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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026/02/10 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - RegularOfficial minutes Special city council meeting St. Louis Park, Minnesota Feb. 10, 2026 1. Call to order. Mayor Mohamed called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. Mayor Mohamed provided an overview of the council's study session discussion on Feb. 2, 2026, regarding federal immigration operations. She explained the purpose of tonight's special meeting to consider a resolution affirming the city's commitment to safety and respect for rights and dignity of all people. a. Pledge of allegiance Mayor Mohamed led the Pledge of Allegiance, noting its significance in current circumstances and emphasizing the words "liberty and justice for all." b. Roll call Council members present: Jim Engelking, Sue Budd, Tim Brausen, Yolanda Farris, Paul Baudhuin, Mayor Nadia Mohamed Council members absent: Daniel Bashore Staff present: City manager (Ms. Keller), deputy city manager (Ms. Walsh), city attorney (Ms. Heine), city clerk (Ms. Kennedy), deputy city clerk (Ms. Scott-Lerdal) 2. Approve agenda. It was moved by Council Member Budd, seconded by Council Member Farris, to approve the agenda as presented. The motion passed 6-0 (Council Member Bashore absent). 3. Presentations - none. 4. Minutes. a. Special study session meeting minutes of February 2, 2026 It was moved by Council Member Farris, seconded by Council Member Brausen, to approve the special study session meeting minutes of Feb. 2, 2026, as presented. The motion passed 6-0 (Council Member Bashore absent). 5. Consent items – none. 6. Public hearings – none. Docusign Envelope ID: CDCBCAE1-8A09-4E4D-8C34-C6A9AFE193F7 Special city council meeting - 2 - Feb. 10, 2026 7. Regular business. a. Resolution affirming the city's commitment to safety and to respect for the rights and dignity of all people Mayor Mohamed read the complete resolution aloud before opening council discussion. Council Member Brausen expressed gratitude for community engagement and stated that federal enforcement tactics are not making the community safer but causing distress and trauma to residents, businesses, schools and children. He noted the need for the federal government to cease these actions so the community can focus on repair and renewal. Council Member Farris discussed her personal work providing services to affected communities including diapers and other necessities. She described the fear experienced by children and adults and emphasized the need for community support during this difficult time. Council Member Baudhuin supported the resolution while acknowledging its limitations in addressing police department involvement with federal enforcement. He noted the strain on law enforcement relationships and legal constraints preventing municipal action against federal agents. He referenced Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail regarding civil disobedience and called for pushing legal boundaries to protect residents from what he characterized as tyranny. Council Member Budd clarified that the resolution represents the council's passionate objection to current conditions but is not a solution to all community concerns. She acknowledged receiving many suggestions from residents and emphasized the need to consider multiple approaches to address housing stability and other issues while listening with an open mind. Council Member Engelking acknowledged community anger and described his own actions including guarding a local restaurant. He emphasized that community action is unlimited while council powers are limited and shared an anecdote about federal agents seeking police assistance but being refused help. He requested community patience with police as they navigate different and challenging situations and urged residents to support businesses aligned with community values. Mayor Mohamed expressed pride in the community's unified response and emphasized that resistance must not adopt the tactics of oppressors. She discussed the importance of maintaining empathy while holding people accountable and stressed that criticism should be delivered respectfully without dehumanizing others. Ms. Keller provided a verbal report on city actions taken in response to federal immigration operations. She outlined three criteria guiding city efforts: measurable impact, within city authority, and focused on those most directly impacted. Actions include developing community resources with trusted messengers, supporting local businesses, monitoring nonprofit needs, establishing protocols for city staff encounters with federal agents, pursuing legal remedies through coalitions and lawsuits, and tracking expenses for potential reimbursement. Mayor Mohamed opened the public comment period. Docusign Envelope ID: CDCBCAE1-8A09-4E4D-8C34-C6A9AFE193F7 Special city council meeting - 3 - Feb. 10, 2026 Lynette Dumalag recommended reviewing mutual aid agreements with other law enforcement agencies and suggested using land use powers including potential development and construction moratoriums as economic pressure tactics. Andrew Barone supported the resolution but emphasized need for faster police learning and more concrete actions beyond the resolution's words. Lindsay Keogh, Inglewood Ave. S., appreciated community unity and the proposed resolution but requested additional creative resistance measures and separation ordinances to address community distrust of police. Derek Fradenburgh, 4900 Cedar Lake Road S., thanked council for advocacy efforts but stated the resolution is insufficient without a strong separation ordinance legally limiting police cooperation with immigration enforcement and establishing reporting protocols. Matt Kinney, 9115 34th St. W., proposed shutting off flock camera data sharing agreements with 83 organizations statewide due to concerns about potential unofficial sharing with sympathetic agencies. Chad Luck, who identified as a former St. Louis Park resident, requested an eviction moratorium citing shelter-in-place impacts on essential workers and economic disruption to local businesses. Corinne Klatzko, 2500 Inglewood Ave. S., expressed support for police officers helping federal agents. She stated federal law supersedes state law, acknowledged tactical concerns and suggested focus on criminals rather than all undocumented individuals. Elizabeth Stroder expressed feeling that the city is not adequately protecting vulnerable residents, particularly Black and Brown immigrants who served as essential workers during COVID-19. She called for separation orders and police protection of residents rather than federal agents. Paula Engelking, 3944 Ottawa Ave. S., requested stronger enforcement of traffic violations against federal agents and creative accountability measures while supporting community resistance efforts. Senator Ron Latz, St. Louis Park, commended city actions and announced upcoming state legislative proposals including lawsuits against federal agents violating federal law, protected spaces, anti-masking requirements for law enforcement, and civil causes of action for failure to provide aid. Wendy Weiner Runge, 2808 Inglewood Ave. S., shared that she represents the Jewish community and stated that 38% of residents in the Minneapolis area are also Jewish residents. She expressed safety concerns due to crime surge while supporting legal immigration processes and community safety for all legal residents. Docusign Envelope ID: CDCBCAE1-8A09-4E4D-8C34-C6A9AFE193F7 Special city council meeting - 4 - Feb. 10, 2026 Ian McConnell, Texa-Tonka neighborhood, shared that he is a pastor and a parent. He described fear in his neighborhood and emphasized community unity while requesting assurance that local law enforcement and council will support residents over federal agents in future confrontations. Marilyn Klug stated that she serves on the St. Louis Park community housing team. She reported increasing eviction cases and described outreach efforts to connect tenants with resources, including STEP's new crisis rent assistance program starting Feb. 1, 2026. Rebecca Asheim Keller, Brookside neighborhood, requested separation agreements, cessation of flock camera usage and artificial intelligence data gathering, public disclosure of federal requests, civilian violation reporting resources, and enforcement of traffic laws against federal agents. Matt Reed, Colorado Ave. S., requested improved communication including daily or weekly statements through social media platforms where most residents receive information, noting a perceived delay in the city’s response to recent events. Thomas Hines, Ward 2, discussed a recent incident in the Knollwood area and requested limits on police protection of federal agents. He stated that local police should not impede community observers and should make federal agents use their own resources for protection. Representative Larry Kraft of St. Louis Park thanked council for the resolution and encouraged continued citizen pressure on elected officials while noting Minnesota's inspiring national impact through nonviolent protests and community care. Jonathan Sulman, 3317 Huntington Ave., stated that he represents the Jewish community tradition of welcoming strangers. He praised Jewish community leadership in supporting immigrants and condemned federal agents' actions while supporting stronger city measures. It was moved by Council Member Brausen, seconded by Council Member Engelking, to adopt Resolution No. 26-025 affirming the city's commitment to safety and to respect for the rights and dignity of all people. The motion passed 6-0 (Council Member Bashore absent). Council Member Baudhuin clarified his earlier comments about legal limitations and thanked residents for their democratic engagement while advocating for rethinking mutual aid agreements and other policies. Council Member Farris thanked attendees and former elected officials for their participation and reminders about available power and community support. 8. Communications and announcements – none. 9. Adjournment. Docusign Envelope ID: CDCBCAE1-8A09-4E4D-8C34-C6A9AFE193F7 Special city council meeting - 5 - Feb. 10, 2026 The meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m. ______________________________________ ______________________________________ Melissa Kennedy, city clerk Nadia Mohamed, mayor These minutes were created with the assistance of a generative AI transcript service, then edited and finalized by a city staff person. Docusign Envelope ID: CDCBCAE1-8A09-4E4D-8C34-C6A9AFE193F7