HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWkspMin_9_7_16Falcon Heights City Council Workshop
City Hall
2077 W Larpenteur Ave.
6:30 P.M.
AGENDA
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Call to Order: 6:50pm
1) Inclusion and Policing Task Force
City Administrator Sack Thongvanh provided a summary of the previous listening sessions and comment
cards. The Council has held one listening session and the public was able to provide comments and
concerns during community forum in the last two months. The following were questions used during the
Listen Session to receive feedback.
• What brought you here today? What do you care much about?
• What are the key problems that concern you?
• What ideas, suggestions, possible solutions would you like to explore
• What is the take away that you want to be sure that the Council knows?
Mayor Lindstrom made a statement that he has had many conversations in the last two months. He has
received many phone calls, letters, and emails and has heard what people are saying. He has been moved
by the experiences that have been shared with him. These conversations have hammered home to him that
police are at the front line, and it is his duty to empower police to have the tools to serve the community.
He has also had helpful conversations with many police officers, police chiefs, and elected officials. We
all want families that are safe, people that are abiding by the law, making sure our kids can thrive in their
environments, get a job and raise families of their own. The first step is to explore our values as a
community, with an emphasis on guardian mindset and not a warrior mindset and standards for collecting
data, policies and procedures that are very clear.
City Administrator, Thongvanh stated that St. Anthony did propose a tri -city work group that the City of
St. Anthony would discuss on September 27th. It would include the City Manager and the Mayor. The
City Manager would solicit letters of interest from the residents. It would consist of residents from all
three cities. This group and the meeting will have a lot of time commitment associated with it. Members
would also be expected to be involved in courses such as the citizen's academy and ride alongs.
Open meeting laws will apply to the task force because it is being established and residents being
appointed by the City Council. The individuals will be required to do training for data practice and open
meeting laws, which will be provided by the City.
Council Member Gustafson believes there isn't any reason that we would have to choose one task force or
another. The city would want to be certain that we are not duplicating ourselves.
Council Member Brown Thunder suggests that the training provided for the tri -city task force could also
be available to the Falcon Heights task force if we decide to go in that direction. The Falcon Heights task
force would still have access to all information and data that the tri -city task force does. The Council and
anyone from the public can request data.
Council Member Fischer supports the Falcon Heights task force first and foremost and that there could be
ways to coordinate participating in the tri -city task force.
Council Member Harris agrees with the task force in theory. She agrees that it's a good idea to have
discussions. In regards to the legality, she worries about the constraints of open meeting laws with 12-15
participants. She believes that we should start with the tri -city task force and then move forward from
there with regards to learning more details from the BCA.
Council Member Brown Thunder states that it's imperative that we start collecting more thorough data. If
there is some way we can get a third party to help us understand if the police department is doing what
they need to do, then he is in agreement that we need to create this task force.
Mayor Lindstrom stated that the League of Minnesota Cities has a whole initiative that works as a third
party to help assist in efforts. There have also been offers from the University of Minnesota and Hamline
University/ Law to assist. There is a need for more data and there are things that the Council can do in
collecting data from residents in regards to open surveys to receive input.
City Administrator Sack Thongvanh directed the Council to discuss a vote. The Council agrees with the
charge on the proposal.
Council Member Fischer suggests that we be leaning on the presidents 21' century policing.
The Council recessed and furthermore adjourned at 7:42pm
41,,---
Peter
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Lindstrom, Mayor
Dated this 7t' day of September, 2016
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Sack Thongvanh, City Administrator