Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/01/10 - ADMIN - Agenda Packets - City Council - Study Session AGENDA JAN. 10, 2023 Members of the public can attend the meeting in person, watch by web stream at bit.ly/watchslpcouncil, or watch on local cable (Comcast SD channel 17/HD channel 859). Recordings are available to watch on the city’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/slpcable, usually within 24 hours of the end of the council meeting or study session. 5:30 p.m. SPECIAL STUDY SESSION – council chambers Discussion items 1. 210 min. City council at large A vacancy interviews The agenda is posted on at least three (3) days before the meeting on the official city bulletin board in the lobby of city hall and on the text display on civic TV cable channel 17. The agenda and full packet are available on the city’s website. If you need special accommodations or have questions about the meeting, please call 952 .924.2505. Meeting: Special study session Meeting date: January 10, 2023 Discussion item: 1 Executive summary Title: City council vacancy interview and appointment process Recommended action: None at this time. The council will conduct first-round interviews for the council member at large A vacancy. Summary: On Nov. 21, 2022, the city council adopted Resolution No. 22 -177 accepting the resignation of Council Member Larry Kraft effective Dec. 30, 2022 and declaring a vacancy for the office of council member at large A. Council Member Kraft resigned following his election to the Minnesota Legislature. The city council is required to appoint a person to the seat for the remainder of the term expiring Jan. 2, 2024. Following the declaration of a vacancy, an application period was open Nov. 22 – Dec. 6, 2022. A total of 24 applications were received. The council directed staff to develop an interview process that would allow all eligible applicants an opportunity to interview for the vacancy. The city council met in special study session on January 3, 2022, to discuss the criteria they will use to evaluate applicants. Since that time, three (3) applicants have withdrawn from consideration, leaving a total of 21. Interviews will be conducted in multiple rounds. First-round interviews are scheduled on January 10, 2023. Following the first-round of interviews the council will determine which applicants will move forward in the process using the evaluation criteria they previously established. Second-round interviews are tentatively scheduled for January 23, 2023. All interview sessions will be televised. It is anticipated that the council will approve an appointment and that the new member will take office in February, 2023. Additional information and updates regarding the interview and appointment process will be posted as they become available on the city website and social media accounts. Financial or budget considerations: N/A Strategic priority consideration: St. Louis Park is committed to creating opportunities to build social capital through community engagement. Supporting documents: Round 1 interview schedule outline Interview questions Interview score sheet Applications received Prepared by: Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Michael Sund, civic engagement coordinator Cheyenne Brodeen, administrative services director Special study session meeting of January 10, 2023 (Item No. 1) Page 2 Title: City council vacancy interview and appointment process Round 1 interview schedule outline January 10, 2023 St. Louis Park City Hall, city council chambers Interview session A 5:30 – 6:10 p.m. Max of six (6) applicants BREAK Council scoring + transition to next group Interview session B 6:25 – 7:05 p.m. Max of six (6) applicants BREAK Council scoring + transition to next group Interview session C 7:20 – 8:00 p.m. Max of six (6) applicants BREAK Council scoring + transition to next group Interview session D 8:15 – 8:55 p.m. Max of six (6) applicants Special study session meeting of January 10, 2023 (Item No. 1) Page 3 Title: City council vacancy interview and appointment process Round 1 Interview Questions 1. What are the most important issues facing the City of St. Louis Park over the next 5 years and how have you provided leadership in those areas? 2. Given this is an at-large seat, what does availability and responsiveness to constituents m ean to you? 3. What qualities or dynamics are important to you in a work team? How do you contribute to a healthy team environment? 4. Please share a time you were involved in a group decision-making process that encountered conflict and there was disagreement amongst the group. How did you work to resolve the situation? How might that experience be useful as a council member? 5. When you hear about something that concerns you in the city, what steps do you take? Would this differ as a council member? 6. What unique qualities or experiences do you have that would contribute to ensuring a variety of perspectives on the council? St. Louis Park City Council at-large A vacancy interviews January 10, 2023 Council member name: ____________________________________________ Round 1, Session: _______ Instructions: For each applicant, rate them on a scale for each quality from one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being never demonstrated this quality, and five (5) being always demonstrated this quality Never demonstrated this quality Rarely demonstrated this quality Sometimes demonstrated this quality Often demonstrated this quality Always demonstrated this quality 1 2 3 4 5 Applicant 1 Notes Score (1-5) Thoughtful Compassionate Collaborative Diverse perspective City focused Applicant 2 Notes Score (1-5) Thoughtful Compassionate Collaborative Diverse perspective City focused Applicant 3 Notes Score (1-5) Thoughtful Compassionate Collaborative Diverse perspective City focused St. Louis Park City Council at-large A vacancy interviews January 10, 2023 Council member name: ____________________________________________ Round 1, Session: _______ Instructions: For each applicant, rate them on a scale for each quality from one (1) to five (5), with one (1) being never demonstrated this quality, and five (5) being always demonstrated this quality Never demonstrated this quality Rarely demonstrated this quality Sometimes demonstrated this quality Often demonstrated this quality Always demonstrated this quality 1 2 3 4 5 Applicant 4 Notes Score (1-5) Thoughtful Compassionate Collaborative Diverse perspective City focused Applicant 5 Notes Score (1-5) Thoughtful Compassionate Collaborative Diverse perspective City focused Applicant 6 Notes Score (1-5) Thoughtful Compassionate Collaborative Diverse perspective City focused 3 I think there are three primary goals that are crucial to my vision for St. Louis Park that I want to work on should I be  appointed to the City Council.    1. Housing  It's no secret that within St. Louis Park, the Metro area, and across the country we are experiencing a housing crisis. In just  the past 5 years we've seen the cost of housing increase by 19% without seeing any real increase in the average income  after adjusting for inflation in over 50 years. This crisis is pricing people out of the housing market, forcing renters to find  roommates, and leaving the market to be scooped up by large corporations taking advantage of the crisis. While there isn't  one magic policy that we can implement to eliminate this crisis there are many measures we can take to combat the issue at  hand. There are three things I would focus on: First is to increase the housing supply within SLP. We have an extremely high  demand for housing but are lacking available housing units. We need to continue the council's work of creating more  housing and continue to ensure that the highest proportion of this new housing created is affordable. Second, is to create  and invest in new homeownership. I want to see the city continue their work in down payment assistance but also expand  our marketing of its availability to prospective homebuyers. I also would love to see SLP implement some version of a "Right  of First Refusal" law. This would give our large renting demographic the first opportunity on purchasing their home should  their landlord choose to sell, providing renters a smoother path to homeownership. Third, we need to take measures to  protect our extremely large renting community. One of the ways I would propose to do that is to create a landlord registry  so that renters can be informed of who they're renting from. This will let renters know about lawsuits, lease violations, and if  possible, eviction rates so that tenants can be informed before signing a lease. Providing this information will give tenants  more knowledge and will incentivize landlords to treat their tenants with dignity and respect. The other initiative that I think  will help renters would be to create a part/full time position for a tenant lawyer to answer questions local citizens may have  regarding their rights, lease etc. Addressing the housing crisis will require the city, county, state and federal government to  all work together but these are ways I believe that our city can move the needle of progress.    2. Economic In/Equality    I believe that one of the key goals of the council should be to address poverty. It's important that we are creating a  community that provides opportunity to, at a minimum, maintain a life above the poverty line. As things like housing prices  continue to rise, we are seeing our lower income neighbors being priced out of our community. I addressed housing above,  but there are other measures that can be taken. One method is to address costs of essentials such as Wi‐Fi. The pandemic  has proven that Wi‐Fi is an essential resource necessary for economic achievement, educational attainment amongst so  much more. While there are a few avenues to explore, I believe that providing Wi‐Fi access to those below the poverty line  is well within the cities capabilities and can go a long way in helping lift people out of poverty. Another way that we can  address economic inequality is ensuring the wage floor is high enough for people to live in our community. We should assess  the city's power to raise our minimum wage (preferably partnering with neighboring cities to do so) to a point that will  ensure anybody working 40 hours a week in St. Louis Park, makes enough to live in our city.     3. Environment    It's no secret that our climate response needs to be immediate and impactful. Our city has done wonderful work with the  Climate Champions Program and the Solar Sundown cost share program. I applaud the efforts, and should I join the council  I'd work to continue these impactful programs. I'm also extremely excited about investments into mass transit in our  community with the SWLRT. This investment in non‐vehicular transportation will do wonders for decreasing our carbon  emissions as well as providing crucial transit to those who do not own cars. One initiative that I'd like to pursue should I be  appointed is a "Pay As You Save" program. This is a method for folks (both renters and homeowners) to upgrade their  utilities to be more energy efficient without any upfront costs. The costs of the upgrades are spread out over time on the  utility bill, but due to the upgrades the monthly utility bill will be lower than before. This allows folks to be more  comfortable in their homes, save money and reduce our energy use.    It should be noted that throughout all of these policies and initiatives it is crucial to look at every policy through the lens of  social and racial justice. For every issue, there is a justice perspective; for every issue, there are intersectionalities with other  issues before the community as well. As a city councilmember, I will intentionally take the time to look at issues from a  perspective built around equity and inclusion, because any policy that leaves marginalized communities behind does not  have a place in this city. It is our duty to respect, and care for, every single one of our neighbors regardless of their  background, race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, religion, disability, or identity.     Amplify Mission Network 7601 France Avenue South Ste 140, Edina, MN 55435 Dear City Council Members, My name is Julie Eide and I am president of Amplify Mission Network, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting Christian business leaders with emerging nonprofits to help them move to the next stage of their growth. I am writing today to strongly recommend Karen McCarren for the At Large A seat on the council. I met Karen several years ago when she started attending Amplify meetings where she quickly became involved as a coach and mentor for several young nonprofits. Additionally, Karen often facilitated brainstorming sessions at our partner meetings around strategic challenges presented by the emerging nonprofits. Karen also currently serves on an advisory board for one of the nonprofits she coached operating in North Minneapolis and lead them to a more sustainable and impactful organization. Karen is a delight to work with. She has a strong work ethic, attention to detail, amazing creative ideas and follow through. Karen is full of passion and compassion in all the projects I have seen her tackle. Karen’s communication skills are outstanding as is her ability to think strategically, operationally and tactically all while staying a grounded team player engaging diverse voices and communities. When she is in, she is all in! I live very near St. Louis Park, have many friends in that community and have witnessed Karen’s passion for the city and her dedicated involvement in the schools, activities and community at large. I have hired many people over the course of my career and would not hesitate to hire Karen who not only would be an amazing fit culturally to your council but bring the necessary skills, talents, connections and vision to lead with enthusiasm and heart all day long. Please reach out if I can be of further assistance. With joy, Julie Eide President Amplify Mission Network From:Jake Spano To:Julie Yakes Cc:Nadia Mohamed; Lynette Dumalag; Margaret Rog; Sue Budd; Tim Brausen; Melissa Kennedy; Kim Keller Subject:Re: Letter of recommendation - Karen McCarren Date:Sunday, December 11, 2022 3:34:16 PM Thank you for taking time to share this with us Julie. We’ll be considering the applicants in the coming days/weeks so I’m adding city staff on this for inclusion in the official record for Karen’s application. Have a great remainder of your weekend! Jake Spano Mayor St. Louis Park, MN (he/him/his) 952-928-1448 (direct) On Dec 11, 2022, at 3:23 PM, Julie Yakes <yakesmail@gmail.com> wrote: CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor Spano and SLP City Council Members, I'd like to share how I know Karen McCarren and why I know she'll make an outstanding member of the St. Louis Park City Council if chosen for the at large A seat . Karen and I parallel pathed through our kids' elementary school for the first few years leading and serving in various capacities. She led things like an annual Carnival that raised half our needed funds and was always first in line to lead or help with various important work that drove the mission of serving every student. During that time, I knew of her and that she was tireless, selfless and respected but we'd never worked directly together. It was midway through we were both tapped to lead the PSI PTO. From the first time we met to figure out our game plan, I knew what a special leader and person she was. She is collaborative while having a strategic vision. She can both get her hands dirty with the work but always knows the bigger picture and connects dots instantaneously to lead to a better solution. She knows how to unleash the talent of an entire community, give them the right level of guidance and turn them loose to do great things. She is calm under pressure, brings a sense of fun to every challenge and focuses on the mission and the people behind the mission vs herself. Another thing I admire is that she always leaves a legacy. During our 3 years serving together, we quickly built documents, processes and timelines we could hand to the next crew. Not only did her forward thinking create efficiencies, it also became a powerful recruiting tool and most importantly meant that serving the students and fulfilling the key mission was achieved that much faster. Karen and I have served on boards together on and off. She's connected me to a few organizations she was highly involved in like Treehouse. We are currently leading a celebration for the class of 2023. While I had planned to not take on anything else, the chance to lead with her again was a draw. She is an outstanding servant leader and citizen of St. Louis Park. Having graduated from Park and been a long term resident, she knows this community. She cares deeply for it and for every citizen. Her desire to serve is innate and SLP will continue to be a lucky recipient of her abilities and willingness to make our city an even better and more inclusive place. I can't think of a better person to fill the at large A seat. Thank you for considering her for this important role. We are fortunate to have so many fine leaders such as yourselves who care deeply for St. Louis Park. Karen McCarren would not only complement your team but work tirelessly to raise the bar even higher. Julie Yakes 2001 Virginia Ave S SLP 55426 612-210-5196 December 14, 2022 Dear Jake, Nadia, Margaret, Lynette, Sue and Tim – My name is Liz Tigelaar, I am a television writer/showrunner (Little Fires Everywhere, The Morning Show) who currently lives in Los Angeles, and I am writing in support of one of my oldest and dearest friends, Karen McCarren, who has submitted an application for a position (large A) on the SLP City Council. As you look over her application and resumé, and digest her enthusiastic letters of support, I’m here to offer my own unique insight and perspective that comes from loving and admiring her, which is rooted in a deep knowledge that she is meant for this work. I know you have many wonderful candidates to choose from but should you select her for this esteemed position, you are getting someone who wants to spend the rest of her life serving the people of Minnesota, who will dig in and do the work to make their lives better and this community stronger. Karen is Minnesota through and through. I first met Karen in the summer of 1994, at our freshman orientation at Ithaca College in Upstate New York. Sitting in a circle, I immediately noticed her blonde hair, blue eyes, and distinct Minnesota accent. And to be honest, I thought: Minnesota, isn’t it freezing there? Who lives in Minnesota? But to know Karen is to know her Minnesotan roots and when you come home with her, it’s easy to fall in love with it. Who didn’t want to rollerblade around Lake Harriet on a glorious spring day in the late 90s? And I wasn’t the only one. Another friend of ours relocated to Saint Louis Park for her college internship and within a few years, Karen’s boyfriend was getting a job there “just to see.” (Spoiler alert: She married him and he never left). The point is: she drew us all to it – and it wasn’t just the place. It was her love of the place and her desire to return home and embed herself in the community that raised her. To me, when looking for someone to represent and reflect a community, who is more valuable than a person born into it and whose life has been completely shaped and molded by it? As college progressed, my friendship with Karen deepened, and I could see her values and moral compass even back then. She was a loyal, compassionate, reliable friend who carried herself with grace, thoughtfulness and integrity. I remember I used to drive her crazy in the dining hall – where I’d take heaps of food that I’d inevitably throw out. Even at 19, she encouraged me to only take what I needed and leave the rest for someone else – a profound metaphor for a gluttonous teenager. Not only were we housemates, we were teammates too. We both joined the crew team freshman year. I, with zero athletic ability, was the coxswain (the little person who yells “Row!”); Karen was a powerhouse rower in a boat where she was one of eight. If you aren’t familiar with the sport, the idea is to move in unison – in perfect sync. To do that, you have to pull equal weight. If you don’t, the boat veers off course. And Karen was easily the lightest rower in the heavyweight boat. Which meant she had to pull harder than everyone else just to keep the boat on course. And that is so who she is. Whether it’s in the boat, as a mother of three, or founding her own healthcare consulting firm, she does the work, she finds that extra strength, she pulls her weight and more. Over the course of four years, she worked her way up to the front of the boat, into the stroke – or leader – position. With time, it became Karen who set the pace, articulated our goals, and led us to accomplishing them. Even at that young age, she had a keen awareness of her place – when she needed to row in unison and when it was time to step up to lead. I feel like this quality – understanding both roles deeply – would be one of her biggest strengths on the City Council. And finally, I believe that Karen will be a Council Member with the readiness and expertise to meet the challenge of the moment we’re in. Back in 2020, when George Floyd was murdered and Minneapolis became an explosive epicenter of the Black Lives Matter movement as a racial reckoning and awareness swept across the country, Karen was already knee deep in this important work. After her three kids – Jack, Ted, and Maeve – began participating in courageous conversations at their SLP schools, Karen wanted to become more intentional about her own work in this area. She strove to understand her own identity, how her lived experience informed her own biases, and finally how she could use that understanding and insight to shift her own thinking in order to advocate for others, especially those whose voices were historically marginalized. Five years ago – well before many of us were doing this important work – Karen and her daughter, Maeve, participated in one of the first cohorts of HOPE Speaks, a small non-profit that began in St. Louis Park. The goal of the group was to facilitate conversations about anti-racism and bring those conversations to the forefront at home so as a family, they could learn to identify systems of power and inequities within them. So, as you see, Karen has really worked from the inside out. First, getting the tools to have these conversations at home, then to bring those same tools into her professional life – whether in her own practice as a physical therapist or as a strategic consultant of patient experience at Health Partners and now, hopefully, as a member of the City Council. And while Karen’s desire to have an impactful career in healthcare stemmed from a deep desire to help others, what she’s learned in her decades of work is that in order to truly help, the biases and the lenses through which people see things must be uncovered so that systems, practices, and policy can be fair and equitable. Since I’ve known her, I’ve watched her go from having a big heart to knowing how to use that big heart – to be an agent of change with a very clear, intentional, compassionate, collaborative approach as she shows up and digs in. Because the passion for this work comes from such an authentic place inside of her, because her experience is so fast, and because this community is so embedded within her, I have no doubt she would be an inspiring and devoted addition to the SLP City Council. Best, Liz Tigelaar 9400 Cedar Lake Rd., St. Louis Park, MN 55426 | Phone: (952) 928-6555 | Fax: (952) 928-6556 | www.slpschools.org/psi December 19, 2022 To Whom It May Concern: It is my sincere pleasure to be asked to write a letter of support on behalf of Ms. Karen McCarren for the open City Council Position. I had the privilege of working closely with Karen for over a decade as a parent leader at Park Spanish Immersion Elementary School. During this time, Karen has proven to be an invaluable community member of our team and a trusted collaborator. She is a consummate professional: hard-working, kind, intuitive, and very flexible in her approach. While observing Karen working with many different stakeholders, I can share with great enthusiasm that she has an abundance of strengths. She asks good questions which allow for better understanding, and her questions deepen conversations. She absolutely understands the balance of “big picture” and details. Through trial and error, advocacy, and relationship building, Karen always works hard to hear multiple perspectives to find common ground and helped us further our equity goals. Even in challenging situations, I have watched Karen remain centered, supportive of those around her, and she has worked to find positive solutions for all involved. While Karen’s children have grown up, and she has left the elementary school setting, the work she helped support continues. Throughout all of her decisions, she always keeps the students at the forefront of her mind. Her optimistic passion for our school and the St. Louis Park community, reflective nature, compassion, and flexibility are reflected in all that she does, and it is a privilege to have worked with her both professionally and personally. She would make an amazing St. Louis Park City Council member; please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions that may arise. Sincerely, Dr. Corey Maslowski Principal 952-928-6558 maslowski.corey@slpschools.org From:Lynette Dumalag To:Ruth E. Merle-Doyle; Kim Keller; Cindy Walsh; Melissa Kennedy Subject:Re: Letter of support for Karen McCarren to fill City Council Seat Date:Monday, December 19, 2022 9:35:10 PM Hi Ruth, Thank you for that glowing letter of recommendation for Karen! I'm copying staff so there is an official record of this. Have a wonderful holidays and take care! Lynette Dumalag From: Ruth E. Merle-Doyle <rem64@cornell.edu> Sent: Monday, December 19, 2022 3:12 PM To: Lynette Dumalag <LDumalag@stlouisparkmn.gov> Subject: Letter of support for Karen McCarren to fill City Council Seat CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Council Member Dumalag, Karen McCarren has been a beloved part of my human circle for many decades, and for this, I am most fortunate. You see, Karen brings an authenticity, compassion and bravery to human connection that I do not often encounter. There are moments when she pushes my thinking and holds space for courageous conversations on really hard topics like our social justice reckoning, living your values and fostering communities where all people have a sense of belonging. As a Work Life Program Manager on the Work Life team at Cornell University, these kinds of topics come up in wellbeing conversation often, but Karen’s passion and expertise in this realm, along with her natural tendency to leadership, create a powerful cocktail of traits that would serve the Saint Louis Park (SLP) City Council well. As I review the city’s strategic priorities, I find myself thinking about Karen’s character more than any criteria that can be found on an application. With the complex issues and challenging priorities that the SLP City Council will face, I see Karen as a council member who will be prepared with evidence- based knowledge and a keen awareness of the human experience that people of diverse backgrounds are navigating. She will be able to facilitate difficult conversations with honest and courageous opinion in the most articulate and empathetic way in order to make your SLP community one that stands out and is a leader in inclusion, equity and community engagement. As roommates at Ithaca College, we were concerned with matters that most college students are, and those topics are worlds away from Karen’s focus in this moment of her life. She has found a passion in the equity space and she threads her wisdom into our informal conversations deftly, so that I find myself coming back to what she shares in my professional work. After the murder of George Floyd, I distinctly remember having an emotional conversation with Karen, where I shared my own privileged reaction. She held compassionate space while acknowledging my emotion and experience, then nudged me toward the things that mattered most. I see that ability to hold space, then move toward action as a paramount skill for your city council. Lastly, I feel compelled to share how Karen truly embodies and lives her values, and in turn, is raising children who will be changemakers. She and her family prioritize service trips in times when most families prefer vacation style breaks. Now, I am all for restoration and recovery in my wellbeing work, and I am most impressed with how Karen gives the gift of volunteer experience to her children. Recently, she and her family spent time in Costa Rica visiting a family that benefited from a Bricks to Bread oven for their livelihood. Her children experienced how being of service to those in need can have a life changing outcome. As a parent, I see that as bravely and authentically living your values. I could go on for some time, but will simply say, Karen McCarren will be a tremendous asset to your city council. I feel lucky to have her in my life, and I suspect your community members will feel the same. Warmly, Ruth Ruth Merle-Doyle, M.S. Work/Life Program Manager Work Life Team | Division of Human Resources | Cornell University she | her rem64@cornell.edu | p. 607-255-1917 hr.cornell.edu | Follow Working at Cornell on Facebook! From:Jake Spano To:charlie poulter Cc:Nadia Mohamed; Margaret Rog; dumalag@stlouispark.org; Sue Budd; Tim Brausen; Melissa Kennedy; Kim Keller Subject:Re: letter of Recommendation for Karen McCarren Date:Wednesday, December 21, 2022 6:30:30 AM Charlie- Thank you for the note regarding Karen’s potential service on the council. We appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us. By way of cc I’m adding Melissa Kennedy, our city clerk who can ensure that it is a part of the public record. Give your mom and dad and Ellen my best! Jake Spano Mayor St. Louis Park, MN (he/him/his) 952-928-1448 (direct) On Dec 20, 2022, at 11:36 PM, charlie poulter <charliepoulter26@gmail.com> wrote: CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. My name is Charlie Poulter and I am a senior at St Louis Park High School. I’ve lived in St Louis Park my whole life and have attended St Louis Park public schools for the entirety of my educationl. I’m someone who has always loved to be a part of the community in St Louis park and always felt comfortable in St Louis Park and felt comfortable being myself both in and outside of school. I’ve been fortunate enough to know Karen McCarren since I was six years old. Karen has always been someone who I’ve been very comfortable talking to no matter the topic. There’s been multiple times where I’ve found myself going over to her house and getting into such important topics with Karen, we would talk for extended amounts of time. The stuff we would talk about is always something that I don’t just talk to any adult about. I believe that the way that Karen carries herself is very helpful when it comes to really trying to figure out different problems. When I was diagnosed with epilepsy she was one of the people that I talked to about it constantly. The reason I talked to her wasn’t only because she is educated in the medical field so it made me feel like what I was saying truly made sense, but it also has to do with Karen’s Emotional Quotient. I believe that someone who has a high EQ would hugely benefit the community of St. Louis park especially when talking to high schoolers or people their age or elders. When talking to Karen it was never a conversation where I thought she just felt bad for me or felt like she was tired of hearing me talk, Karen is someone who looks for solutions no matter the situation. When it came to seizures that’s something that when I talk about to parents most people feel a little uncomfortable talking about solutions and ways to help my side affects from medicine but every time Karen would try her hardest to think of a new way to help me. Something that Karen has talked to all of my friends about, is just being good people, and trying to be kind to people. That sounds like something that’s obvious and should go without having to say, but nowadays we need people who aren’t afraid to talk about things that are truly important to having a stronger community. Karen always seems happy whenever I’m around, but that doesn’t mean that she backs away from tough topics when she overheard me talking to my mom about college application she was quick to step in and help my mom out and call me out.I was saying that it’s just hard for me to type things out, and it would be easier for me to just call them. Her response was something that I’ll always remember because it helped me so much, she said well then Charlie here’s what we’re gonna do, record yourself talking about it on your phone and then go back and type everything out. Seems simple but with all do respect sometimes the answers to some of our issues in our schools and city are simpler than some of the parents think. Karen is lucky enough to see her kids go through the school so she gets a glimpse Im sure almost everyday from at least one of them. She also is lucky enough to have seen her kids go from school to school and now with her son being a senior shes truly seen every stage of St Louis park schools. Im not old enough to look at a resume and really have it make sense but Karen asked me if that would be helpful so I said maybe, so she sent me a pdf. Looking through the different hospitals shes worked at it was definetly impressive and that shows that she has great intelligence and I think that we have so much to apreciate when it comes to our hospital workers, But the thing that made me the happiest to see was list of the things that shes doing outside of her paid job. This shows someone who is well rounded and overall someone who cares about their community and is wanting to make a change. I am not someone who really tends to get excited when it comes to politics. When I got a phone call from Karen I had no idea what it was about, but when she asked me to write her a letter of approval for her to run for this position I was excited for the future changes that she could make in this community. What this city needs is someone like Karen to connect with the kids and be a positive influence on their lifes and understanding of what changes we need to make. I think Karen would be great for the youth of St Louis Park and thats really all I can speak for. From:Jake Spano To:Molly Carpenter Cc:Lynette Dumalag; Nadia Mohamed; Margaret Rog; Sue Budd; Tim Brausen; carp1479@stthomas.edu; Melissa Kennedy; Kim Keller Subject:Re: Letter of support for Karen McCarren, SLP City Council candidate Date:Wednesday, December 21, 2022 6:33:47 AM Molly- Thank you for the note regarding Karen’s potential service on the council. We appreciate you taking the time to reach out to us. By way of cc I’m adding Melissa Kennedy, our city clerk who can ensure that it is a part of the public record. Stay warm and safe this week! Jake Spano Mayor St. Louis Park, MN (he/him/his) 952-928-1448 (direct) On Dec 20, 2022, at 10:37 AM, Molly Carpenter <mollycarpenter76@gmail.com> wrote: CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Good morning Mayor Spano and members of the St. Louis Park City Council, Please see our letter below in support of Karen McCarren for the vacant SLP City Council seat. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our support of her candidacy, please let us know. Respectfully, Molly and Ben Carpenter cell: 612-226.5850 email: mollycarpenter76@gmail.com Dear St. Louis Park City Council Committee, We are honored to write a letter in support of Karen McCarren for the open seat on the SLP City Council. Ben and I have lived in St. Louis Park since 2005, when we bought our first home in Minikahda Vista. Seventeen years later, we have three children who we’ve raised in St. Louis Park (ages fifteen, thirteen, and seven), and now live in the Westwood Hills neighborhood. As so many St. Louis Park residents eagerly share, this city has become our home and community, and we treasure so many aspects of living and raising our family in St. Louis Park. We met Karen in the winter of 2012 when we were exploring school options for our rising kindergartener. A mutual friend connected us with Karen as a parent and community member who might offer us wise counsel. That introduction has been a tremendous gift in our lives over the past ten years. In that first conversation with Karen, she revealed some of her greatest attributes to us: level-headed, data driven, open-minded, warm-hearted, and relationship invested. Karen shared her personal experiences with Park Spanish Immersion Elementary, as her oldest child was in first grade at PSI. Karen also directed us to families with older children to glean more insights, and to the principal at PSI. In addition, Karen shared what she knew about Susan Lindgren, our neighborhood school at the time, and pointed us again to families who had more information than she did. These actions highlighted her resourcefulness, humility, and deep bench of relationships within this community. During this time, Ben and I felt empowered to make the best choice for our family, as Karen equipped us with information and guidance without becoming personally invested. We knew from that experience that we had two wonderful options within the SLP school district, and that we had a trusted “go-to” person in our community. Karen’s warmth, approachability, and kind demeanor drew us in initially. Equally instructive were her critical nature and knowledge as a lifelong resident of SLP. These attributes have shown up again and again in our relationship with Karen. It is clear Karen has built many lasting relationships in St. Louis Park and she has tremendous pride in SLP and all that it stands for – but Karen also brings an extremely analytical lens to every endeavor. She is trusting, but asks hard questions; she is optimistic, but first considers all angles. Simply put, she is a reliable and courageous leader. I personally witnessed her leadership during our overlapping time as PSI parent volunteers and our partnership to introduce and lead the Girls on the Run program at PSI in 2019. Whether it’s as PTO chair, in her current role at Health Partners, or her commitment to understand and enhance the lived experiences of children and families in St. Louis Park, she pours herself into her responsibilities and is accountable. As her interest in the open SLP City Council seat indicates, Karen seeks experiences that stretch her personally and professionally, and she remains dedicated to the difficult work that accompanies such experiences. Another example is her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Karen and her daughter enrolled in one of the first HOPE Speaks Project cohorts, and she influenced us to enroll with our daughter in fifth grade. We know this is one of many initiatives that demonstrate her commitment to learning, growing, and improving. Karen embodies these values and in turn makes the circles she touches stronger. We eagerly endorse Karen McCarren as a candidate for St. Louis Park City Council and can confidently say our city council would be lucky to have her as a member. Respectfully, Molly and Ben Carpenter December 20, 2022 Dear Mayor Spano, It is an honor to write a letter of support for Karen McCarren as she pursues the St. Louis Park City At Large Seat A Council Member position. I’ve known Karen for 15 years and have had the good fortune to work with her in a variety of volunteer capacities. Most notably, Karen and I served as board members on the TreeHouse Community Development Team (CDT) for five years. In her tenure as a CDT member, I was impressed with Karen’s ability to see the big picture and envision positive change and outcomes through thoughtful analysis of existing systems and processes. This approach allowed us to accomplish a variety of initiatives in support of our key strategic plan; to increase SLP community partnerships and awareness in our mission to end hopelessness among teens. Her focused and intentional efforts to develop authentic partnerships with members of the board, the corporate team, and the community at large, yielded strong and lasting stakeholder relationships. A proud, lifelong resident, Karen’s values align with St. Louis Park’s strategic priority in creating racially equitable policies and structures that foster a true sense of belonging within our community. She has the unique perspective of understanding St. Louis Park’s past, present, and can offer innovative vision for the future. There is tremendous intrinsic value in having a council member who has experienced St. Louis Park at every juncture of her life. I trust in Karen’s ability to serve as a resilient and visionary leader who can positively contribute to the bright future of our remarkable city. Karen possesses many qualities that make her an ideal candidate for this role. I have witnessed the positive impact that her authentic community engagement has had on our youth. Karen’s extensive healthcare experience coupled with community leadership roles will allow her to establish cross-sector partnerships that leverage combined resources to amplify the strategic mission of the city. Deeply committed to racial equity work, Karen understands that honoring shared histories, multiple perspectives, and diverse racial and ethnic identities must be at the core of her work. She is open-minded and approaches all endeavors with empathy and integrity. These qualities will have a direct result in seeing, inspiring, and empowering our residents to live their brilliance in a way that echoes positively through the community. Please do not hesitate to contact me at 952.928.6778 or scott.erika@slpschools.org with any further questions. Sincerely, Erika Scott Early Learning Program Supervisor Central Early Learning Center 6300 Walker Street St. Louis Park, MN 55416 December 2022 I am writing to recommend Karen McCarren to the SLP City Council at large A position. Karen and I served together for 7 years on the Tree House SLP community development team. What struck me when I first met her and still is true today, is her love for the SLP community, her strong desire to serve and the collaborative manner in which she solves new and age-old challenges. As the Tree House board president, I quickly identified Karen for her outstanding leadership and initiative and requested that she led a key strategic plank for us: To increase SLP community partnership and awareness in support of our mission to end hopelessness among teens. Her connections in the community and resolve to get us involved in key community activities was instrumental to our success. Several years ago, we hosted our first-ever Tree House breakfast, to educate SLP community business leaders, educators, police, and municipal leaders on what we do. We were also looking for their insights and connections on ways to grow our volunteer base and reach more teens. Karen was instrumental in the planning and orchestration of this event and helping us exceed our goal by getting 65 people to the breakfast. It was very clear to me that Karen’s over 25 contacts came because they knew her, respected her, and wanted to learn and experience what Karen is passionate about. There are several qualities in addition to Karen’s involvement in the community that make her an exceptional candidate for this position. First, she is a courageous leader who is trusted and respected by her colleagues. She readily sees the big picture, works collaboratively with her teammates to deliver a successful outcome and is able to rally others to support her cause. Finally, Karen enjoys a successful career in healthcare and a busy homelife with her family. However, she is never too busy to serve, as evidenced by the numerous organizations she has been involved with. Karen is a huge supporter of social justice, works hard to represent those who don’t have a voice, and she deeply believes and supports the SLP school system. I am confident the SLP City council would benefit tremendously by Karen’s leadership and personal commitment to your organization. Please do not hesitate to contact me at 612-280-8384 or at sallymccarthy912@gmail.com, should you have any questions. With great pleasure, Sally McCarthy Procter and Gamble retired Executive - 36 years Tree House Board president Amplify Board member From:Jake Spano To:Thia Bryan; nmohamed@stlouispark.oreg; Margaret Rog; Lynette Dumalag; Sue Budd; Tim Brausen; Melissa Kennedy Subject:RE: Support for Karen McCarren"s At Large City Council Application Date:Wednesday, December 28, 2022 8:43:46 AM Thank you Thia for taking the time to reach out to us on this. I’ve cc’d our city clerk so your note can be entered into the public record. Have an excellent end to your 2022! Jake Spano He/Him/His (Curious about pronouns? Check this out for helpful info) Mayor, City of St. Louis Park 5005 Minnetonka Boulevard St. Louis Park, MN 55426 Direct - 952-928-1448 Twitter - @spanojake From: Thia Bryan Sent: Tuesday, December 27, 2022 7:31 PM To: Jake Spano; nmohamed@stlouispark.oreg; Margaret Rog; Lynette Dumalag; Sue Budd; Tim Brausen Subject: Support for Karen McCarren's At Large City Council Application CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Dear Mayor Spano and Saint Louis Park Council Members, I am writing to submit a letter of support for Karen McCarren's appointment to the At-Large Saint Louis Park City Council open seat. Karen McCarren is a neighbor, a fellow Saint Louis Park Schools parent, and a HealthPartners colleague and friend. I have gotten to know Karen over the past several years as a neighbor and fellow Park Spanish Immersion Elementary and Middle School parent, especially through our collaborative work on the Saint Louis Park Middle School Site Council Racial Equity Subcommittee. Recently, Karen and I have also worked professionally on some of the same HealthPartners initiatives, including bias and anti-racism organizational trainings, as well as a leadership strategy group on trauma-responsive worksite environment and practices. As is clearly evident through her application and resume, Karen's transferable knowledge and the experience that she could bring to the Council opportunity shines through. Through my work with Karen, I have observed her to be thoughtful, attentive, engaged, committed and motivated. She has been effective at carefully listening, including and engaging diverse and important perspectives, and helping to create end results that meet strategic goals towards change. As she was preparing to submit her application for the At-Large Council roie, Karen and I discussed the opportunity and how her background and current professional and community leadership focus would be excellent support and knowledge to help step into the role and expand her learning through the new Council experience. Additionally, Karen's deep Saint Louis Park roots and healthcare connections and experience position Karen well to help the Council and our City to continue and expand strategic work already in progress. Thanks in advance for your consideration of Karen McCarren for the role. Please feel free to reach out directly with any additional questions. Thia Bryan Thia Bryan, MA, IBCLC, NASM CPT Ward 2 Saint Louis Park Resident Park Spanish Immersion and Saint Louis Park Middle School Parent Community Health & Well-being Partnership Manager, HealthPartners (612) 990-6563 tabryan24@gmail.com From:Jake Spano To:Amity Erickson Cc:Tim Brausen; Sue Budd; Lynette Dumalag; Margaret Rog; Nadia Mohamed; Melissa Kennedy Subject:Re: Consideration for Karen McCarren for the Vacant City Council Seat - Thank You Date:Friday, December 30, 2022 2:22:22 PM Thank you for taking the time to send us this email Amity and for your efforts to support our community and neighbors. By way of cc, I’m including our city clerk who can make sure this is part of the public record on Karen’s application. Thank you again and stay warm! Jake Spano Mayor St. Louis Park, MN (he/him/his) 952-928-1448 (direct) On Dec 30, 2022, at 9:27 AM, Amity Erickson <Amity.M.Erickson@hotmail.com> wrote: CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Good Morning, I am honored to take a moment to express my support and recommendation for Karen McCarren for St Louis Park, City Council. I met Karen early in my tenure at our shared employer. Karen became a key partner for me within our roles at our organization and for focused efforts in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. I quickly observed Karen's passion for humans and the human experience overall, while bringing her learning from her own personal journey into conversations, leader and employee meetings, building curriculum and our overall partnership. What is so impactful about Karen's skill set is her ability to understand and keep in view large systems while maintaining a focus to people within the system and impact. Karen is kind, compassionate, very self-aware and open to being a lifelong learner, seeking feedback and consult. Karen is one of the few white women who I can say is utilizing her privilege and position of power to amplify the community around her both in her professional and personal spaces. In fact, Karen is partnering with me and additional colleagues on a potential connection with St Louis Park High School and Methodist Hospital. I am happy to discuss further Karen, as there is much more to say. Thank you for your time and consideration. Amity Erickson 3       Thank you,  St. Louis Park, MN   This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email.  4       Thank you,  St. Louis Park, MN   This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email.  3 Thank you,  St. Louis Park, MN   This is an automated message generated by Granicus. Please do not reply directly to this email.