HomeMy WebLinkAboutFH Inclusion and Policing Task Force Agenda Packet_2-07-17_AmendedCITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
Falcon Heights Task Force
City Hall
2077 West Larpenteur Avenue
AGENDA
February 7, 2017
7:15 P.M. to 9:30 P.M.
I. Call to Order
II. Review Agenda
III. Discussion of Community Values for Policing
IV. BREAK (5 Minutes)
V. Discussion on features of the Current Police Contract
VI. Updates on Community Conversations
VII. Next Meeting – February 7, 2017
VIII. Announcements and Updates
IX. Adjourn
BLANK PAGE
Tuesday January 31, 2017 Falcon Heights Task Force on Inclusion and Policing Meeting Minutes
Attendance: Melanie Leehy, Randy Gustafson, Sack Thongvanh, Mayor Peter Lindstrom, Michael Wade,
Kate Thompson, Kathy Quick, Ken Morris, Amy Johnson, Kay Andrews, Jim Ballentine, Peter Demarath
and Dan Johnson-Powers.
Jay Colond was absent due to an illness.
I. Call to Order
Meeting was called to order at 7:19pm.
II. Review Agenda
There was agreement on the agenda with no changes needed.
III. Review Meeting Minutes
Minutes from the Jan. 10, 2017 meeting were reviewed. Two changes were needed. One was in section
3 where "my" should be changed to "by" and the other was in section 4 where the community meeting
should be described as multiple groups of 8-10 people.
IV. Discussion of Draft Statements of Falcon Heights Community Values Provisional statements were
made available prior to the meeting for members to read and use to develop language for the
community meetings. Four small groups were formed to discuss the draft statements.
Draft statement topics:
Trust and Transparency
Equity and Justice
Welcome and Inclusion
Safety
Active Citizenship
Regarding the process of communicating values there should be no dead ends or surprises meaning
there should be no values that do not have actions and no free floating suggestions that are not rooted
in community values.
Members reconvened and shared thoughts from the small group discussion. Falcon Heights is often an
example for other cities hopefully this can be the case with policing. One value to consider is courage
particularly courage to speak up if you see something. What is our definition of community? If a white
officer doesn't see a black man as a member of the community then he might not receive equal
treatment. Many pass through the city and the task force will need to do the best it can to represent
everyone in the larger community.
Everyone owns some responsibility in relationships. An example of community policing was given but
the black person felt singled out from the group of mostly white people. Other experiences were shared
and how interactions with police can be interpreted. Police may have good intentions but the impact of
an experience can be more important to the person and larger community. Random and planned
community engagement by police is needed.
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People in the community need to engage each other as well. There appears to be a lack of
understanding of the history that has led to the current circumstances for many. We need to see
ourselves in each other and the importance of working inter-generationally. There is a need to work on
history and the future.
There was agreement that the value categories were accurate although more may be needed. They will
serve as guard rails that can be tightened up with further discussion. Active Citizenship needs to include
the entire community. Engagement among community members can't be legislated but needs to be
aspired to. Other values suggested were leadership, service and courage.
Policing directives were mentioned. Do we have directives we want the police to follow? Life safety,
property and environment are examples from firefighting. Protection is certainly important. Sack
described the experience with the protest at Falcon Heights City last summer. Requests were made of
the protesters that were respected. Eventually the protesters left but the city did not tell them to leave.
Another suggestion was having respect being a category by itself. Perhaps this is covered in Equity and
Justice or Welcome and Inclusion but could be called out more.
V. Break - meeting continued at 8:42pm.
VI. Community Engagement Planning - Design Team Members of the design team introduced
themselves and described the process of the community conversations. The structure of the meetings
enables a collaborative problem solving. People engage more deeply when asked to solve a problem and
relationships are formed in this process. We want people to attend as many meetings as they can.
Meetings will use the draft value statements to encourage community responses along with possibly
generating new statements. The process is not static and will draw on wisdom of the members.
A wide net will be cast into the community to gather input. Invitations will be sent to community groups
and activist groups. Personal invitations are also needed. Task force members will need to reach out to
their networks.
By sitting in dialog in small groups people tend to engage more productively. Facilitators will work to set
a productive tone. Others can be brought in to help if needed. Someone may be asked to leave if the
meeting is not productive. Format has been successful in the past. People realize when they have the
talking piece they have the privilege of speaking. Refreshments and childcare could help attendance.
What will the ethnic makeup be among the facilitators? The pool of mediators is somewhat diverse but
the final makeup will depend on who signs up.
People with childcare ideas should talk to Sack. High school students could be involved with groups and
provide childcare. Task force members were encouraged to reach out to young people as they can feel
left out of the community.
The first general invitation will be sent out tomorrow Wednesday Feb. 1. Perhaps childcare can be
added to future invitations. Location will be just for the first meeting.
The role of the task force in the five sessions is to be involved and observe. One of the co-facilitators will
take notes during the small group discussions.
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Will police be involved? Sack is reaching out to them. There was some disagreement about police
involvement and whether they should be in uniform or not. Participation could help them be better
officers. Facilitators can help guide difficult conversations. The design team has a protocol in place for
meetings for foster these interactions in a safe way.
Members were encouraged to embrace courage. People of color deal with challenging situations on a
frequent basis and courage is needed to say what is happening.
VII. Next Meeting Feb. 7, 2017
Discussion will continue regarding the community meeting on February 16.
VIII. Announcements and Updates
Melanie and Randy gave an update on the task force to the city council.
Thank you's were extended to the design team for their attendance and the work they have done.
IX. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned around 9:40pm.
Actions:
Task force members to invite community members to the meeting on Feb. 16. Email Sack your thoughts
around policing and what you would like to discuss at the next couple of task force meetings. Members
have a copy of the Falcon Heights police contract.
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1
To:
Falcon
Heights
Task
Force
on
Inclusion
and
Policing
From:
Kathy
Quick,
Task
Force
Co-‐Facilitator
Date:
February
5,
2017
Re:
Resources
for
Moving
into
Assertions
of
Community
Values
for
Policing
At
the
January
31
meeting,
the
Task
Force
worked
on
articulating
values
for
the
community
of
Falcon
Heights
residents
and
guests.
At
the
February
7
meeting,
you
will
be
working
to
elaborate
those
statements
into
community
values
specifically
about
policing
and
public
safety.
To
support
these
discussions,
I
am
writing
to
convey
three
resources
for
your
consideration.
To
be
clear,
I
am
offering
these
on
my
individual
behalf
as
resources
that
I
believe
you
may
find
useful.
These
are
not
instructions
from
me,
nor
are
they
statements
on
behalf
of
the
task
force.
1) Process
diagram
connecting
problems,
values
assertions,
implementation
guidelines,
and
accountability.
This
diagram
may
be
a
useful
orienting
device
for
holding
all
of
the
pieces
of
your
work
together.
Clearly,
these
pieces
are
related.
When
Task
Force
or
Community
Conversation
discussions
focus
on
a
part
of
this
bigger
picture,
the
facilitation
teams
are
paying
close
attention
to
all
of
the
ideas
and
input.
We
will
continue
to
work
to
support
momentum
and
integration
between
concerns,
action,
and
accountability.
!
Recognition:*What!
problems!and!issues!
need!to!be!
addressed?!What!
values!need!to!be!
renewed!or!
sustained?!
Values :!What!
community!values!or!
core!principles!do!we!
want!to!uphold!in!
community!
relationships!and!
government?
Implementation:!
How do!we!
implement!those!
values ,!for!example!
through!performance!
standards,!our use!of!
resources,!policies,!
programs,!or!other!
mechanisms?
Accountability :!What!
transparency!
mechanisms,!
assessment!
measures,!and!
feedback!systems!do!
we!use!to!ensure!
accountabilty!and!
progress?
2) Example
of
translating
community
values
into
policy
guides.
Moving
from
statements
of
values
into
guidelines
for
implementation
and
accountability
measures
is
tricky.
The
words
used
to
assert
values
can
be
simultaneously
powerful
and
vague.
Sometimes
the
ambiguity
is
productive,
and
sometimes
it
leads
to
misunderstandings,
contradictions,
or
a
lack
of
accountability
in
implementation.
To
help
you
think
ahead
to
how
to
spell
out
values
in
implementation
guidelines
and
accountability
measures,
I
am
attaching
an
example.
The
example
illustrates
how
“equity”
can
be
interpreted
in
multiple
ways
in
government
policies
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2
and
programs.
This
example
concerns
equity
in
providing
a
desired
good
(namely
improving
access
and
welcome
for
diverse
cultural
groups
to
enjoy
Carver
County’s
regional
parks
and
recreational
amenities);
in
Falcon
Heights
the
equity
discussion
is
about
both
providing
desired
service
and
avoiding
harm.
3) Second
draft
of
statement
of
community
values.
These
are
my
notes
of
key
themes
from
the
Task
Force’s
January
31
discussion
of
community
values.
I
apologize
for
omissions
or
misunderstandings.
• These
statements
will
have
more
meaning
if
we
give
examples
of
how
we
bring
the
values
to
life.
However,
this
discussion
made
clear
that
context
matters
when
giving
examples.
For
example,
waving
–
or
not
waving
–
at
strangers,
neighbors,
police
officers,
etc.
can
be
read
in
many
ways.
Another
example
is
that
activities
that
fall
loosely
under
the
category
of
“community
policing”
can
be
experienced
as
positive
or
hostile.
• By
“community”
we
mean
residents
and
guests.
We
mean
everyone,
a
united
community,
not
a
community
or
communities
distinguished
or
divided
along
race
or
other
lines.
• “Leadership”
may
be
another
keyword
or
theme
to
add.
The
city
is
already
recognized
for
its
leadership
in
several
areas.
Now,
we
should
commit
to
learning
and
change
that
will
allow
us
become
known
for
our
leadership
in
creating
community
relationships
of
mutual
respect
and
inclusion,
equity
in
community
service
and
response
to
concerns,
and
in
working
to
recognize
and
heal
historic
patterns
of
disparity
and
exclusion.
• Accountability
is
an
additional
word
to
accompany
trust
and
transparency.
For
example,
transparency
with
data,
procedures,
and
responsiveness
to
concerns
is
important
for
accountability.
• We
expect
government
leaders
to
respond
promptly
and
effectively
to
serious
concerns.
• Equity
needs
to
be
a
core
value
in
government
service,
leadership,
and
responsiveness.
It
is
unacceptable
for
privileged
residents
to
get
attention
if
other
groups
and
serious
issues
are
neglected.
• Protection
from
discrimination
came
up
several
times.
• Protecting
individuals
from
harm
applies
to
residents
and
guests.
• Courage
may
be
needed
to
name,
report,
and
confront
prejudice,
discrimination,
and
hostility.
We
expect
residents
and
guests
to
take
responsibility
to
do
that.
• Every
person
has
some
place
in
this
work.
We
have
to
get
past
a
culture
of
not
liking
to
be
confronted,
and
instead
take
recognize
that
everyone
has
responsibility
and
some
learning
to
do.
• Good
intentions
are
important
but
not
sufficient
to
predict,
explain,
or
excuse
the
experienced
impact
of
individual
actions
and
patterns
of
action.
• Many
need
more
awareness
and
understanding
of
the
historic
experience
of
different
cultures
and
groups
in
this
region.
•
“Respect”
may
be
an
overarching
keyword
for
this
whole
set
of
statements.
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3
The
following
is
a
provisional,
second
draft
of
the
community
values
that
I
created
to
integrate
the
major
themes
of
your
discussion.
The
italicized
text
indicates
changes
since
the
last
time
you
saw
this.
Please
regard
this
as
a
resource
for
additional
consideration,
not
as
a
final,
consensus-‐based,
or
recommended
version.
Indeed,
I
strongly
caution
against
trying
to
revise
and
finalize
these
value
statements
until
you
have
the
benefit
of
the
community
conversations.
I
offer
this
second
draft
to
record
some
of
the
major
themes
of
your
most
recent
discussion.
SECOND
DRAFT,
PROVISIONAL
Statement
of
Community
Values
We
assert
and
uphold
these
values
for
our
community,
including
residents
and
guests,
in
our
relationships
with
one
another
and
in
leadership,
service,
and
policies
of
city
government
(including,
but
not
excluded
to,
policing
on
behalf
of
the
city).
Leadership.
We
aspire
to
become
known
for
our
leadership
in
creating
community
relationships
of
mutual
respect
and
welcome,
for
equity
in
service
and
responsiveness
to
the
community,
and
for
working
to
recognize
and
heal
historic
patterns
of
disparity
and
exclusion.
Trust,
transparency,
and
accountability.
We
value
relationships
of
mutual
trust
among
community
members
and
city
government.
We
value
transparency,
communication,
and
respecting
diverse
perspectives
in
governance.
Equity
and
justice.
We
value
protecting
and
treating
all
residents
and
visitors
equally
and
fairly
under
the
law.
We
value
equity
in
the
provision
of
public
services
and
in
the
city’s
response
to
concerns.
We
recognize
the
persistent
work
we
must
do,
individually
and
collectively,
to
reject
and
remedy
prejudice,
bias,
and
discrimination
within
individuals,
the
community,
and
in
our
government
and
policing.
Welcome
and
inclusion.
We
value
diversity,
welcoming
all
people
with
respect
and
dignity,
and
creating
authentic
relationships
that
recognize
our
shared
humanity
despite
our
differences.
We
recognize
and
working
together
to
heal
and
strengthen
our
community.
Safety:
We
value
safety,
including
protecting
residents
and
guests
from
personal
harm
and
protecting
groups
from
prejudice,
discrimination,
and
hostility.
Active
Citizenship.
We
value
taking
individual
and
collective
responsibility
to
uphold
these
values,
including
by
having
the
courage
to
name
and
confront
problems
and
to
pursue
solutions
and
healing
when
these
values
are
not
upheld.
We
recognize
that
everyone
has
responsibility
and
some
learning
to
do.
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Draft
Increasing Engagement with Communities of Color: A Toolkit
UMN Capstone RCP Project | Fall 2016
Increasing Engagement with
Communities of Color
A Toolkit for Carver County Parks and Recreation
Chuck Demler | Kaela Dickens | Joseph Hartmann | Laurel Nightingale | Kalli Perano
MPP Professional Paper
In Partial Fulfillment of the Master of Public Policy Degree Requirements
The Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs
The University of Minnesota
Submitted May 11, 2016
Signature below of Paper Supervisor certifies successful completion of oral presentation and completion of final
written version:
________________________________________________________________________________ May 11, 2016 May 11, 2016
Kathy Quick, Assistant Professor Oral presentation Paper completion
________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________
Sam Pertz, Parks & Trails Supervisor Date
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Draft
Increasing Engagement with Communities of Color: A Toolkit
UMN Capstone RCP Project | Fall 2016
Part I:
Why is Engagement Important?
The original question Carver County posed for this research concerned the equity of its programs, amenities and
services. Are they meeting the parks and recreation needs of the communities of color in Carver County? But
without knowledge of those communities’ current needs and desires, it is impossible to answer this question. To
begin to identify and understand those needs, we recommend you start with engagement.
Engagement yields relationships. Relationships foster
communication about wants and needs. Only when you have an
understanding of someone’s wants and needs can you begin to
address them. When you address the needs that the community
itself identified, you are beginning to move towards equity.
The Role of “Equity” in Parks & Recreation Participation
At its core, equity is an appeal to fairness and justice. Public
agencies aim to serve their communities as a whole, but defining
what is equitable for everyone can become extremely complex.
This is partially due to the fact that Minnesota is currently facing
economic, educational, and health disparities across the state4,
which means different communities have vastly different needs and
access to goods and services. While many of the root causes of
these disparities lie in historical exclusion and oppression, current
systems often perpetuate their existence. Without critically
examining how different populations experience these inequities on a daily basis, disparities will surely continue.
Carver County Parks and Recreation’s stated mission is to “provide a variety of quality recreational experiences,
services, and lands that meet the needs of the residents of Carver County and Carver County Regional Park
users"5. As you continue to work toward equitable outcomes, we encourage you to consider what equity
means to that mission and how it can be operationalized. It is important to emphasize that there is no one way to
define and apply equity; each definition comes with its own advantages and limitations.
In the context of the parks planning process, equitable outcomes should reflect the collective values, desires, and
needs of the communities that the parks are meant to serve. Concepts like equity of opportunity, resources or
results have traditionally been used to determine if parks services are equitable. Other definitions based on
needs, preferences, or demands could also be beneficial, provided that Carver County staff have strong
partnerships with key stakeholders and open lines of communication with residents to sufficiently understand the
needs, preferences, or demands of the community.
The Tool: Defining Equity in Multiple Contexts
The Equity Table that follows highlights several examples of how equity can be applied in a parks and recreation
context and should be used to consider how these varied definitions change what achieving equity looks like. Different
initiatives may require different definitions of equity and we encourage you to reference the chart to think about
which definition of equity makes the most sense for you in each context, and as the engagement process evolves. Based
on our research and interviews with professionals in the field, we recommend that you consider equity of needs,
preferences, and demand. These definitions requite robust channels of communication to be successful and the tools
included in this report are meant to help you identify key stakeholders and build lasting relationships with the
communities you serve to ensure that all communities are equitably served in the future.
Relationships
Communication about Wants &
Needs
Improvements,
Increased
Satisfaction &
Equity
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Draft
Increasing Engagement with Communities of Color: A Toolkit
UMN Capstone RCP Project | Fall 2016
What does “Equity” look like in this context?
Equity of: Definition Example Advantages Limitations
Preferences Those with the most interest in the program should receive the most consideration for services
Staff should elicit responses from residents about what park services they desire
Parks staff can engage with members from different backgrounds to ensure that diverse needs are being
addressed
Not all preferences are expressed through the use of a service or through requests or complaints about a service
Demand Active interest in a service is shown through use of a service or
through requests and complaints for services
Producing goods or services to match what park users want or
holding elected park officials accountable to the electorate
Doesn’t force services on reluctant residents against their wishes Some people will not express their demand for services, so relying on
markets ignores some people’s preferences
Needs Those needing more of a park service should get more Parks funding to prioritize by greatest need, indicated by
median family income or mean housing value
Those with the greatest needs will see the greatest benefit when their needs
are met
Unequal treatment or outcome requires some debatable basis for the
inequality
Resources Equal amenities should be available to residents who visit
parks
Regional parks should contain one acre per 800 residents Quantitative metrics like acreage are easier to measure than metrics like
satisfaction
Financial limitations mean that not all needs for services can be met
Results Equal outcomes should be achieved within each park Each regional park should serve approximately the same number of permit holders
Comparable activity leads to more consistent expectations and experiences for user across parks
Equal level of activity may not lead to equal level of satisfaction for each visitor
Funding Funding should be spread equally among all of the parks,
regardless of size, need, or preference
Proceeds from the Legacy amendment get divided equally
among regional parks for infrastructure improvements
Funding allocation decisions are transparent and straightforward Equal expenditures for regional parks may not lead to equal
conditions, satisfaction, etc.
Opportunity Services should be equally available to all residents who visit parks
Regional parks should be within a half mile of all residents Quantifiable standards like distance make it easy to assess whether or not equality is being upheld
Equal distance to services for all residents impossible in practice due to geography
Ability or Willingness to Pay
People who use a service should pay for it and nonusers should not pay.
Parks and recreation services are handled by private, third-party interest
Nonusers are often forced to pay for services for users through taxation in other concepts of equity
Even when charges are imposed, the question of how much to charge must be addressed
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