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HomeMy WebLinkAboutF1 12.15.25 CEC MinutesCITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS Community Engagement Commission City Hall 2077 West Larpenteur Avenue AGENDA December 15, 2025 at 6:30 P.M. A. CALL TO ORDER: 6:34 PM B. ROLL CALL: Julie Ebbesen_X_ Denise King_X_ Sarah Caflisch____ Emily Schmall_X_ STAFF PRESENT: Elke Johnson_X_ COUNCIL LIAISON: Melanie Leehy_X_ C. WELCOME D. APPROVAL OF AGENDA • Motion to approve – Schmall – unanimously approved E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: • November 17, 2025, Community Engagement Commission Meeting Minutes o Motion to approve – Ebbesen - unanimously approved F. AGENDA • Unfinished business 1. Human Rights Day Recap i. Leehy compliments the commission on the event ii. Schmall asks if we have ever planned an alternate day in the event of weather. Voices concern for the presenters' use of time and resources iii. King says it is a good suggestion, and the commission could, in the future, think of back-up ideas for the event. iv. Leehy says Mr. Berry also asked about if/when we would cancel. Suggests that the rescheduled event would be during the next Community Engagement Commission v. Johnson says she can add that to check list. She expresses concerns about communicating with potential attendees since we do not have a registration list and would rather have the event than have potential attendees go to a closed building. vi. King suggests that the Staff Liaison, Council Liaison and CEC Chair connect prior to the event to make a decision and communicate through the city newsletter roster. vii. Ebbesen mentions that here have been weather issues for each Human Rights Day since 2021. In 2020 the event was held remotely. viii. Group considers that in case of weather they could host a hybrid event as a back-up. ix. King compliments Leehy, Johnson and Schmall on their participation during the event. Feels that the preparation was good including the information that was shared with the presenters in advance of the meeting. x. Leehy believes we could use social media a little better and we could include some video messaging from the presenters to share on the city’s social media to increase visibility of the event and the organizations that participated. • New Business 2. 2026 Goals and Calendar i. Johnson notes that the January and February dates are outside of the regular meeting cadence due to Martin Luther King Jr Day and Presidents’ Day and has proactively rescheduled the meetings the following Monday. ii. King would like to make sure the commission plans for Spring Together beginning in January. iii. Leehy mentions that the first event had food donated from Whole Foods and the goal of the events is to connect residents and apartment dwellers. iv. King believes we can build on what we have already done in the past. v. Leehy suggests story time with children – an intergenerational event vi. King reviews the rest of the events listed a. Restoration Day – candle light vigil b. Unity Day – managed by Philando Castile Foundation c. Night to Unite d. Human Rights Day vii. King wants to focus on communication and getting the information of community events out to attendees. viii. Johnson mentions Nite to Unite is more of a St. Anthony Police event. King believes that the commission can collaborate and make it a time to connect and focus on supporting the city’s residents to build community. Requests that someone from SAPD come to a spring CEC meeting to start planning. ix. King suggests adding an agenda to Spring Together to talk to residents about Nite to Unite to get ideas out for blocks to use for connecting x. King suggests we begin planning Human Rights Day in September. xi. Leehy brings up volunteer recognition and displaying that Falcon Heights is a benevolent city xii. King suggests we share goals for the Commission for 2026 a. Leehy would like to see that the CERT program gets refreshed b. King would like to add the new resident handbook and the apartment safety document to the April and May meetings. c. Ebbesen would like to see apartment outreach events as well as finding ways to connect with underrepresented and underserved populations in the city d. Schmall would like to find different ways to connect and engage with neighborhood liaisons. Ask if apartments can have that opportunity as well. It is confirmed that residents in apartments can be liaisons and on commissions. xiii. King suggests that Spring Together discussions begin in January. In February, discuss CERT to be prepared to include during Spring Together. April and May will focus on the new resident handbook and have working sessions. The 2026 schedule should get built out further each quarter. xiv. Leehy suggests adding food donations to any city events, especially the fall fest. 3. Every Meal i. Every Meal has extended an invitation to an open house on 2/19/26. Option is that the commission could have a separate event. ii. Commission agrees that a separate event would be a good idea. iii. King suggests that we look at the end of February or sometime in March. (2/21 or 28 if possible). iv. Johnson will reach out to Every Meal, to ask what date works for them and how many people they would look for to volunteer. G. INFORMATION/ANNOUNCEMENT • Leehy mentions that she may have a farewell at Stouts Pub on January 6 or 13. H. ADJOURNMENT: 7:49 PM • Motion to adjourn – King – unanimously approved Next Regular Meeting is on Monday, January 26 at 6:30 PM