HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/02/06 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes
City council study session
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Feb. 6, 2023
The meeting convened at 8:10 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Lynette Dumalag, Nadia
Mohamed, and Margaret Rog
Councilmembers absent: none
Staff present: City Manager (Ms. Keller), Deputy City Manager (Ms. Walsh), Engineering
Director (Ms. Heiser), Finance Director (Ms. Schmitt), Building and Energy Director (Mr.
Hoffman), Director of Community Development (Ms. Barton), Race, Equity, and Inclusion
Director (Ms. Guess) Communications and Technology Director (Ms. Smith).
Guests: none.
1. Race, Equity, and inclusion impact Analysis Tool
Ms. Guess presented the report. She explained the Racial Equity Impact Analysis Tool that the
city will be implementing.
Mayor Spano asked about the use of the word colorblindness on the continuum .
Councilmember Dumalag noted the assumption that all bodies of culture are a monolith, and
that’s where the dominant culture gets in trouble and there is additional work to do here .
Councilmember Mohamed noted colorblindness denies the racial experiences of people and
the disparities and disproportionalities. Ms. Guess added that data is always segregated by race
and gender to be more intentional on getting groups what they need – it’s equitable, not
equity.
Ms. Guess facilitated an exercise with the racial equity impact analysis tool for the council to
consider. She asked the council to consider who in the community should be a part of the
discussion and decision-making process.
The council participated in the exercise.
Councilmember Brausen said residents that are affected need to be involved in the discussion.
Councilmember Dumalag added the city has had racial covenants in the past, and the city
defers to what the neighborhood wants, but who do we say we are because the city is not
diverse.
Councilmember Rog noted in the Elmwood neighborhood we did not give the community what
they wanted, and there are more examples of this where we are going counter to what
residents want. She added there is more to consider about the property.
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Councilmember Rog added related to engagement discussions, council is elected to make
decisions and then informs the community what has been decided because it is not always easy
to bring the community in for every decision.
Ms. Guess stated this tool can help the council decide when to do community engagement and
for what decisions.
Ms. Keller stated using good judgement comes into play also, and what risks are involved in a
decision, and then when should community engagement happen.
Mayor Spano stated we live in a republic, and we can’t always engage the community in all
decisions.
Councilmember Brausen noted it might be hard for him to get feedback as a white male. Ms.
Guess stated her experience has been going to the community, to where they are, to get
authentic engagement and gather the feedback needed.
Councilmember Mohamed noted pausing to reflect and doing the leg work to begin with helps
with engagement and unintended consequences.
Ms. Guess added unintended consequences can happen when there is non-pausing and then
there can be equity ramifications.
Councilmember Rog stated pausing can cause cost issues also, and then possible unintended
consequences, which can be more difficult with community resources .
Councilmember Dumalag stated there is a difference between pause and delay though, and
pausing to be deliberative and ask questions can help make decisions.
The council reflected on where they are on the compass, related to this discussion .
Councilmember Mohamed stated she is in her emotional space regarding these conversations.
Ms. Guess stated for her, it depends on who is in the room, so she may pause more depending
on her audience.
Councilmember Brausen stated he is in thinking mode.
Councilmember Budd stated she is in acting mode.
Councilmember Dumalag is in thinking mode, especially with this very formal structure, and
with rules and in other business structures.
Councilmember Rog stated she is in thinking mode and noted it’s because of her being white
and because of her personality.
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Ms. Keller stated she is in the thinking and feeling mode, and looking at how to support and
how this is being received.
Mayor Spano stated he is in thinking space, and as he reflects on not missing anything and
making a fully informed decision. He added he has anxiety around pausing, and once the
decision is made, he prefers to move forward, and reflection can happen afterwards.
Mayor Spano stated he is not certain this is the correct tool to use, but he is happy to be
discussing it. He asked if staff would review a worksheet on these discussions, adding he will
want to try this a few times.
Ms. Keller stated this would be part of the discussions and added into council work plans.
Councilmember Rog asked what the tool will look like in a meeting . Ms. Guess said there are
suggestions, but they have not been defined yet. She added one of the council members or a
staff member could facilitate the discussion during a study session.
Councilmember Rog asked how the council will decide which discussions to have, and on which
topics. She also asked if the tool was used for the roundabout project .
Ms. Keller stated staff has been using these questions over the last few months, but not for the
years involved in the analysis. She added when to use the full tool, or when to include it in a
discussion will be reviewed depending on the project .
Councilmember Rog asked about redundancy or repetition and when this might become an
issue if staff has already gone through the exercise.
Ms. Guess stated it’s possible the discussion and analysis could be done by staff, so council
could use this as a reflection on what was heard or seen.
Ms. Keller noted the analysis tool will be used in the upcoming council retreat March 9-10.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Written Reports - none
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor
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