Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/08/27 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study Session/!fSt. Louis Park official minutes M I N N E 5 0 T A City council study session I Pcricncc WfF in the Park St. LOUIS Park, Minnesota August 27, 2018 The meeting convened at 6:45 p.m. Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Rachel Harris, Anne Mavity, Thom Miller, and Margaret Rog. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), Engineering Director (Ms. Heiser), Police Chief Harcey, Deputy Police Chief Kraayenbrink, Economic Development Coordinator (Mr. Hunt), Planner (Ms. Monson), Racial Equity Manager (Ms. Sojourner), CIO (Mr. Pires), Management Assistant (Mr. Carrillo Perez), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Pappas). Guest: None 1. Future study session agenda planning — September, 2018 Mr. Harmening presented the proposed study session agenda for September, 2018. He noted there will be an executive session on September 17. At the September 24 meeting, there will be a discussion or written report included on sanitary sewer main and disposal as it relates to setting up a program and ordinance. Councilmember Brausen noted the SEEDS Harvest Festival and community gardens program, and asked if these items can be raised to a higher priority, as well as the topic of food access. Mayor Spano asked for a quarterly topic priority/ranking from staff to the council, in order to prioritize discussion topics. Mr. Harmening also noted the council needs to discuss items that can be moved or taken off the agenda, especially if they do not fit into the strategic plan. The council discussed topics community members have asked about, how to raise these issues with the full council, and the need to decide as a group on a process, priority, and ranking system. 2. Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) group feedback Ms. Sojourner presented the report. She presented the council with additional information to fully understand their IDI group feedback. The council also completed individual IDI assessments and had feedback sessions with Ms. Sojourner. Ms. Sojourner asked the council to explain the culture of the council. Councilmember Mavity stated those who are not part of the council, define the culture here, adding the council and the city are a white male dominant culture. Study Session Minutes -2- August 27, 2018 Councilmember Hallfin stated the council is white, middle aged, with a liberal or progressive set of values. Councilmember Brausen stated the council is a collaborative group which is task -oriented and works to make decisions collectively as to what is good for the community. Councilmember Harris stated we do our best pizza talk and we share the pizza. She added there is a set of unwritten rules and norms that the council is still finalizing. Mayor Spano stated we are seven very independent people who come together, come to consensus, and move forward. He added teamwork happens before getting to the meeting room. Ms. Sojourner noted the results and targets for the next stage of growth for the council, and how to go deeper, when working on city issues. She explained the council should take pauses and look deeper, and ask who they are listening to the most when developing policy. She added they need to look outside the box and ask themselves the hard questions before moving on, while navigating their skill set. Ms. Sojourner stated the council must develop their skills selectively, adding they will never be able to represent each and every person in the community. She noted the council's perceived vs. developed orientation, and tendency to over-estimate their decision making. Ms. Sojourner stated the council needs to be careful of misunderstanding and breakage of trust, pointing out that some councilmembers believe the council is moving too slow, while others are frustrated that it is moving too fast, and most decisions are being made through minimization —that is 28% acceptance and 14% adaptation. Ms. Sojourner noted the council needs to be aware of who they are as a culture, as a team, and as an individual, making sure to shift things around in order to amplify voices, but also being aware of who the council is collectively. She added the council needs to think about their stress points, what situations or topics cause stress in the group, and then need to talk and navigate those as a group, address those issues while being able to pause, take time, and come back. Ms. Sojourner stated the council is on the right track, but they need to be very intentional about how to function as a team. Ms. Sojourner recommended thinking about diversity equity inclusion (DEI) strategy and infrastructure for the council, and identifying thematic areas that are high priorities for DEI. She recommended the council think about long-term diversifying of the council and commissions, and how to function together in light of changing demographics in the community. Ms. Sojourner also recommended the council do some intercultural conflict style inventory— and intersectionality training across diversity efforts. She recommended the council do the IDI assessment every two years, both individually and as a group, and to work at developing their skills as new members come on the council. Study Session Minutes -3- August 27, 2018 Mayor Spano stated the council will need additional information and/or resources to fully understand their IDI group feedback, and would benefit from that. Councilmember Mavity asked for handouts and specific things councilmembers can do personally, including practical pieces to do. Councilmember Harris agreed having a one -pager to refer back to would be helpful. She noted a group workshop would be helpful, to learn about tools to help them navigate and enhance listening. She stated she looks forward to Ms. Sojourner's guidance. Councilmember Mavity added when thinking about tools and making decisions, who does and doesn't benefit as it relates to city policies, the council needs to think about what lens and filters they should look through during the process. 3. Historic Walker Lake design study Ms. Heiser noted there are four phases in the design study and funding for the street design will be provided by a combination of special assessments, franchise fees, utility funds and GO bonds. Ms. Heiser pointed out each phase, concept overview, detail and design, and noted all supporting materials are in the staff report. Councilmember Harris asked how much green space is being added to the area. Ms. Heiser pointed out several new green spaces that are not green today. Ms. Heiser noted 13 parking spaces will be lost in the new design, and staff is talking to the school district about potentially reconfiguring their parking lot south of Central. She pointed out part of the lot is owned by the school district and the rest is in the public right-of-way. Councilmember Harris asked about the boundaries of the project. Ms. Heiser described the area of the infrastructure design study. Ms. Monson pointed out the larger boundaries for the Walker Lake Design guideline study which encompass more land than just the commercial district. Ms. Heiser stated if the council is supportive of recommended infrastructure design, the next step is for staff to meet with business owners for discussion of the streetscape and special service district annual costs. She stated without phase 4, the price is $3.5 million for the project, while $2.78 million has been included in the CIP, in both 2019 and 2020. This design includes a base level of streetscape, to be maintained by the city. Ms. Heiser stated that for higher level streetscape, the area would need to establish a special service district, which requires at least 65% of property owner's support. She went on to explain that the total annual maintenance assessment for the area businesses for a high level streetscape would be $26,000. Councilmember Miller asked if the city makes the initial capital investment and maintenance is handled by the businesses. Ms. Heiser stated yes, that is correct. Study Session Minutes -4- August 27, 2018 Councilmember Rog stated she has concerns about this, and has heard from business owners in the Walker Lake area that the cost of being a special service district may be difficult for them to absorb. She stated she likes the idea of a special district, but asked if there are other ways of finding funding for it. Councilmember Harris asked if the city might partner with Discover St. Louis Park in promoting the destination, with a small town feel and invite them to participate in the annual maintenance costs. Mr. Harmening pointed out Discover St. Louis Park would need to determine if that is a lawful expenditure, noting there are implications involved. Councilmember Miller agreed with Councilmember Rog on her special district concerns. He noted he would like to discuss the greater economic development plan for this area also. Ms. Barton noted the initiatives planned for the area, adding an RFP was sent out for the small area plan, including establishment of design guidelines, district parking standards, and economic assistance, and five responses were received by the city. She stated staff is in the process of interviewing the consultants and will award the contract in September. Ms. Barton stated plans are being worked on for signage and banners for the area to be installed this fall. Also, a low interest loan program is being developed for small businesses in the area to help them either move into the area, or do a build out, rehabilitation or purchase equipment for their business. She stated this program should be in place in the next 3-6 months, adding the city will also apply for a business district improvement grant from Hennepin County to provide matching funds to assist with facade improvements. Ms. Barton stated a pop-up art gallery was held in the area in June, the Holiday Train is planned for winter of 2018, and plans are being reviewed for a mural in the area, which will be painted in 2019. Councilmember Harris stated she is excited about these developments and this has breathed new life into the district. She asked how grants would be applied. Ms. Barton stated the Hennepin County Development Grant can be utilized for a number of things relating to fagade improvements to exteriors of buildings. She noted a marketing plan could also be incorporated. Councilmember Rog stated she appreciates these plans. She wondered if staff has any experience with getting these older buildings up to code, and if this can happen for business owners that are short on resources. Ms. Barton reiterated that low interest loans could help address cost issues for these owners. Mr. Hunt added the city also has a revolving loan program in place for land, building, and equipment. Ms. Barton stated the low interest loan program is being piloted in Walker Lake, but if it works well, it will be offered to other areas in the city as well. Councilmember Brausen stated this is a $3 million investment in this small area, and asked how it will support our groups of color, and what the impact will be on the city's racial equity work. Study Session Minutes -5- August 27, 2018 Councilmember Mavity also noted the contract the city has with a consultant who does small business outreach with women and minority -run small businesses, and asked if staff is tracking this. Mr. Hunt stated there has only been one loan completed so far in the revolving loan program, and women, minority, and veteran -owned small businesses owners have been and are continuing to be encouraged to apply. Councilmember Mavity thanked staff for their work, and stated she supports all of this. She asked about the idea of a dog park in the district as well, and stated it would bring businesses and walkers to the area. Councilmember Harris noted an article she recently read on land trusts, and asked if this might also be an option in the district. Ms. Barton stated that staff could look into this. It was the consensus of the council to support the recommended infrastructure design for the Walker Lake district and to support staffs continued work in this area. 4. Body -worn camera program Chief Harcey, Deputy Chief Kraayenbrink, and Mr. Pires presented the staff report. Chief Harcey explained the developments over the last month with the draft policy and asked the council if the revised draft policy meets the goals for gathering evidence, allows for accurate report writing, and for transparency and accountability while protecting the privacy of the community, and follows council directions. Councilmember Rog stated she appreciates the police force and their work on this, along with incorporating changes based on HRC, MAC, and PAC input. She, however, noted several areas that she feels need to be addressed including: the civil rights of persons who interact with the policy, the concept of the police chief reporting to the city manager vs. also reporting to the council, when the camera is turned on by officers, recording in schools, officers reviewing footage before writing their reports, and the police chief authorizing editing. Councilmember Rog added this still feels more like a solution in search of a problem. She stated this feels like the city is rushing, and she would like to see this process slow down, while gathering more input from the city's communities of color. Councilmember Brausen stated he has not been supportive of this policy as it is costly, but if it is adopted, he is fine with cameras being turned on and off at the discretion of the officer, adding when in doubt, turn it on. He also is not supportive of officers reviewing videos in advance of the written report, but is fine with viewing it afterwards and then filing a supplemental report. Councilmember Brausen asked what the consequences of an officer not following policy are and are there disciplines. Chief Harcey stated there is coaching, counseling, written discipline, time off, and termination and it depends on the severity of the evidence. Study Session Minutes -6- August 27, 2018 Councilmember Brausen stated he prefers to pause on this as there is no need to move too fast; however, there has been much public input on it, and yet he is still unsure of input from residents of color. Councilmember Hallfin stated if we move forward, he believes the police have developed a good policy. He also added St. Louis Park's City Charter does not allow for the police force to report to the council. He stated the police force, under Chief Harcey, report to Mr. Harmening as City Manager, and Mr. Harmening reports to the council. Councilmember Mavity stated the city needs this policy, and she thanked the police for all their time put into this work, and the study of it. She agreed with Councilmember Rog on calling out civil rights protections, and accurate report writing, and concerns with watching video before writing police reports. Deputy Chief Kraayenbrink stated the concern is the result of not allowing police to review the video might result in no statement from the officer at all, and this is a concern in a case of a critical incident. Councilmember Mavity noted she also has concerns about folks who are arrested or shot, not having access to the videos at all, adding a lack of accountability becomes evident. Chief Harcey stated, however, in certain cases, the videos are released to the public. Councilmember Mavity stated she needs a better understanding of limitations and discretion, adding she is concerned about eroding the trust of the public. She added minimizing the amount of discretion for officers to turn the video on and off, is for the officer's protection as well. She also stated in the midst of a situation that can escalate, the unexpected can happen, and she is concerned an officer might not turn the camera on. Chief Harcey stated if an incident escalates and it becomes an adversarial encounter, as soon as an officer's weapon is out of holster, the camera goes on automatically. Councilmember Harris asked about doing audits on the BWC systems and reassessing. Chief Harcey stated yes, the police will report back to council how the audits are going, and then corrections can be made. He noted that state statute requires bi-annual reports on audits. Councilmember Miller stated he is fully on board with policy. He stated he trusts the police force and the work they have done to write this policy, adding there will be changes over time to make it better. Mayor Spano agreed with Councilmember Miller. He stated he appreciates the work done on the policy and the improvements create greater clarity on when cameras are turned on and off. He added if the superintendent of schools has reviewed the policy as well as the school board, and if they are fine with it — he also is fine with cameras in the school. He reiterated that the police chief reports to the city manager, and not to the council. Study Session Minutes -7- August 27, 2018 It was the consensus of the council to not vote on this issue at the September 4 meeting, and to have further discussion, before final approval. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Written Reports provided and documented for recording purposes only: 5. 2019 budget and service charges for special service district (SSD) nos. 1-6 6. July 2018 month fi ncial report Melissa Kenne y, Cit1 Cler Jk p o, Mayor