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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025/01/06 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionOfficial minutes City council study session St. Louis Park, Minnesota Jan. 6, 2025 Mayor Mohamed called the meeting to order at 6:46 p.m. Council members present: Mayor Nadia Mohamed, Paul Baudhuin, Tim Brausen, Sue Budd, Yolanda Farris, Lynette Dumalag, and Margaret Rog Council members absent: none Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), planning manager (Mr. Walther), administrative services director (Ms. Brodeen), community engagement coordinator (Mr. Coleman) Guest: Jen Krava, Forecast Public Art Discussion item 1. Vision 4.0 engagement plan Mr. Coleman introduced Jen Krava from Forecast Public Art to present the staff report. Council Member Baudhuin asked what strategies are planned to reach and engage certain communities, such as renters. Ms. Krava stated the community committee will be an important part of the engagement. Forecast Public Art will use the committee’s networks of trusted people who can also engage with various groups within the community. Council Member Rog noted that Forecast is an arts-focused organization and asked whether that focus was broad enough for them to be leading all the vision work. Ms. Krava stated the questions will not be about art; questions will be around topics like housing and mobility. She noted art is a way to bring people in if they are intimidated by process. The ambassador cohort conversations will focus on broader topics, larger issues and aspirations. Council Member Rog stated some will not want to engage through the arts but will prefer more traditional channels. Ms. Krava added that multiple strategies, such as town hall events, will also be utilized for broader engagement. Council Member Rog noted past Vision reports and said the statements from the first Vision were the most powerful. She described them as having had more detail while feeling more personal. She gave examples of statements regarding children and diversity, environmental stewardship leaders and community engagement. She suggested the ambassador cohort group might consider all the different ways Visions can be articulated to the community, instead of looking to previous models. Mr. Walther stated the emphasis from the first process was likely influenced by who was participating. It had leaned on input from the city council, commissions and city government. In turn, that led to a focus on things the city works on. He noted the first Vision process also had the fewest participants. Docusign Envelope ID: 350798C6-38A8-42BB-92C2-97080BA68DBE Study session minutes -2- Jan. 6, 2025 Council Member Rog stated concerns about the success of past facilitated conversations, as attendance and participation can be challenging. She asked if there is a stipend to include treats. Ms. Krava stated this all comes down to making sure the Visioning process connects with all types of people by spreading the word through the community committee. They will work on how to reach people and gain their input and participation, even if residents do not physically attend. She stated there may be challenges, but noted her team is nimble and flexible in their work to reach and engage residents. Council Member Rog stated she will email ideas for additional organizations to reach out to. Council Member Rog stated neighborhood organizations need to be included; they are ready- made for and want to be asked to do this work. Council Member Dumalag stated she was part of Vision 3.0 and noted the facilitated sessions at city hall were very different from the pop-ups and home tours. She asked that facilitators be mindful of schedules and work to attract people to attend sessions who typically would not participate. She pointed out that Discover St. Louis Park is now called Westopolis. Council Member Dumalag asked about the benchmarking process and what occurred. Ms. Krava stated they have looked over the past Vision sessions and will continue to do so. Council Member Dumalag noted the training for facilitators to host community conversations had the most diverse representations and reveals comments from people of color who felt isolated and not part of St. Louis Park. She is interested in how we are now doing as a community. Ms. Krava stated she is not sure this is in the project’s scope, but that they will look at this. Council Member Brausen stated after Vision 3.0, the council spent significant time discussing the outcomes and then developing their strategic goals. Since then, their policy decisions have been tied into strategic goals as much as possible. Mr. Walther stated that Vision 4.0 will generate a recommendations list that will provide the context for later strategic planning direction, similar to last time. Council Member Brausen stated he will send a list of recommendations to staff as well. He noted that bars and restaurants also have their own communities. Affordable housing communities need to be reached out to; the city has relationships with people that live there, adding this contact will be important. He suggested all faith-based organizations in the city be invited to participate as well. Council Member Budd asked if outreach would target affordable housing apartments as places to have smaller group discussions. Ms. Krava stated they can, and they will look at who is signing up. She added they may consider conducting town halls in affordable housing developments as well. Council Member Budd asked if the facilitator role is served by volunteers and how they are chosen. Ms. Krava stated that people who are interested would attend training sessions. The invite to attend trainings would be broad; both wide and specific. Docusign Envelope ID: 350798C6-38A8-42BB-92C2-97080BA68DBE Study session minutes -3- Jan. 6, 2025 Council Member Budd asked how many facilitators are needed. Ms. Krava stated they do not know yet and asked for recommendations. Council Member Budd stated that 70 facilitators were utilized in the past and they should represent a cross-section of residents. She added a session will also provide more value than a survey. Council Member Budd asked if there is an aversion to including boards and commissions in this process. Mr. Walther stated this is not the case; about 50 people will comprise the ambassador cohort and there were multiple ways they could be included. Council Member Brausen added that it makes sense to personally invite boards and commission members to this process. Council Member Budd stated invites should be extended to the city’s SOAR groups. She suggested outreach to the watershed districts and community early childhood education groups as well. Mayor Mohamed stated she has been working to get this message out to folks for a while. She asked what council member roles would be in this process and asked for recommendations where can council uplift this process. Ms. Krava stated that the ambassador cohort is a great place to start. They will do another update with the council and bring forward recommendations at the end of the process as well. Council members can attend the pop-up events, and they should feel welcome to attend and participate. Council Member Farris stated this process is exciting. She noted her community was not invited in the past, and stressed she and her community would like to be a part of the process this time. She asked if everyone can be involved and engaged. Ms. Krava stated yes, the visioning process is for everyone, and they will make sure there is a materials kit and business cards that can be passed out to everyone in the community. Council Member Rog asked when the website will be available. Ms. Krava stated they do not have a specific date for March 2025, but most likely it will coincide with the invite for the ambassador cohort. The website will reflect ongoing updates as more details are available. Council Member Rog stated that the more information people can receive at the beginning, the more likely they are to be engaged. She communicates with her ward members using a monthly newsletter and will spread the word on the visioning process. Council Member Rog asked if there will be stipends. Ms. Brodeen stated there will be no stipends for participants. Council Member Brausen stated this plan looks good and he is supportive of it. Council Member Baudhuin added events and engagement opportunities will continue to evolve. Word of mouth is very effective and sharing social media posts is another method of outreach. When events come up that should be promoted, it would be helpful to send information to the council so each member can promote it within their networks. Docusign Envelope ID: 350798C6-38A8-42BB-92C2-97080BA68DBE Study session minutes -4- Jan. 6, 2025 Written Reports 2. Community Engagement system kick-off 3. 2025 Pavement Management Project update (4025-1000) – Ward 4 4. 2025 Commercial Street Rehab Project update (4025-1050) – Ward 2 Council Member Dumalag noted in the 2025 Commercial Street Rehab Project update report, an open house had been attended by only three (3) people. She stated there was good engagement for this project, leading to low turnout. This project will affect the location of the US Postal Service, and she asked city staff to communicate with their staff regarding where employees may park, enter and exit. Council Member Budd stated she will be touring the 2025 commercial rehab project with Ms. Heiser, engineering director. Council Member Brausen noted that the 2025 pavement management project reflects the exclusion of all proposed sidewalks because the loss of trees would have been catastrophic. Now, the project proposes for only one tree to be cut down. He thanked staff for updates and proactive emails regarding this update. Council Member Rog noted the community engagement system kick-off report and stated she is concerned about funding, as she is not sure what is going to be proposed. Ms. Keller stated the council gave staff a broad, high-level overview of community engagement funding in 2024 and staff will come back to the council with additional funding information. Council Member Rog stated folks will need wider notice for community engagement meetings. Communications/meeting check-in (verbal) The meeting adjourned at 7:47 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Nadia Mohamed, mayor Docusign Envelope ID: 350798C6-38A8-42BB-92C2-97080BA68DBE