CC PACKET 09272016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Gray, to approve Resolution 16-2 067; a Resolution Awarding a Bid for the Advanced Oxidation Process Water Treatment Plant 3 and Appurtenant Work including the Rehabilitation of the Ground Storage Reservoir to Gridor 4 Construction for $6,614,700 5 6 Mayor Faust commended City Engineer Hubmer for his work on this solution. 7 8 Motion carried 4-0 9 10 C. Request to Create a Collaborative Work Group to Conduct a Formal Racial Bias 11 Assessment of Policing by the St. Anthony Police Department and the City of St. 12 Anthony 13 14 City Manager Casey reviewed a letter dated September 7, 2016 received from Kristine Lizdas, 15 J.D. requesting the creation of a Collaborative Work Group. The letter was also signed by 42 16 others. 17 18 Ms. Kristine Lizdas, J.D., 3013 Townview Avenue, thanked the Council for giving her the 19 opportunity to speak and a positive civic engagement response. She reviewed the reason for the 20 letter. She had heard about task force discussions held by Falcon Heights City Council. They 21 have some concerns with the Tri-City Task Force. The group (Ms. Lizdas and the 42 others that 22 signed the letter) are in support of the creation of a collaborative Work Group tasked with 23 conducting a formal racial bias assessment of policing by the St. Anthony Police Department and 24 the City of St. Anthony. This Work Group would consist of representatives from the St. Anthony 25 Police Department, including the Chief; the City Administrators and/or Managers of St. 26 Anthony, Lauderdale and Falcon Heights; as well as residents, business owners, and other 27 substantially invested individuals from the three cities. The Work Group would consult with non-28 governmental organizations experienced in conducting racial bias assessments of public 29 institutions and avail itself of existing tools and processes for identifying and mitigating racial 30 bias in said institutions. 31 32 It was noted the letter suggested the first activity would be for the proposed Work Group to take 33 part in a six-month intensive assessment of the St. Anthony Police Department. Some data has 34 already been requested by residents of St. Anthony, and Work Group members would have full 35 access to the St. Anthony Police Department’s Standard Operating Procedures and policies, 36 including insurance policies and relevant City contracts. Work Group members would be 37 provided access to Police Department staff and relevant City staff/officials for interviews and 38 shadowing opportunities. 39 40 The letter continued the second activity would involve the analysis of the data collected over the 41 six-month period. The Work Group members, including the St. Anthony Chief, other officers of 42 various ranks, and City staff would participate in collaborative work sessions in which the Group 43 would map the working of the St. Anthony Police Department, identifying the points at which 44 racial bias manifests in the operations of the police department – such as through formal and 45 informal routines, department priorities, funding pressures, worksheets and forms, insurance 46 mandates, or state law. 47 48 6