HomeMy WebLinkAbout24-157 - ADMIN Resolution - City Council - 2024/12/16
Resolution No. 24-157
Encouraging local retail establishments
to accept both cash and digital payments
Whereas, the city council has found that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)
and marginalized individuals are disproportionately excluded from the local marketplace when
businesses choose not to accept cash payments; and
Whereas, the city council has found that while there are benefits to businesses and
individuals such as fraud protection, convenience, shared risk, the ability to build assets, and
disease prevention through the use of contactless or digital payment methods, accepting cash
as a payment method increases access to goods and services for BIPOC and marginalized
populations who may not be able to access a bank account, desire to secure their finances
privately without a bank’s involvement, or seek to minimize added fees that frequently
accompany contactless or digital payment methods; and
Whereas, the city council has found that alternatives to cash payment for individuals
who do not have bank accounts are unsuitable to mitigate these issues as they come with
barriers for the use of funds and lack the security and asset building benefits of having a bank
account; and
Whereas, the city council has found since the majority of retail establishments in the
city accept cash as a payment method, the city council desires to encourage all retail
establishments in the city to implement a hybrid model of accepting both cash and digital
payments so that businesses can take advantage of the benefits of contactless or digital
payment methods without systemically burdening BIPOC and marginalized individuals for
whom cash payments are a necessity.
Now therefore be it resolved by the city council of the City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota,
that all retail establishments conducting business in the City of St. Louis Park are encouraged to
accept cash payments in addition to digital payments in transactions with individual consumers
whenever possible.
Reviewed for administration: Adopted by the city council December 16, 2024:
Kim Keller, city manager Nadia Mohamed, mayor
Attest:
_____________________________________
Melissa Kennedy, city clerk
Docusign Envelope ID: AFBC3F62-0817-4D90-A6B4-6110F5D71FA3