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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2022/01/10APPROVED PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting January 10, 2022 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Mounds View Boulevard, Mounds View, MN 55112 6:31 P.M. 1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Bergeron, Cermak, Hull, Meehlhause, Mueller NOT PRESENT: None. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, January 10, 2022, City Council Agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Bergeron/Meehlhause. To Approve the Monday, January 10, 2022, agenda as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. CONSENT AGENDA A. Approval of Minutes: December 13, 2021 and January 3, 2022 B. Just and Correct Claims. C. Resolution 9530, Approving the 2021 Pay Equity Report. D. Resolution 9531, Accepting Miscellaneous Donations for 2021. E. Resolution 9532, Approving Mediated Settlement Agreement and Release of Claims. MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Hull. To Approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT Brian Kelley, resident of Eagan, discussed circumstances that occurred on November 28, 2021 where a police officer from Mounds View and another agency proceeded into Merwyn Liquor and shot his son dead. He insisted that the police department release the video tapes. He requested that Mounds View City Council January 10, 2022 Regular Meeting Page 2 he be provided a meeting with the Mayor and the Police Chief to discuss these matters. He stated he has no information on what has taken place and has been completely ghosted by the individuals who have been involved. He indicated it has been very difficult on his family having no information as to what took place. He reported in June of 2021 Governor Walz insisted that this type of footage be made available to family members within five days of an incident that resulted in death. He noted he has gone a month and a half without any information regarding the death of his son. Michelle Gross, President of Communities United Against Police Brutality, explained she worked with a Minneapolis based organization that addresses police issues. She discussed Minnesota State Statute 13.82 and 13.85 noting these were the comprehensive law enforcement data statutes. She stated shortly after Noah Kelley was killed by a Mounds View officer and New Brighton officer her organization submitted a 13.82 data request to Mounds View and the City responded quickly to this request. However, what has not happened for this family was that the City has not released the body camera footage or squad car footage. She explained the City has the ability to release other data and noted the City was choosing not to. She indicated this deeply unfair to the family. She reported in Brooklyn Center after Daunte Wright was killed, Mayor Mike Elliot made the choice to release this footage and this helped to quell the dissent in the community. She encouraged the Mayor to acknowledge some level of responsibility and have empathy for the family who lost a loved one and have the body camera footage released. Julie Bourque, resident of Brooklyn Center, noted she was a member of the multi-cultural advisory committee for the Brooklyn Center Police Department. She discussed the matters she has been involved in behind the scenes. She noted she was a friend of Brian Kelley’s and has been for years. She discussed how the City was hurting this family deeply and creating more trauma by not releasing the footage. She encouraged the City to have mercy on this family and to release the body camera footage. Toshira Garraway explained she was the founder of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence. She reported she was also the significant other of Justin Tygen who was brutally beaten to death by the St. Paul Police and thrown into a trash dumpster on August 19, 2009. She stated she was in attendance to stand in solidarity with Noah Kelley’s family and indicated she knows first hand the trauma of losing a family member at the hands of law enforcement. She knew what it was like to want information in order to find closure from a devastating event and how it feels to be denied this information. She encouraged Mayor Mueller to meet with the Kelley family along with the Police Chief to figure out what can be done to get this family what they need. She reported the State of Minnesota was in an emergency at this time. She noted there have been over 500 lives lost at the hands of law enforcement in Minnesota. She did not want the pattern of police killings and cover ups to continue. She believed that the City Council were good people and that they were interested in being transparent and honest. She indicated the City Council had the power to release the body camera footage and should do what was right for the Kelley family. Lisa Kelley, resident of Eagan, stated she was Noah’s stepmom. She discussed why the body camera footage was so important in that it would help answer a lot of questions the family had. She explained the liquor store was supposed to be closed at 6:00 p.m. and he was in there alone at 7:15 p.m. when he was shot. She understood the lady working at the liquor store told the police Mounds View City Council January 10, 2022 Regular Meeting Page 3 Noah was in there alone and he would not hurt anybody. She questioned why the police didn’t work with him or wait for him to come out. She indicated things went very fast and that was why she wanted answers. She requested the City release the body camera footage to the family so they can know what happened. She explained Noah was a good kid who worked two jobs and was paying two rents. She reported Noah was only 21 years old and he had a one year old daughter. She stated the family was in shock for the first month and after realizing the magnitude of Noah’s death the family would like some answers. She reported Noah’s fiancé has not been able to receive any death benefits because the death certificate has not been signed. She asked that the City work to address this concern. She indicated her husband, Brian, was a man of faith that ran a ministry called All About Family. She believed the two cops that shot and killed Noah acted rashly and questioned why they had not talked with him longer. She stated their actions changed Noah’s daughters life, and the lives of Noah’s family forever. She requested the Police Chief and Mayor meet with her and Brian. She thanked everyone who was in attendance for offering their support. Lorie B., resident of Brooklyn Center, stated she did not have a degree in criminal justice but she understood the throws of injustice. She indicated she knew about police brutality and a system that protects the police and not the community. She expressed concern with the fact there were several unanswered questions surrounding this shooting. She asked how much training the two officers had in handling a mental health crisis, she questioned what happened inside the liquor store and what was the totality of circumstances that led the officers to using deadly force. She inquired if the use of force was justified given the fact Noah was in the liquor store alone. She questioned if there was any attempt to deescalate. She believed the family deserves to know what happened and she demanded the body worn camera footage be released to the family. She discussed how other states were addressing the release of footage after shootings. She encouraged Mounds View to take steps towards transparency and urged the Council to push for answers now. She gave her deepest condolences to the Kelley family for the loss of their son. Melissa (no last name given), resident of Minneapolis, stated it was easy for the Council to distance themselves from police brutality because they were all white. She explained she was here in support of the family and encouraged the Council to recognize that blood would be on their hands if they were to do nothing. She urged the Council to grant the Kelley families request and release the body camera footage. Mayor Mueller read a statement in full for the record noting a press release was printed on November 29, 2021 with the limited data that was available. She stated the City had no more information as this was an ongoing investigation by the BCA. She explained on behalf of the residents of Mounds View, the employees and elected, she extended her deepest and most heartfelt condolences to all of the parties who were affected by the tragic events that occurred on November 28, 2021. City Attorney Riggs offered a comment noting there was an active investigation being conducted by the State. He reported the City was limited with the information that could be released to the public. He noted the City can work with the family. He understood the family has had interactions with Police Chief Harder. He encouraged the family to speak with himself and City Administrator Zikmund in order to set up a time to meet with the Acting Chief. Mounds View City Council January 10, 2022 Regular Meeting Page 4 Ms. Garraway stated this family needs answers and reported the family would like to have a more than condolences offered to them, but rather would like to have a meeting with the Mayor and the Police Chief. City Attorney Riggs reported he has just offered to meet with the Kelley’s to discuss giving them the video. He indicated the City is offering to do what they can do and what they can permissively release. 7. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS None. 8. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. Introduction and First Reading, Ordinance 986, an Ordinance Amending Title XI, Chapter 118, Relating to Cigarettes and Tobacco Products. City Administrator Zikmund requested the Council introduce an Ordinance that would amend Title XI of Chapter 118 relating to cigarettes and tobacco products. He reported this amendment request was made by a distributor in a town and staff has since tightened up the code language. He noted the proposed language would not allow for tobacco sales to occur via delivery. MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Bergeron. To Waive the First Reading and Introduce Ordinance 986, an Ordinance Amending Title XI, Chapter 118, Relating to Cigarettes and Tobacco Products. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 9. REPORTS A. Reports of Mayor and Council. Council Member Cermak reported the Mounds View Police Foundation would be meeting on Tuesday, January 11 at 4:30 p.m. at Random Park to continue planning the Daddy Daughter Dance. She encouraged any residents interested in helping with the planning of this great community event to attend this meeting. Council Member Meehlhause discussed the NYFS meetings he would be attending in the coming weeks. Mayor Mueller stated the Festival in the Park Committee would be meeting next on Tuesday, January 18 at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Mueller reported on Friday, January 21 she would be attending a Ramsey County League of Local Government meeting along with a Minnesota Women in City Government meeting. B. Reports of Staff. City Administrator Zikmund had nothing to report. Mounds View City Council January 10, 2022 Regular Meeting Page 5 C. Reports of City Attorney. City Attorney Riggs had nothing additional to report. 10. Next Council Work Session: Monday, February 7, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, January 24, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. 11. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:06 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther Minute Maker Secretarial