is an understanding of how the HRC and MAC can help the council. Mayor Spano replied that he is unsure that the council has gotten to that level of specificity in this topic. He stated that in regard to the body cams, the essence was for the HRC and MAC to discuss the topic and gauge the level of community interest in the PD using that type of equipment. He said that he cannot speak for the whole council. He added that when this work began about one year ago there was a discussion of whether the race equity talks should occur externally or internally, and they ultimately decided to start internally with staff to ensure that staff understood the "why." He noted that there is interest in this topic and that is why this process began and continues. He stated that there is not a specific plan for HRC and MAC in the race equity initiative as that conversation has not yet occurred with the council members. He stated that it feels like somewhere the lines of communication failed. He added that the intent he had was that the council, the HRC and the MAC could share their input and expertise to develop next steps. He stated that in the most recent report from staff, there is no plan for public input yet as the council would like to have the discussions with the HRC and MAC first. Councilmember Brausen stated that he has been involved faith based efforts toward racial equity issues for the past 15 years. He stated that the city recognizes that it is an important issue and realizes that the city first needs to get their own "house in order" before reaching further out to the community at large. He stated that some staff members have attended the training; some are still completing the process; and the council is still learning. He noted that the intention of the November meeting was for staff to provide an update on the process so far. He stated that the council cares passionately about this issue and is counting on the input of the other groups to help. Councilmember Mavity stated that the council has begun asking for boards and commissions annual reports on what they have done in the past year and their plan for the future, which creates a more formal dialogue to ensure that the council and the commissions are all on the same paths to reach the same goals. She said that in regard to the "rubber stamp" feeling, the council is deeply committed to race equity, but this is the very beginning of a multi -decade initiative. She stated that the HRC coffee and culture discussions have been wonderful in setting the tone. She added that while she is not clear where this is headed, she is happy that the process is beginning, and it appears that everyone wants to be involved. She noted that in regard to the body camera topic, the council's decision was to agree to move forward throughout the next two years to make a decision. She stated that even though it may feel like the HRC and MAC were brought into the discussion late that is not necessarily the case as a decision is not always made immediately. Councilmember Hallfin stated that before the council makes a vote, he asks on camera for the recommendation of the involved commission and takes those recommendations very seriously before he votes. He felt that it is important for the HRC and MAC members to know that their input is valued and important. He stated that he was a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission prior to being a councilmember, and he explained many councilmembers have previously been commission members. He apologized for the miscommunication on the intent of the November meeting. Mr. Goodwin asked where the groups would go from here. He stated that staff has mentioned that the community engagement piece has not yet been fleshed out. He asked if there is an Study Session Minutes -5- January 23, 2017 orientation that the commission members receive to clarify their role and how they work with the council. Commissioner Arnold stated that she did not receive any orientation prior to her appointment and that a lot of what happens on the commission is institutional knowledge. She stated that the items the commission agenda has varied widely over the years and has focused on some items that have been relatively isolated. She stated that as the purview of the commission has turned, they would like to see more interaction with the council. Mr. Goodwin acknowledged that the HRC has been working independently and stated that the question now would be how the three groups could work together to focus on the message of racial equity; what could be done to support the message; and how responses received from the public can be communicated to share the information between the groups. He stated that people are often afraid of the topic of race, so normalizing the discussion will not be easy. He stated that it will take time to change because momentum has been built up from the methods that have been followed for years. Commissioner Rog stated that people approach her with questions they have or things they would like to change, and she is unable to answer most of their questions as she is newer to the commission. She stated that it would be helpful to know how to manage the expectations of community members who approach the commissioners and the role that they play as a conduit. Commissioner Kornblit asked for clarification on the communication the commission members should or should not be sharing with the public. Commissioner Rog asked how the commission should be answering some questions as to what the HRC can do to help in certain matters. Councilmember Mavity that from her perspective, she views staff as the experts, and the commissions are an interface with the community and are an "ear to the ground" to be able to bring public input into the discussion. She stated that the council then is the end on the policy. She stated that the commissions bring forward questions that need to be addressed or topics that arise from the community. Staff then can bring information to the council to address those questions. The council then considers it all and makes the decision. Mayor Spano stated that another challenge the council faces is that it seems in the last three years the nature of community engagement around local public policy is much higher than it has been. IIe stated that while some commissions have specific duties, other commissions do not have that clearly defined mission. Therefore, the public engagement piece has not yet been developed. He stated that the council is still sorting and sifting through the options for public engagement. He believes that the council has not gone deeply into what they would like each of the boards and commissions to do, and the process is still being developed. Couneilmember Mavity stated that this is a good challenge as they are going to ask the boards, commissions, and committees to be more active. Commissioner Gidden stated that his interpretation from the public is that the HRC is actively involved and watching the topics that arise around the community. He stated that perhaps the city should be responsive to that as people are expecting more from the HRC. Study Session Minutes -6- January 23, 2017 Mr. Goodwin stated that it feels like this is a reinvention moment for the HRC as they previously worked independently and now are going to be working in a coordinated manner. He stated that perhaps a smaller work group be developed with a few members from each of the three groups to determine some criteria to define how they can best work together. He stated that there may be some specific areas that arise where community input can be helpful and where the HRC or MAC rather than staff could host a community dialogue. Committee Member Johnson agreed that the solution is not going to be found tonight, and therefore would support the formation of a working group. She stated that she has attended the coffee and culture events hosted by the HRC and commended the commissioners for their more focused meetings with great dialogue and robust attendance. She stated that she hopes they can continue to hold these events. Commissioner Arnold stated that the next event is a film screening of a Netflix documentary, and after the movie there will be a dialogue. She stated that the HRC intends to have more coffee and culture chats but have not set dates in stone. Committee Member Johnson stated that this is a great start, and the work group could continue to build upon it. Councilmember Miller stated that this initiative is not just between the HRC and the MAC. He stated that the council has recently reviewed a robust plan on how the City of Edina communicates with their Boards and Commissions, and they determined that they would like to simplify and streamline the process. He added that the council is doing this across the board to determine the best method for working with all the boards and commissions and not just these two groups. Mr. Goodwin stated that if the work group was created, it could be a model for the other boards and commissions. Councilmember Mavity stated that the council wants to ensure that as they do this, it is workable for the city as a whole and not a pilot for just these two groups. Mr. Goodwin asked the group to think about what they are leaving this meeting with and what they are willing to do. Mayor Spano stated that he feels that everyone needs time to process all of this. He stated that the idea of a working group would need to have a clear mission and deadline but believes that the council needs to have time to process all this input. He stated that the council needs to consider the implications that this could have on the other boards and commissions, as not all groups operate in the same manner and have the same level of community engagement. He stated that they have been attempting to find a plan of action to better work with all the boards and commissions. I -Ie stated that the council could discuss the topic prior to their next council meeting. Mr. Goodwin asked the attendees to think about something they feel more resolved or hopeful about and something they would like to see as a next step. Commissioner Arnold stated that she is hopeful because it seems that the HRC and MAC have the ability to be involved in the racial equity work as it moves forward. She stated that she hopes Study Session Minutes -7- January 23, 2017 that the council will be able to propose a manner in which the groups can work with the council to provide a clear message. Committee Member McQuirter stated that she is hopeful that the commitment is there, and everyone is working together. She resolved to provide intentional input when included. Committee Member Grays stated that he is hopeful that everyone will be able to work together towards the common goal and is resolved to determine his conduit role as a committee member. Committee Member Johnson stated that she is hopeful that positive momentum has been built tonight. She is resolved to support the work as much as she can going forward. She believes the answer would be a smaller working group. Councilmember Lindberg stated that he is hopeful to build stronger relationships and is resolved to provide the clarity that has been mentioned and to build the path to race equity cooperatively to create the best end product. Councilmember Hallfin was hopeful that the HRC and MAC members understand that the council values their efforts and is resolved to keep moving forward to make St. Louis Park a great place to live and work. Councilmember Miller stated that the group of people here tonight are very passionate and articulate on the topic, and he is proud to see that level of involvement. He stated that he would love to understand the work preference of the members of the HRC and MAC and how they would like to work with the council. Commissioner Rog agreed with the comments of Councilmember Miller to ask the groups to think about the input they would like to provide and to propose that to the council. She stated that perhaps the HRC can come up with their own recommendation for the process to bring to the city council. She stated that this past week she attended the Neighborhood Leaders Forum, and they were presented with the community engagement process of the visioning process. She felt that the city is missing opportunities to do things differently now and offered to meet with the council to provide specific suggestions on how the city can intentionally be different through the visioning process. Commissioner Poulter stated that he is hopeful in having more involvement between all three bodies present tonight. He resolved to continue to work closely with the other groups to bridge the communication gap in order to prevent the feeling of isolation. He agreed that perhaps they can target more issues and bring about more change. Commissioner Kornblit noted that she was hopeful that it seemed that everyone was on the same page. Councilmember Brausen stated that he is hopeful that they will continue to build relationships, and he is resolved to continue to work through the tension. Councilmember Mavity stated that she is hopeful because this is the most active group of people who have been involved on the HRC and MAC. She believes that there are enormous opportunities for engagement. She stated that the clarity of roles is important and on items they are unsure of to state they are unsure. Study Session Minutes -8- January 23, 2017 Mayor Spano stated that he is hopeful because there is tremendous energy in this room, and he is resolved to figure out how to fit all those moving pieces together. He added that everyone has different roles that will work together to serve the larger purpose. He noted that a certain percentage of the population agrees with the importance of race equity; a certain percentage of the population will never agree on the topic; and then there is a group in the middle. He stated that the group in the middle should be focused on. Mr. Goodwin stated that there is no shortage of passion in this room for doing this work and acknowledged that there are a lot of moving parts and a fair amount of work to be done, as well as roles that need to be defined. He stated that good intentions are one thing but execution is the key. Communications/Meeting Check -In (Verbal) The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: 2. Fourth Quarter Investment Report (October — December 2016) 3. Update Regarding 2544 Highway 100 S. (Lutheran Church of the Reformation Site) 4. Vision St. Louis Park Update Melissa Kennedy, City Clerke Sp Mayor