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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes August 9, 2016 Page 4 1 Ms. Mageen Caines, 3100 32nd Avenue NE, thanked Council for the opportunity to speak. While 2 she went to the Army, she recalled how she loved St. Anthony Village and her neighbors. They 3 are organizing as allies and resources and she asked the Council to utilize them. She provided 4 handouts summarizing what they are working on, noting it was also handed out at Village Fest. 5 They want to support City officials and hold them accountable as well as themselves. This group 6 wants to engage with the school and support the mission of the schools. They want to increase 7 community outreach and like town hall meetings. Ms. Caines stated they want to liaise more 8 effectively with the Council, noting they are small but mighty. 10 Ms. Jennifer McGuire, 3408 3151 Avenue NE, stated she has lived in St. Anthony for two years. 1 I She is a professor at the U of M. She stated several pieces of information have been gathered that 12 show processes may not have been followed appropriately and she found some of Chief Ohl's 13 comments in the annual report offensive. Ms. McGuire described an incident she had witnessed. 14 There was a black family in a car in her front yard. The officers had pulled over the car and it 15 would be towed away. She did not feel there was a compelling reason for the vehicle to be 16 towed. She gave details of the incident and stated the police did not exercise any positive 17 discretion in this incident. She has heard of one other similar incident within the City. She asked 18 Council to create systems and procedures for the Police Department to follow. A Community 19 Group should be involved in the hiring of the new Police Chief and to oversee police procedures. 20 21 Ms. Mary Jackson, 3605 37`h Avenue NE, stated she wants to emphasize the recent past dealing 22 with some incidents such as in 2014 regarding the Muslim Worship Center. She is also 23 concerned with the death of Philandro Castile and the recent information on racial bias on traffic 24 stops within the City. She is also concerned about the sale of Lowry Grove and the families that 25 would be displaced. She stated the City of St. Anthony needs to use this as an opportunity to 26 review practices, policies, procedures, programs, etc. to remove racial bias and discrimination. 27 She referred to an article in the Star Tribune and stated this crisis should be tackled with 28 overwhelming force and matters need to be looked at urgently. The community group is being 29 supportive. 30 31 Ms. Maggie Whiting, 2509 30`h Avenue NE, spoke on behalf of St. Anthony Villagers for 32 Community Action (SAVCA). She is a member of the Communications Committee. She thanked 33 Mayor Faust for attending their block party but stated she was disappointed he failed to discuss 34 with the neighbors the topics of face, diversity, or inclusion. She stated things are heated topics 35 in the community and the community is having a difficult time in talking about these issues. The 36 Council must take the lead, lead by example, and Mayor Faust is the face of the community. Ms. 37 Whiting suggested Council review the information provided this evening as St. Anthony is in the 38 spotlight. 39 40 Ms. Marleen Fry, 3205 Harbor Lane, Plymouth, stated she is here in support of SAVCA. The 41 group is here to assist the community as a mediator and advocate. She quoted scripture and 42 stated SAVCA can assist in the transformation to take place. She asked what the Council is 43 afraid of, noting racism is something that has been done for many years and it hurts. Council can 44 choose to participate in the transformation and be part of the solution or be part of the problem. 45 46 Ms. Nona Kennedy - Carlson, 2926 Armor Terrace, a member of SAVCA, stated they have over 47 300 members and she is speaking as a citizen. They are the same as the Councilmembers who are