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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017/03/20 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionI!f St. Louis Park OFFICIAL MINUTES J MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL STUDY SESSION ST. LOUIS PARK, MINNESOTA MARCH 20, 2017 The meeting convened at 6:00 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Gregg Lindberg, Anne Mavity, Thom Miller, and Susan Sanger. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Deputy City Manager/Human Resources Director (Ms. Deno), Communications Manager (Ms. Larson), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Pappas). Guest: Gordon Goodwin, Consultant, Center for Social Inclusion. 1. Advancing Race Equity Ms. Deno stated that on January 26 and 27, 2017, the council participated in their annual workshop. The majority of the January 27 meeting involved conversation on advancing racial equity and putting ideas into action. On February 13, 2017, the council had a follow up discussion on next steps for advancing race equity action items. Ms. Deno introduced Mr. Goodwin, a consultant from the Center for Social Inclusion, who will facilitate the discussion. Mr. Goodwin noted that he will focus on further defining action for measurable steps #3 and #4 noted in the council report, with particular attention focused on providing guidance to the Human Rights Commission (HRC) as follow-up to the January joint meeting between the HRC and council. Councilmembers noted items that were still on their minds related to the workshop discussion and the HRC and MAC joint meeting. Mayor Spano stated there was a lot of energy from the HRC and MAC, although the council is not sure what the commissions should work on. He added there was also a sense there were some assumptions about where the council stands on these issues and how serious our commitment is to race equity. Councilmember Miller stated the council communicated to the commissions that it had not done a good job at the previous meeting and had not aligned with them earlier. He noted that Councilmember Brausen and others apologized to the commissions. Councilmember Lindberg stated he understood a need for the council to do a better job communicating and setting expectations. He stated there needs to be a mutual understanding in order to make a difference in areas that matter with residents. Councilmember Sanger recalled thinking the council is not proactive and seems passive in coming up with ideas on what to do. She added there is no clear idea of what the standard would be to achieve race equity. Mr. Goodwin asked the council what the charge is. Councilmember Mavity stated the charge is for the commission to advise the council, adding that her expectation of the HRC is for them to Study Session Minutes -2- March 20, 2017 be free to do programs and have conversations. She stated there have been tensions, and she felt the commissions may be hemmed in vs. released to do their work. Mr. Goodwin stated that in terms of work at the city, there has been much internal work done at the department level. He noted teams and leadership have been deployed to work on race equity. He stated work is being done to normalize and operationalize systems and structures to work for people of color as well as they work for white people. He added there is broader communication with the community; however, there is still room for more conversations in order to convey why this is so important. He added the HRC has their own charge, and a fair amount of autonomy, but added they are looking to the council for direction on how they can be engaged in moving this conversation forward. They want to know if there is a fact-finding mission the council wants to send them on. Mayor Spano stated the HRC, MAC, Allies of St. Louis Park, the council, and the school district are all working on this in the city. He added that moving forward, these entities will need to communicate with one another so as not to duplicate efforts or run into conflict with one another. Councilmember Mavity noted that the commission is not a replacement for the council. She stated she does not want the council to delegate everything to the HRC. She asked if they are being effective and reaching all the people in St. Louis Park that council wants to reach through their efforts. Councilmember Brausen added the HRC is looking for direction or tasks they can do, and the council has to give them this direction. He stated the council needs to decide what they want to do for community events and then get the HRC involved. He reiterated that the council needs to provide the HRC with guidance. Councilmember Hallfin disagreed with Councilmember Brausen on this point, stating the commission has its own charge, and the council should not guide them. Councilmember Brausen stated the council does have specific things for the HRC to do, adding the council and HRC need to have a major conversation regarding race equity, and then commission them to help. Councilmember Hallfin again disagreed. Mr. Goodwin tried to give clarity here, stating there may be an opportunity for the council to host an event or to co -host one with the HRC. Councilmember Sanger stated she thinks over the years the HRC has ebbed and flowed. There have been times when they have been proactive, worked on projects, and reported back to the council. Then other times they were not working on any projects. She asked what the differences in those time periods were. Mr. Goodwin asked what role the council wants to play in the conversation. Councilmember Lindberg stated the council needs to play a strong role and needs to lead those conversations. He added he is not sure what this looks like but noted it is part of the tension between the HRC, the council, and the MAC which led to misinformation and miscommunication. Study Session Minutes -3- March 20, 2017 Councilmember Hallfin added that if the council leads, we are putting the HRC in the back seat again, especially if the couneilmembers participate in the conversation as council members, and not as community members. He added if the council leads this, people will look more to us than to the HRC. Mayor Spano disagreed, stating he has been involved in conversations where he participated and was not viewed as the Mayor or as a councilmember. Councilmember Miller stated the council could come up with the race equity plan and task the HRC with handling the community conversation. Then council can take the necessary next steps. Councilmember Brausen agreed the HRC can play a role in this, but the council should develop the bigger frame for this community conversation. Councilmember Mavity stated the council can set goals, task the HRC to organize the community conversations, and review every three months. Goals can be set regarding raising up new community leaders, as well. Mr. Goodwin stated this could be part of the HRC charge - to set a timeframe and some success measures, with goals and targets for the community engagement sessions. Councilmember Sanger added that since the HRC is looking for specific tasks, one might be to reach into communities that we have historically not been able to reach; tapping into leadership; and finding out what the best ways are to communicate with them. Councilmember Lindberg added strategies can be added for doing this. Mayor Spano, however, noted the reality is that it is conceivable that despite best efforts, the city may not penetrate a particular community. Mayor Spano added he would like to see the HRC and MAC produce some analysis on what strategies are used in other communities to get people engaged and communicating. He added right now he is talking to one person at a time. Councilmember Mavity agreed with the Mayor, stating we can invite people but cannot compel them to participate. She added the idea is to flip this on its head and reach out to engage all people in our community, not only people of color. She added the Allies are doing this, with book clubs and by being welcoming and open. Councilmember Mavity stated the council does not need to be over prescriptive, adding they should let the HRC take the conversation to the community and in April focus on goals to address race equity in the parks, in police, in housing and in other areas. They would be asking for input on effective policies to advance race equity. Councilmember Sanger added ultimately the council is responsible for policies and how city resources are allocated. The question is what should be taken into consideration when we develop policies. Councilmember Brausen stated these are bigger conversations, but it falls upon the council to guide and develop policy around race equity. Mayor Spano added most discussion points fall into policy and outreach, and it would be reasonable to have the MAC look at policies, do some research and report back to the council. Community outreach can be included, along with helping to get more people groups to meetings Study Session Minutes -4- March 20, 2017 to have these courageous conversations. He added the council can help the conversation but added he does not want to write a work plan for the HRC. Councilmember Sanger disagreed with Mayor Spano, noting she is not sure the council should have the HRC or MAC do research on policies. She added the council should do the research, present the data, and then have HRC give recommendations. Mayor Spano noted HRC could work with staff. Councilmember Sanger agreed. She added this same structure could be used with other commissions, also. Mr. Goodwin stated this idea suggests accountability, adding that the commissions are instruments of the council to make recommendations, while the council makes policy. Councilmember Mavity added that the roles of the council, the commissions and the staff need to all be clarified. Mayor Spano felt it would be valuable to have the commissions and council go through courageous conversations, both internally and externally. He stated that race equity is a very intimate and personal topic, and it is extremely motivational. Mr. Goodwin added that the League of Minnesota Cities might also be interested. Councilmember Mavity stated a proposal should be written by the council and then reviewed with the commissions. Mr. Goodwin noted community engagement forums, hosted by the HRC within a specific timeframe, could be useful. Mayor Spano added he does not want to wait, stating the council needs to come up with a framework of how the commissions will assist on race equity. Mr. Goodwin stated he will frame the scope of duties and obligations with a time frame for the council and for the HRC, noting the items HRC will do with the council and on the council's behalf. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. C— Melissa/Kennedy, City Clerk ake pano, Nf or