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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 9, 2016 Page 5 attend upcoming events. She also wants Council to join SAVCA in meetings following Open 1 Meeting Rules. 2 3 Mr. Michael Bird, 3416 Edwards Street, stated just because there are racial disparities does not 4 mean there has been unjust discrimination. He has attended a number of graduation ceremonies 5 where most of the valedictorians are female, noting mechanics at auto repair shops are male. He 6 is concerned this being a lot more through race than might possibly be present. Mr. Bird stated in 7 the U.S.A., people are considered innocent until proven guilty and he trusts St. Anthony 8 policemen and policemen in general. 9 10 Ms. Sandy Sherman, Mirror Lake Condominiums, Foss Road, stated she cannot have a yard sign. 11 She shared how proud she is of the members and organizers of SAVCA. She participated at 12 Village Fest in the booth for SAVCA and believes the issue of racial profiling across the United 13 States is well known. Ms. Sherman stated the study showed that blacks were disproportionally 14 stopped and searched within St. Anthony, commenting it is hard to get past the study numbers. 15 She is proud to be part of SAVCA and stands with the Lowry Grove residents in their efforts. 16 17 Ms. Antonia Alvarez, 2501 Lowry Avenue NE, along with two others stated, the residents of 18 Lowry Grove are requesting Council’s support. The Attorney General is supporting them. She 19 stated the purchase was illegal by the purchaser and asked the Council NOT to change the 20 zoning. She thanked the Council for the change in the date for the public hearing. Ms. Alvarez 21 stated they want to save Lowry Grove and the future is uncertain. Their children attend St. 22 Anthony schools also and there is no future for them. She requested Mayor Faust come to a 23 meeting in Lowry Grove to speak with the residents, noting Lowry Grove has good values and 24 good people and they want to work with Council for a strong St. Anthony and good future for all. 25 26 Mayor Faust stated when the Council was requested to reschedule the public hearing, it needs to 27 follow the State Statute. Since this is a civil action it would not be pertinent for him to attend a 28 meeting. He noted the Council’s responsibility is to residents first and indicated he will research 29 it and come to a meeting if he can do so. 30 31 Mr. Bill McConnell, Lowry Grove, asked that Lowry Grove be removed from the City’s 32 redevelopment schedule. Mayor Faust stated there is no schedule to redevelop any area. He 33 explained that Lowry Grove is listed as residential and something would need to be proposed to 34 change that. This is now a legal battle between a seller and two potential buyers and the courts 35 will decide as to what will be done. 36 37 Ms. Kate Martin, 2513 30th Avenue, member of SAVCA, stated she was happy to hear about the 38 school’s commitment to equity, noting things outside of the school have an impact. She stated 39 there are no other options for residents of Lowry Grove within St. Anthony and she would like 40 the Council to use an equity lens when looking at the issues. She asked the Council to support 41 the residents of Lowry Grove. 42 43 Ms. Erica Crone, 4033 Fordham Drive, stated she has lived here for 11 years. She thanked the 44 Village Fest Committee for a wonderful event and asked Mr. Casey to relay her thanks to the 45 City Departments. She is a board member for the History Committee and she enjoyed two other 46 booths at Village Fest. She stated the Citizens for Sustainability and the SAVCA booths were 47 very informative and referred to the City Notes pyramid outlining the City’s goals. Ms. Crone 48 5