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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018/08/06 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Study SessionJJ/ St. Louis Park MINNESOTA '�.--ncaiencc LIFT in 'Fhc E=ark. The meeting convened at 5:50 p.m. Official minutes City council special study session St. Louis Park, Minnesota August 6, 2018 Councilmembers present: Mayor Jake Spano, Tim Brausen, Steve Hallfin, Rachel Harris, Anne Mavity (arrived 6 p.m.), Thom Miller, and Margaret Rog. Staff present: City Manager (Mr. Harmening), City Attorney (Mr. Mattick), City Clerk (Ms. Kennedy), Elections Specialist (Mr. Stokka), Elections Intern (Mr. Sund), Police Chief Harcey, Human Resources Director (Ms. Deno), Management Assistant (Ms. Carrillo Perez), Racial Equity Manager (Ms. Sojourner), and Recording Secretary (Ms. Pappas). 2019 municipal elections: ranked -choice voting planning and implementation Ms. Kennedy noted the discussion would review important concepts to demonstrate staff's recommendations related to calculating the threshold required to be elected, requiring a candidate to file a written request to have their write-in votes counted, and resolving any votes that occur by lottery. Ms. Kennedy explained the recommendation related to counting write-in votes. She stated currently the city tabulates all write-in votes, including those for non -serious candidates such as "Mickey Mouse". She noted that in federal, state, and county races candidates are required to file a written request in order to have their write-in votes counted. She stated the city would follow a similar process for city offices. Ms. Kennedy reviewed how ties in municipal races would currently be resolved, noting that statute calls for the canvassing board to resolve ties by lottery. She explained in a ranked -choice election, it is possible that a tie could occur within a round of tabulation between multiple candidates. Rather than stopping the counting process to convene the canvassing board, the recommendation is to allow the chief election official to resolve any ties by lot. She noted this is the same process used in Minneapolis. The ordinance will contain specific rules for resolving the tie, including notification procedures for affected candidates. Both Mr. Stokka and Mr. Sund presented ranked choice voting scenarios to the council. They reviewed key tabulation concepts, and common voting errors. They noted voter education and outreach would be extremely important in helping people avoid common voting errors. Mr. Sund explained how the threshold to be elected would be calculated, noting the major concept to understand is that the threshold would not be recalculated after each round of tabulation. He stated the threshold would remain the same, SO%+1 of the total ballots cast for the office, through all rounds of tabulation. He added this could result in a candidate being elected without reaching the threshold, such as the Minneapolis mayoral race in 2017. He noted that most other jurisdictions in the United States that use a ranked -choice model, such as Maine, recalculate the threshold after each round of counting. He emphasized that neither method would change the candidate that is ultimately elected, it only impacts the percentage of the vote that is reported to the public. Study Session Minutes -2- August 6, 2018 Ms. Kennedy noted this is really a question of how council wants the results to be perceived by the public. She reiterated it does not impact the final result or who is declared the winner. It was the consensus of the council to support staff's recommendations related to calculating the threshold to be elected, counting write-ins, and resolving ties. 2.. Immigration Chief Harcey spoke about the city's community policing philosophy, which relies on their ability to form partnerships with the community to solve problems and quality of life issues. He stated the police department works collaboratively with the community, local, state and federal agencies to enforce state laws and local ordinances. He added to maintain these strong partnerships with the community, the department does not enforce federal immigration laws nor have they ever done so. Additionally, the St. Louis Park police do not intent to ask the immigration status of community members. Chief Harcey did, however, state the police are obligated by federal law to notify federal authorities when a person has been arrested by St. Louis Park police for violation of a state or local law that we are tasked to enforce, if the person has a federal detainer, warrant or alert assigned by a federal authority. Councilmember Mavity asked if the St. Louis Park policies differ at all from other cities in Minnesota. Chief Harcey stated most Minnesota cities are following the same general rules as St. Louis Park, adding he is not aware of any other cities doing this differently. Councilmember Mavity asked if any US cities participate less with the federal law as opposed to participate more. Chief Harcey stated cities are required by federal law to report it to the feds, if they have a person in custody. Mr. Mattick added he is not aware of the jurisdictional laws related to border patrol vs. immigration, but stated he will get that information to the council. Mayor Spano stated at some point the council will need to make some kind of foundational statement about children being separated from their parents. Councilmember Rog asked what consequences there are for cities that don't follow the laws. Mr. Mattick stated there is a threat of losing federal funding. He added that after push back on this, federal funding was removed if it was reasonably tied to a specific issue, such as funding for police departments. Councilmember Mavity asked because of potential impacts on individuals, when the city receives a request from ICE, is it reasonable to tell ICE we need 48-72 hours to evaluate the request, and is there a time limit on a response to a request. Study Session Minutes -3- August 6, 2018 Chief Harcey stated he would have to research that, adding that typically when a person is in custody, that becomes public information, so the policy is actually verifying that they have a person in custody, adding that this information is available through the finger print process. Councilmember Miller asked as countyjails become more and more full, is it possible for ICE to ask the city police to hold detainees, and is this worth a council discussion about setting up a policy proactively. Chief Harcey stated it would not make sense for St. Louis Park police to hold them. and it also creates more work for staff. Councilmember Mavity stated the police should be able to take time to verify the accuracy of information and she would like formal guidance from the city attorney on this. Councilmember Rog stated she has heard concerns from residents related to fears and rumors that are coming from what's happening nationally. She stated residents are worried things will happen locally, and is there a way to get solid information on immigration laws, by possibly having an event at the high school or going out into the community. Chief Harcey stated the police have worked with the city's multi -cultural advisory committee on this, adding this is a good idea to pursue. Mayor Spano asked the council about passing a resolution on the practices of ICE and denouncing the practices taking place at the border, as it pertains to the separation of families. He further asked the council if they would like the city's human rights commission to look at producing some resolution language, and bringing that to the council for review. Councilmember Mavity stated she would be interested in doing that, and would support that. Councilmember Rog stated she would want to conduct due diligence and make sure the city is not calling media attention to itself, in thinking this is the right thing, but actually not helping. She added she would like to make sure this is not attention that works against the purposes the council is aiming to help with. Councilmember Hallfin stated he would prefer the human rights commission study this, and provide a recommendation to council, adding he would like to see this fully vetted at the commission prior to it coming to council for review. Councilmember Harris agreed that the commission should look at this first, adding she would appreciated hearing from the human rights commission and multi -cultural advisory board, as well as the police advisory board, as it is a complex issue. She'd like a deeper dive conversation and recommendations and weigh in before it comes to the council for review. Councilmember Brausen added the immigration policy at the borders is abhorrent, however he is not sure the city can have any direct impact on this. He noted we should not overwork staff on issues we cannot have impact on, and he doesn't see any purpose in spending time on this at the council, and would rather not dedicate staff time to this subject. Study Session Minutes -4- August 6, 2018 Councilmember Miller stated taking on the topic of family separation is worth the discussion, but noted, however, if the council action on this is purely symbolic it will not have effective impact. Mayor Spano stated the council's direction to the human rights commission will be to explore language for a resolution about the practices of ICE as it impacts St. Louis Park, Councilmember Hallfin agreed with Councilmember Miller, but added he suggests the commission study this and make a recommendation, not provide a resolution. Councilmember Mavity added this particular policy is damaging in St. Louis Park, and is damaging the trust with our police and our residents, impacting how we engage with our own residents. She added it is a St. Louis Park issue, and deserves to be elevated so residents know the council has their back. Councilmember Miller, however, stated he does not want to make a promise to residents that the council cannot keep. Councilmember Mavity agreed with Councilmember Miller on this. Councilmember Rog added the number one worry she has heard from residents is about housing, and folks being moved out of St. Louis Park and the schools. Mayor Spano stated he does not want to create resolutions only for the sake of doing so, but added this might be an opportunity to articulate what isn't happening in St. Louis Park, and what is happening in other communities. He stated he finds the behavior and practices at the border deplorable, immoral and criminal, and would not have a problem saying that St. Louis Park would not treat our residents that way. It was the consensus of the council that the human rights commission look into the issue of immigration enforcement, and how it's carried out in St. Louis Park, and recommend what the city's police force should and should not do, and create a statement about separation at the border. Communications/Meeting Check -In (Verbal) Councilmember Mavity noted yesterday per the council's resolution, was Tim Titus Day. She stated Tim retired after 15 years as a barista at Starbucks, adding that KSTP-TV did a spot on him. She stated it was a lovely event and Mr. Titus was very touched. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.