HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023/09/11 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionOfficial minutes
City council study session
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Sept. 11, 2023
The meeting convened at 6:30 p.m.
Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Yolanda Farris, Lynette
Dumalag, and Margaret Rog
Councilmembers absent: Nadia Mohamed
Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), deputy city manager (Ms. Walsh), engineering
director (Ms. Heiser), building and energy director (Mr. Hoffman), community development
director (Ms. Barton), finance director (Ms. Cruver), race, equity and inclusion director (Ms.
Guess), communications and technology director (Ms. Smith)
Discussion items
1. Race Equity and Inclusion system part two kickoff
Ms. Guess presented the report. She outlined tentative dates and topics for learning
intentions for part two of the race, equity and inclusion system.
Mayor Spano reminded attendees that topics designated as written reports could still be
opened up for discussion at a later date. Councilmember Rog asked how topics were
determined as discussion items or written reports. Ms. Keller responded that staff considers
whether there is an imbedded policy question to present to the council or an area of
informational need based on interest.
2. Requiring accepting cash as payment in St. Louis Park
Ms. Guess presented the report. She noted the question for discussion is what it would mean
for the City of St. Louis Park to require businesses to accept cash for payment of services and
products. Ms. Guess asked if the council wishes to continue the policy development process,
noting staff recommends additional engagement to better determine the number of
businesses that would be affected and how an ordinance would impact the community.
Councilmember Brausen stated he is in favor of exploring the policy and appreciated the
clarity of the report’s detail in laying out impediments on businesses. He stated that these
impediments do not trump the use of legal tender.
Councilmember Dumalag added she is interested in exploring this as well. She stated that for
both residents and visitors to the city, cash is legal tender. She pointed out that staff
investigations may also lead to other discoveries.
Councilmember Farris added that some folks do not like to use credit cards or checks so she
would like to explore this further.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 47BBAC52-6B0E-4D7B-AAB7-F8108933F6AC
Study session minutes -2- Sept. 11, 2023
Councilmember Budd stated she is torn on the issue, noting she has witnessed people in her
ward having to put back a product because they had cash only, and did not have a debit or
credit card. She added it is very non-inclusive and does not seem right. She also has heard
anecdotal data on this issue and noted that other cities and states have pursued cash
acceptance measures. She stated she would support exploring this, noting St. Louis Park
would be the first city in Minnesota to introduce an ordinance of this kind.
Councilmember Rog stated the report was very good and asked if the policy were to move
forward, how would the ordinance be communicated or posted for residents to know about
it. She stated that the city does allow businesses to discriminate, if unintentionally, by not
accepting cash. She noted that folks did not want to touch currency during the pandemic
(though they did touch credit cards). After the public later learned that the coronavirus was
not spread via surfaces, many businesses continued to operate with card-only payments. She
stated support in emulating Philadelphia’s consumer protection act. She is supportive of St.
Louis Park being a leader in this space and stated that it makes sense for staff to continue to
explore the policy’s impact for residents.
Mayor Spano stated he is reluctant to pursue this because he would like to see other racial
equity priorities receive resources such as staff time. He has not heard about card-only
payments being an issue in the city and he wants to understand the scope of the issue. He
stated there are other cities in Minnesota that have unbanked and underbanked
communities and wondered why other communities have not moved forward on this. He
would like to know if a growing number of businesses in the community are not taking cash
since the pandemic, and if so, what types of businesses.
Mayor Spano stated the Federal Reserve Bank is working on issues of racial equity and justice
related to banking and he would be happy to make a connection with staff on this. He is
interested to see their regional data. He added the city can ban or require certain things but
asked for the conversation to include increasing the community’s access to financial tools and
purchasing methods.
Councilmember Dumalag noted a conversation she had with a regional banker from the only
black-owned bank in the region. The reason they chose this area to open a branch is because
banking is not a trusted entity in all communities. Banking fees can present challenges to
building trust, so she is looking forward to reviewing more data.
Councilmember Rog stated that the same access problems that prevent folks from using a
bank may also prevent them from utilizing financial tools at city hall. She added talking to
businesses and residents will be helpful prior to moving forward. She stated if this is found to
be more of a hardship on businesses than expected, then council will need more information
from all sides of engagement.
Ms. Guess stated educational components for residents and businesses will be implemented
should the council decide to move forward.
Mayor Spano agreed that there is an issue of trust and is it worth talking this through with a
community bank. He wants to focus on the fact that electronic payments will be increasingly
DocuSign Envelope ID: 47BBAC52-6B0E-4D7B-AAB7-F8108933F6AC
Study session minutes -3- Sept. 11, 2023
common, and he would like to look at ways for the city to connect residents to resources folks.
He added he would like to look at trends and data to provide access.
Councilmember Farris stated that she has heard from residents that being on a fixed income is a
challenge to using a bank. She stated many people go to a retailer that accepts cash to purchase
a stored value card, thus avoiding the banking fees that can be difficult to navigate on a fixed
income.
Ms. Guess added seniors on a fixed income may also be inclined to use cash in certain situations,
like working with a set budget for assistance with grocery shopping. The scenario of someone
using a card to spend beyond a senior’s budget is also an example of senior abuse, the example
relates to the concern of cash access.
Councilmember Rog asked if the conversation had grown beyond the primary question and
whether it was better to keep the questions separate.
Councilmember Brausen agreed that it is better to keep these issues separate, as council’s areas
of authority do not include banking and commerce.
Mayor Spano suggested a holistic conversation going forward and added that his examples of
financial tools may or may not be the answer.
Councilmember Brausen stated his support for making it legal to use legal tender to make
purchases in St. Louis Park.
Councilmember Rog added she is open to having further discussion on additional issues related
to banking, and that the issue before the council is straightforward.
It was the consensus of the council that staff will continue to research the policy, broaden the
scope of community and business engagement, and bring more data back to council.
Written Reports
3. Overview of recycling opportunities for multifamily buildings
4. Environmental stewardship system wrap-up
5. Update on Union Park Flats financial assistance request
Councilmember Brausen appreciated the report on environmental stewardship and noted it did
not deal with stormwater issues. A constituent had reached out to ask why the report did not
cover stormwater concerns, which they felt strongly about. He added that the stormwater issue
may belong in a different area of the city’s planned discussion, noting it is an ongoing pollution
problem for the community.
Ms. Keller stated the intention of the report was to summarize a few items and did not go into
depth on all environmental issues.
DocuSign Envelope ID: 47BBAC52-6B0E-4D7B-AAB7-F8108933F6AC
Study session minutes -4- Sept. 11, 2023
Councilmember Brausen stated he is supportive of the request for additional funds for Union
Park Flats, noting the market keeps costs rising. Councilmember Budd agreed and stated that
keeping the project’s momentum going is important.
Councilmember Rog stated a concern on the quality of composting bags. She gave the
example of a recent neighborhood event that participated in composting, and several
organics bags broke open during use. She was concerned about whether her experience was
unique, or if other residents also deal with a quality issue. Ms. Keller stated it could be a bad
batch of bags and asked her to email staff so they can look further into this.
Communications/meeting check-in (verbal)
Upcoming events:
Tuesday, Sept. 12 - a public engagement meeting will be held related to Three Rivers Park to
discuss the CP rail and trail long-range planning. The meeting will be held at Dakota Park from
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16-17 – the Thai Cultural Council of Minnesota is presenting
MinnesoTHAI at the West End Festival site, it is free to attend.
Councilmember Dumalag congratulated the community and staff on an excellent Arts Fair the
weekend prior and noted the youth artist participation.
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
___________________________________ ___________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Jake Spano, mayor
DocuSign Envelope ID: 47BBAC52-6B0E-4D7B-AAB7-F8108933F6AC