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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes September 13, 2016 Page 7 1 various ranks, and City staff would participate in collaborative work sessions in which the Group 2 would map the working of the St. Anthony Police Department, identifying the points at which 3 racial bias manifests in the operations of the police department — such as through formal and 4 informal routines, department priorities, funding pressures, worksheets and forms, insurance 5 mandates, or state law. 6 7 Ms. Lizdas reviewed the question is not whether or not there is racial bias within the City of St. 8 Anthony. The final activity would be for the Work Group to develop, collaboratively, a Blueprint 9 for moving forward, which would include new forms, procedures, supervisory practices, etc. as 10 well as articulated short- and long -term goals for the Department and the three cities. The Work 11 Group members would commit to oversee implementation and long -term oversight of 12 implementation efforts, making adjustments to the blueprint as needed. The ultimate goal of the 13 collaborative Work Group is to create a model comprehensive law enforcement and municipal 14 response to racial bias that would be shared with communities around the country. Ms. Lizdas 15 stated the Police Chief must take a strong leadership role in this Work Group. 16 17 Ms. Jennifer McGuire, 3408 3151 Avenue, stated she is in support of the proposal. She distributed 18 her written statement and reviewed the results of her research. She proposed a small work group 19 be established as soon as possible to decide who should be on the larger Work Group. She 20 offered to participate in the smaller work group. 21 22 Ms. Nancy Robinett, 3408 3151 Avenue, stated she is a member of St. Anthony Villagers for 23 Community Action ( SAVCA). Ms. Robinett summarized the concerns of the SAVCA and stated 24 it is supportive of the St. Anthony Police Department but concerned with the service provided to 25 others. The SAVCA wants the police to be better. Ms. Robinett opined there have been many 26 examples of racial profiling noted at previous Council Meetings. She agrees a smaller work 27 group should be formed to come back with a preliminary plan. Ms. Robinett stated training is 28 desired and needed by the St. Anthony Police Department and support and buy -in from the 29 Police Chief and City Council are needed for the assessment to be successful. The Work Group 30 members should not be finalized this evening. Ms. Robinett suggested Ms. Kristine Lizdas 31 spearhead the preliminary smaller work group. 32 33 Mr. Jake Latter, Minneapolis, stated he would speak frankly and organically. He noted the 34 cameras in the chambers and stated he has been watching the eyes of the Council this evening 35 with the black members of the audience present. Mr. Latter stated this affects a lot of different 36 people and a teacher from Philadelphia wants to come to Minnesota. He noted Ms. Lizdas has 37 suggested a plan and if the Council does not agree, they should not be in a government position. 38 He believed more must be done, not enough is being done, and the Council has a capability of 39 righting a wrong. 40 41 Mr. Paul Verrette, 3625 Coolidge Street NE, stated he is in support of the proposal and pleased 42 with having this on the Council agenda this evening. He stated this is a good time for St. 43 Anthony to step up, some good work can be done together, and the assessment results can be 44 used by other cities. 45 46 A St. Paul resident, thanked the Council for this being on the agenda and stated he in is full 47 support of this idea and would personally like to resolve some of the issues in the Police