HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/05/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionSt. Louis Park
M I N N E 5 0 T A
Wf[5- in $ie Pin 1�
The meeting convened at 6:45 p.m.
Official minutes
City council special study session
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
May 21, 2018
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Rachel Harris, Anne
Mavity, Thom Miller.
Councilmembers absent: Margaret Rog
Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), Management
Assistant (Ms. Carrillo Perez), Communications Manager (Ms. Larson), and Recording Secretary
(Ms. Pappas).
Guest: Gabriel Kaplan, Anna Long, Ruby Stillman, Isaac Wahl, Ellen Poulter, St. Louis Park High
School Students
1. Firearm sales
Mayor Spano stated he requested that this topic to be on the agenda. He noted a group of St.
Louis Park High School students recently approached him at the March for Life walk and asked
what he and the council can do about gun laws, especially since the Mayor is a leader in the
community.
Ms. Stillman and the group of students from St. Louis Park High School stated they understand
there is only so much the city can do about this issue, but they stressed the city should be
listening to the students, who are their constituents.
Ms. Poulter stated she and other students have struggles about the gun issue, adding many
students have agreed there is a feeling of un -safeness every day, adding that students feel very
vulnerable.
Mr. Wahl added every time he walks into a classroom at school, he looks around and says to
himself, "if there was a person in the room with a gun, where would I hide." He stated this
seems like an irrational fear, but is sure others feel the same way he does.
Ms. Stillman added when she babysits for a new family, her mom comes with and asks if there
are any guns in the house. She said at first she did not understand why her mom did this, but
sadly today she understands.
Ms. Stillman added that finding a place to hide at school should not be happening, and school
should be a place where students can be completely focused on learning, and not be scared
that something could happen. She added she doesn't know who protects students at school,
adding there is only one resource officer at the school, who cannot protect all 1,400 students.
Ms. Stillman thanked city leaders for meeting with students and being willing to listen to
students on gun safety.
Study session minutes -2- May 21, 2018
Councilmember Miller asked if the students had spoken with others in the community, about
what would make them feel more safe, and if other ideas have been discussed.
Ms. Stillman noted that Hopkins High School just opened a mental health clinic at their school,
and yet St. Louis Park High School does not have this, adding that counselor support could be
better. She added the student to counselor ratio is not good, and the school district needs to do
something about this.
The students indicated to feel safer in school, they are interested in more physical barriers, and
also approve of locking school doors during the school day; as well as having another officer in
the building during the day, and more mental health support with additional counselors.
Mayor Spano asked the students if they feel their teachers should have guns. All of the students
said no, they were not comfortable with teachers having guns in the schools, also noting they
would be concerned about biases against students of color or students who have behavior
issues.
Mayor Spano agreed, noting his wife is an elementary school teacher and she could never use a
gun on a student. He added that teachers with guns in school is a horrible idea.
Mr. Wahl added the teacher's job is to teach, not protect the students.
Councilmember Brausen stated this is one of the saddest days of his time on the council, having
this discussion, yet it is also one of the best days of his time on the council, being able to talk
about this topic. He asked the students if they have talked about this topic with the school
board yet.
Ms. Stillman stated they have not and if the council could help them with this, they would
appreciate it.
Councilmember Brausen suggested students reach out to the school superintendent.
City Attorney Mattick stated the state has their own laws about firearms, and cited state
statute 471.633, which states the legislature pre-empts all authority of home rule charter or
statutory city to regulate firearms and ammunition with two exceptions:
1. the city can regulate discharge of arms,
2. the city can regulate zoning and where the sale of firearms can be located within the
city
Councilmember Mavity asked if the city's zoning code is silent on this, what the violation is, and
if it is considered a misdemeanor.
City Attorney Mattick stated this is a misdemeanor, and the city does have one location within
the zoning code, which is the Frontiersman.
Mayor Spano stated the city can zone specific parcels of land for gun stores, and the
Frontiersman would be grandfathered in.
Study session minutes -3- May 21, 2018
Councilmember Harris stated related to zoning, the city has limited city liquor stores, so
possibly this could be done similarly with gun stores.
City Attorney Mattick stated the difference here is the city has control with licenses with liquor
stores, and the city can limit the number of licenses, so this is not done via zoning.
Councilmember Mavity stated she would be interested in exploring the front edge of
reasonableness and creating some kind of draft language about what is reasonable and what is
not, around zoning. She added this could be reviewed as a public safety issue, with a conclusion
that there is some type of restriction on gun sales.
Councilmember Miller added he would like to explore banning assault weapons and how that
might change attitudes or perceptions within our city. He added he would also like to talk about
the protection around the perimeter of the school, and what could be done by the city related
to this.
Councilmember Brausen added he would like to pursue the statute which was adopted in 1985
and adopted at the push of the NRA to pre-empt cities from doing anything. He stated because
cities don't have much wiggle room within this statute, it is urgent for residents to contact their
state senators. He added he would like to see the council pursue this issue.
Mayor Spano stated Representative Latz is very involved in gun safety and gun legislation,
noting that elections have consequences.
Mr. Harmening stated he has also spoken with Police Chief Harcey about how firearms are sold
in the city and confirmed with the city attorney that as a St. Louis Park resident, a person can
apply for a firearm, and if they pass the requirements, they can get a license and buy and sell
firearms. He added there are 9 individuals in St. Louis Park who have this FFL license and can
buy and sell firearms over the internet. He noted while the local police need to be informed of
this, it is a fairly commonplace occurrence.
Councilmember Hallfin stated he thought this conversation was going to be a waste of time
because of the state statute, but because of the student's stories, he has changed his mind. He
added he did not recall being scared or concerned about where to hide in school and applauded
the students for bringing this issue to the forefront and opening up the council's eyes. He
stated the council is all on board with the students concerns, adding they have changed the
thought process. He thanked the students for their concerns.
Mayor Spano stated more kids died in 2018 than soldiers died in combat. He stated he would
go with the students to talk to legislators about this issue, adding the council supports them.
Mayor Spano stated he agrees with the students' mental health concerns, noting Minnesota is
at or near the bottom of having mental health counselors in schools.
Mayor Spano stated he appreciated the students being here, adding this is just the beginning,
and the students will need to start building a culture of people behind them. He also noted this
will be a long battle.
Study session minutes -4- May 21, 2018
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Written reports provided and documented for recording purposes only:
2.
2019 municipal elections: ranked -choice voting planning and implementation
J Sp no ayor