HomeMy WebLinkAboutCEC Minutes_1.25.21CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
Regular Meeting of the Falcon Heights - Community Engagement Commission
City Hall
2077 West Larpenteur Avenue
MINUTES
January 25, 2021 at 7:00 P.M.
Note: This meeting was be held by web conference.*
A. CALL TO ORDER: 7:02 pm
B. ROLL CALL:
Larrabee _X__ Cooley-Kistler _X__ LaDouceur __X_
Ebbesen _X__ Dumbacher __X_
COUNCIL LIAISON:
Gustafson __X_
STAFF PRESENT:
Walter _X__
C. PRESENTATION:
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
1. November 16, 2020
Motion by Commission Member LaDouceur to approve the minutes;
Approved, 5-0.
E. DISCUSSION:
1. Officer Elections
Motion by Commissioner Ebbesen to appoint Dena Larrabee as chairperson;
Approved, 5-0.
Motion by Commissioner LaDouceur to appoint Julie Ebbesen as vice chairperson;
Approved, 5-0.
Motion by Commissioner Larrabee to appoint Dana Dumbacher as secretary;
Approved, 5-0.
2. Community Conversations
• First conversation focused on the topic of inclusion. There is a gap in how the city
engages renters. There are also differences in engagement between the four quadrants.
• Second conversation was about equity. Discussion was about how people can spread
news in neighborhoods.
• Third conversation focused on public safety, and what the City can do to improve on its
public safety services. Discussion of police contract. Among residents, there is a want for
more communication and transparency. Overall, residents reported that they felt safe in
Falcon Heights.
3. CEC End of Year Survey
• The CEC End of Year Survey was done in December 2020 and asked commissioners
about their experience on the CEC, which events they would like to continue in 2021 and
if there are events they would like to retire.
• There was a discussion of planning events post-COVID.
• Staff Liaison Walter said that it was uncertain when the City would be reopening and
when in-person events could resume, but that it would likely be sometime in summer or
fall that some form of in-person
• Vice chair Ebbesen suggested that members bring 2-3 ideas for events that could be
virtual (assuming continued COVID-19 restrictions) and 2-3 ideas for events that are in-
person (assuming loosened restrictions).
4. City Communications
• Staff Liaison Walter mentioned that the CEC is charged with advising staff and Council
on ways to improve the City’s communication strategies. The City has heard that
communications can be improved, but staff are looking for more information on what
residents want.
• Commissioner Larrabee mentioned that in the past, there was an idea floated for an
electric message board outside City Hall, this could be a good way to engage residents
in upcoming dates and events
• Liaison Walter referenced the comment received in the CEC End of Year survey about
the website being difficult to navigate. The website was redone in 2020, there may be
ways to improve but its much simpler and cleaner than it was prior to this.
• Liaison Walter mentioned that the City was looking into requiring training for owners of
rental buildings in conjunction with licensing. This could be an opportunity to provide
owners information on City communication channels and how to engage tenants.
• It’s very difficult to reach everyone. We should focus on using limited resources wisely
to engage residents who are interested in learning more but are currently not being
reached by current channels.
F. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENTS:
G. ADJOURNMENT: 8:32 pm