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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes July 11, 2017 Page 5 Following additional off-mic comments from the audience, Mayor Faust stated it is difficult for him not 1 to be emotional. He reminded all in attendance that the conversation needs to be civil and respectful. 2 3 Ms. Michelle Gross, President of Communities United Against Police Brutality, stated she spoke at the 4 last Council meeting. She stated she is in favor of all government functions being open meeting and 5 abiding by the open meeting law. Ms. Gross stated her concern about the monies paid to Officer Yanez 6 as ‘go away money,’ noting Officer Yanez will be paid $80,000. She stated Police Chief Mangseth 7 keeps referring to Office Yanez as an exemplary employee but attempts had been made to complain 8 about Officer Yanez. She believed that Officer Yanez had been a problem and asked the Police Chief to 9 resign. Ms. Gross believed the Police Chief created the culture for the department and that he had not 10 been a good leader in this position. 11 12 Mr. Gene Bird stated he is living in Northeast Minneapolis and would be moving to St. Anthony in a 13 few months. He explained that over the past year, he has had some concerns about where they were 14 moving to as the City’s leadership has allowed a number of crisis to occur. Mr. Bird stated he has 15 witnessed racism, noting the citizens of St. Anthony care, want to help, and are deeply committed to 16 making St. Anthony a place in which they are proud to live. He encouraged the Council to follow up on 17 the ideas presented, noting this is an opportunity for change. Mr. Bird thanked the attendees who have 18 come before Council who have very little power, stating it is heartbreaking. He stated he hopes Council 19 is listening to their pain, as it is real and valid. 20 21 Mr. Ry Sigleco, Pastor and instructor at St. Thomas and Bethel Colleges, spoke about heaven and stated 22 his opinion that this is the judgement of heaven, the judgement of God. He stated his opinion that the 23 police department is racist and the same powers that killed Frank in Lowry Grove murdered Philando 24 Castille. Mr. Sigleco asked what Council is going to do to address racism and how the Council is going 25 to support Frank’s family in Lowry Grove. Mr. Sigleco asked the Mayor and each Councilmember if 26 they were a person of faith. 27 28 Mayor Faust stated he believes Religion and Government should be separate. Councilmember Stille 29 stated he is a person of faith but there needs to be a separation. Councilmember Jenson stated he 30 believes in the Golden Rule. City Manager Casey stated he is a person of faith. 31 32 Mr. Sigleco stated his belief that the Council has a moral obligation to help the people in the community, 33 stating again his belief that this is God’s judgement, God is judging the Council, and how the Council 34 responds is a critical. He stated he has relatives in St. Anthony and urged the Council to respond to the 35 community and do justice. 36 37 Mr. Dave Odie, 3313 Croft Drive, stated he has lived at this address since 2000. He thanked Council for 38 their willingness to serve, indicating he has been proud to be a resident of St. Anthony but the last few 39 years, he has had to think about what is happening. Mr. Odie cited examples of the Islamic Center. 40 Philando Castille, police training, costs associated with policing, and Lowry Grove. He stated this 41 appears to be a pattern and asked who is a Villager. Mr. Odie believed the choices made here affect 42 those who live outside the community. He suggested rethinking who is our neighbor and how we 43 interact with those communities. Mr. Odie stated there are two choices – defend ourselves or be less 44 defensive and actively seek solutions. He stated he went to the memorial for Philando Castille and was 45 9