HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/03/13 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session Official minutes
City council study session
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
March 13, 2023
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Yolanda Farris, 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), Building and Energy Director (Mr. Hoffman), Director of Community
Development (Ms. Barton), Race, Equity, and Inclusion Director (Ms. Guess), Engineering
Project Manager (Mr. Sullivan), Public Works Director (Mr. Hall), Communications and
Technology Director (Ms. Smith)
Guests: none.
1. REI policy and definitions update
Ms. Guess presented the report related to REI policy and definitions. The question she
posed to the council is “Does council support staff’s approach in developing a race,
equity, and inclusion policy, with corresponding definitions?”
Councilmember Budd asked what the next steps could look like. Ms. Guess stated it
could be a conversation or a focus group, or discussion on language and incorporating
terminology from other policies. She added she would like to hear suggestions from the
council.
Councilmember Rog asked how to bring the rest of the community along on this
journey. She noted there are folks that might not understand or have misconceptions or
push back. Ms. Guess pointed to an event held in January for the National Day of Racial
Healing, which over 100 people attended. She noted that showed her the community
wants to be part of this, and once the policy is in place, there are many opportunities to
do outreach and engagement with the community to bring them along . She noted this is
for the city as well as governance, and the city will grow with this work.
Councilmember Rog stated she can see where the policy may direct the city in a
different way than residents may want to go. Ms. Keller stated staff will work to meet
people where they are at and point to the policy which is established for the entire city.
Ms. Guess added this helps to center equity and allows amplification of what the policy
is, especially once it is defined.
Councilmember Dumalag noted this reminds her of Vision 3.0 and the non-traditional
ways the community showed up at school festivals, or homes, as opposed to city hall.
She added there was a steering committee and people who talked to groups, and
perhaps there can be a similar process for this policy development also.
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Ms. Guess added she does see multiple opportunities for stakeholder feedback and
creating those opportunities for various groups both internal and external and looking
at the language used in the policy.
Mayor Spano stated the different way the city gathered feedback for the visioning
process was engaging. He added he is interested in learning more and coming up with
language early on about “who the city is” and thinking about how we define all groups,
including residents, students, city staff, and those who work in the city also.
Councilmember Mohamed stated she is supportive of this and it is a good step forward.
Councilmember Farris added she also supports this work and would like to learn more .
Councilmember Brausen also voiced his support.
Ms. Keller stated the goal is to come back to council in the fall with a policy draft to
review.
Councilmember Rog asked if this is ready to let folks know we are now working on this .
She asked if she could include this in her ward newsletter. Ms. Guess stated yes, that’s
perfect and if folks want more information they can sign up and provide ideas and also
contact REI staff for more information, at this point.
2. Connected infrastructure system introduction
Ms. Heiser presented the report.
Councilmember Mohamed asked about formalizing winter restrictions and what that
may entail.
Ms. Heiser stated it could be “no parking” between certain dates, or it could be meeting
certain criteria for parking and off-street parking like other communities around St.
Louis Park.
Councilmember Mohamed asked what staff is working on to deal with these issues . Ms.
Heiser stated the staff is working on various recommendations for council
consideration.
Councilmember Rog asked if we had already come up with recommendations. Ms.
Heiser stated in 2019 there was discussion with council, but the ordinance amendments
were never brought forward due to the pandemic. She stated this is a review of these
issues and recommendations.
Councilmember Brausen stated he is hopeful these will be staff recommendations that
come forward for approval. Ms. Heiser stated yes, there will be reports and discussions
prior to the ordinances being brought forward.
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Councilmember Rog asked how this will impact the budget for 2024. Ms. Heiser stated
there will be a review of capital projects with the council as well as the budget review
and public process. She noted there will also be review of proposed code updates, and
public streetlights also.
Recess to Closed Executive Session
Councilmember Brausen made a motion, seconded by Councilmember Farris, for the city council
to move into a closed executive session for the purposes of discussi ng the performance review of
the city manager.
The motion passed 7-0.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor
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