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Mounds View City Council February 9, 2026 <br />Regular Meeting Page 8 <br /> <br />Mayor Lindstrom stated this would simply be an anti-staging ordinance. He explained he wanted <br />the City’s properties throughout the community to remain a safe place for the residents of Mounds <br />View. <br /> <br />Council Member Meehlhause suggested the ordinance be scaled back to address the value of <br />Mounds View residents and to address city-owned properties. <br /> <br />The consensus of the Council was to direct staff to bring back an anti-staging ordinance. <br /> <br />Council Member Clark recommended the City Council do a proclamation for these actions as well. <br /> <br />Mayor Lindstrom supported this action as well. He asked if the City Council wanted to send a <br />letter to the governor and federal legislators. <br /> <br />Council Member Smith was of the opinion this would be addressed by the coalition. <br /> <br />Council Member Clark believed there was more the City could do to support its minority residents. <br />She proposed that the City pass a complimentary civil rights and non-discrimination ordinance to <br />reinforce existing laws that support the City’s ongoing effort to discharge racial covenants from <br />property deeds and formalize the City’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal protection <br />for all residents. <br /> <br />Mayor Lindstrom indicated he supported the Council further discussing this ordinance before <br />taking action. He explained this topic may be better addressed through a proclamation. <br /> <br />Council Member Gunn agreed. <br /> <br />Council Member Smith noted a civil rights proclamation was passed by the City in 1965. <br /> <br />Police Chief Zender explained he was against an ordinance for a variety of reasons. He noted in <br />speaking with the border czar he understood they were winding down and agents would be getting <br />body cameras. He understood other communities have passed anti-staging ordinances and there <br />was push back from residents because this ordinance was not being enforced. He stated he did not <br />want there to be conflict created between residents and the Mounds View Police Department <br />because of the proposed ordinance. He discussed how POST certified police officers were <br />mandated to treat people with equity and respect. While he understood the need to do something, <br />he explained there were a lot of federal agencies in the community at this time. He wanted to be <br />clear that the Mounds View Police Department was already following these policies, and he feared <br />what the unintended consequences would be from the proposed proclamations and/or ordinances. <br /> <br />10. Next Council Work Session: Monday, March 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. <br />Next Council Meeting: Monday, February 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.