HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 092720161 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
3 SEPTEMBER 27, 2016
4
5 CALL TO ORDER.
6
7 Mayor Faust called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
8
9 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
10
11 Mayor Faust invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
12
13 Present: Mayor Faust Councilmembers Brever, Gray, Jenson, and Stille
14 Absent: None
15 Also Present: Assistant to the City Manager Charlie Yunker, Fire Chief Mark Sitarz, Fire
16 Department Captain Chris Fuller, and Firefighter Mattie Jaros
17
18 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
19 ITEMS.
20
21 1. APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 27, 2016, CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
22
23 Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Jenson to approve the City
24 Council Meeting Agenda of September 27, 2016.
25
26 Motion carried 5 -0.
27
28 1I. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS — NONE
29
30 III. CONSENT AGENDA.
31
32 A. Approval of September 13, 2016, City Council meeting minutes
33 B. Approval of September 8, 2016, Special City Council meeting minutes
34 C. Licenses and Permits
35 D. Claims
36 E. Resolution 16 -068 a Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Manager to Execute the
37 Agreement between Hennepin County and the City of St Anthony for Road Maintenance
38 Services
39
40 Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Brever, to approve the Consent
41 Agenda items as presented.
42
43 Motion carried 5 -0.
44
45 IV. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE
46
47 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF - NONE
48
49 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 27, 2016
Page 2
A. Fire Prevention Presentation
4 Captain Chris Fuller and Firefighter Mattie Jaros gave a fire prevention presentation containing
5 Updates, Home Safety Surveys, File of Life Program, and announced the Fire Department Open
6 House will be held Saturday, October 8, 2016 from 1:00 — 4:00 p.m. Any residents interested in
7 either a Home Safety Survey or File of Life should contact the St. Anthony Fire Station.
9 Councilmember Stille asked the life span of a CO alarm and Captain Fuller stated 7 -10 years.
10
11 Councilmember Jenson asked about the sprinkler requirement. Captain Fuller explained it is a
12 State requirement for new construction. This does not include single - family residential in St.
13 Anthony.
14
15 Mayor Faust asked Firefighter Jaros if Ramsey County EOC will be at the Open House. Ms.
16 Jaros stated they will be present. Mayor Faust noted other public works vehicles will also be at
17 the Open House.
18
19 B. Resolution 16 -069 a Resolution Authorizing the Mutual Aid Agreement to Provide for
20 the Automatic Dispatch of the Closest Emergency Response Unit Regardless of
21 Jurisdictional Boundaries
22
23 Fire Chief Mark Sitarz reviewed a new Mutual Aid Agreement for Closest Unit Dispatching is
24 before Council this evening for consideration. This is the same setup as the "auto -aid"
25 agreements with Columbia Heights and Fridley. Closest Unit Dispatching will automatically
26 dispatch St. Anthony Fire to a confirmed structure fire in a pre - established area of New Brighton.
27 This area covers the southwestern most portion of the City of New Brighton. There would be no
28 additional cost for the City and this agreement would not replace any existing Mutual Aid
29 Agreements. The other agencies participating in this agreement are: St. Paul, Roseville, Little
30 Canada, Maplewood, Falcon Heights, North St. Paul, New Brighton, White Bear Lake, and Lake
31 Johanna Fire Departments.
32
33 Councilmember Stille asked Chief Sitarz if this only covers a portion of New Brighton. Chief
34 Sitarz stated a map has been created of the agreed upon area, noting resources from many cities
35 were called in to help.
36
37 Mayor Faust stated this is no different than any mutual aid with another city. Mayor Faust asked
38 about mutual aid when the bridge collapsed. Chief Sitarz explained details of that call.
39
40 Motion by Councilmember Brever, seconded by Councilmember Gray, to approve Resolution
41 16 -069 a Resolution Authorizing Mutual Aid Agreement for the Automatic Dispatch of the
42 Closest Emergency Response Unit Regardless of Jurisdictional Boundaries.
43
44 Motion carried 5 -0
45
46 C. Resolution 16 -070 a Resolution for the Establishment of a Workgroup to Make
47 Recommendations for Police Department Policies on Officer Worn Body Cameras
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 27, 2016
Page 3
2 Mayor Faust reviewed that Resolution 16 -070 would establish a Workgroup to make
3 recommendations for Police Department policies on officer worn body cameras. It was noted that
4 guidelines were sent from the State on August 1, 2016, the Workgroup will be selected, and
5 Councilmember Gray will represent St. Anthony. Councilmember Gray read the entire
6 resolution.
8 Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Stille, to approve Resolution 16-
9 070 a Resolution for the Establishment of a Workgroup to Make Recommendations for Police
10 Department Policies on Officer Worn Body Cameras.
11
12 Motion carried 5 -0
13
14 D. Proposed Planning Work Group for an Initiative on Institutional Racial Bias in Policing
15
16 Mayor Faust summarized at the September 13, 2016, St. Anthony Village City Council meeting,
17 he and the three Councilmembers present indicated support for examining institutional racial bias
18 in the policing practices of the St. Anthony Police Department, as the response to the agenda
19 item proposal led by Ms. Kristine Lizdas. At that meeting, the St. Anthony Villagers for
20 Community Action (SAVCA) recommended the immediate formation of a planning group to
21 flesh out the details of a larger City /community initiative to investigate institutional racial bias in
22 policing. Mayor Faust reviewed the proposal for this planning group including a Summary of
23 Preliminary Planning, Summary of the Work of the Planning Group, Members of the Planning
24 Group, and Timeline.
25
26 Mayor Faust noted the initial Planning Group will include Police Chief Jon Mangseth, Mayor
27 Jerry Faust, City Manager Mark Casey, St. Anthony resident Kristine Lizdas, St. Anthony
28 resident Jenifer McGuire, St. Anthony resident Nancy Robinett, community activist Curtis Avent
29 from Justice Occupation for Philando, community activist John Thompson (a friend of Philando
30 Castile), one representative from Falcon Heights (to be named), and one representative from
31 Lauderdale (to be named). Other members or advisors to the Planning Group may be added by
32 the Planning Group for reasons of need and outreach. Mayor Faust asked for a Councilmember
33 volunteer for this group and Councilmember Jenson volunteered and will be part of the Planning
34 Group.
35
36 Mayor Faust reviewed there is urgency to this process because of the urgency associated with the
37 tension, sadness, and publicity surrounding the death of Philando Castile. The Planning Group
38 agrees to communicate regularly among itself via in- person, small group, and remote
39 communications, and to meet in- person at least twice over the first month, with the goal of
40 producing a formal proposal for the City Council and St. Anthony Police Department on
41 conducting an institutional assessment of racial bias in policing by the October 25, 2016 City
42 Council meeting. The Planning Group understands that it will work cooperatively and that each
43 member will use its best efforts in this proposal development.
44
45 Ms. Nancy Robinett and Ms. Kristine Lizdas were present at the meeting. Ms. Robinett stated the
46 proposal is submitted from the SAVCA. They expressed appreciation the City is moving forward
47 with the proposal. Ms. Lizdas asked Council if they have any questions at this time or will they
3
4
G9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 27, 2016
Page 4
be discussed at the Planning Committee meeting. They spoke with Chief Mangseth and he
expressed interest in being part of the Planning Committee.
Mayor Faust asked Ms. Lizdas and Ms. Robinett to email the City Manager some dates for the
possible first meeting. Ms. Lizdas asked if those listed in the proposal will be the members of
the group. Mayor Faust stated those listed can be included in the beginning of the process. Ms.
Lizdas asked if the Planning Group meets and can shape a work plan, would the next step be
brought to Council in the form of a resolution. Mayor Faust stated no commitment can be made
at this time until the first steps are taken.
Mr. Jacob Thomas, Minneapolis, volunteered to be the facilitator for the group as he believes it
takes a person of color to facilitate racial bias training. The issue of who the facilitator will be,
needs to be addressed.
Mr. Michael Bird, 3416 Edwards Street, St. Anthony questioned the need for this group because
he does not think one incident by the St. Anthony Police Department shows bias. He asked who
will cover the cost for this group. Mr. Bird stated taxes in St. Anthony are the highest in the
State. He asked who will make up the Work Group and how do we know the members are not
biased. Mayor Faust noted these are not paid positions for members of the Work Group.
VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
Mr. Yunker, Assistant to the City Manager, noted last Thursday to Friday the annual board
retreat was held by the LMC (854 cities). At that retreat, Mark Casey became a Board member.
Racial equity was a major topic of discussion. Mr. Yunker stated all St. Anthony staff will be
attending Racial Bias Training in the next couple of weeks.
Mayor Faust noted the number of hours the LMC is spending on this topic is huge. The Police
Department was the first group to sign up for the Racial Bias Training and all City
Commissioners and Councilmembers will also attend the training. He noted the groundwork is
being set to move this forward.
Councilmember Stille stated on September 26, the Steering Committee for the Comprehensive
Plan met to discuss specifics on the sustainability component of the Comprehensive Plan.
Councilmember Gray stated on September 15 he attended the North Suburban Communications
Commission Strategic Planning Committee meeting.
Councilmember Brever stated she attended the Comprehensive Plan Work Session on September
26. On September 20, the St. Anthony Family Collaborative Services Group discussed racial
equity. Last week she attended A Good Time for Truth readings at the library in Minneapolis and
benefited from having the authors read their own works. On September 25, she attended the
Sister City Meeting and on November 5, 2017 the Sister City group will have a concert.
Councilmember Jenson stated on September 19 and September 21 he attended the Kiwanis
Meetings. On September 19 and September 22 he attended the LMC Policy Committee
meetings. A discussion on policing was held. He attended the Minneapolis Library session along
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
September 27, 2016
Page 5
with Councilmember Brever. On September 26, he attended the St. Anthony Fire Department
Pension Fund Association meeting.
4 Mayor Faust stated December 10, Canadian Pacific Railroad will bring their Holiday Train to St.
5 Anthony among other cities. More information will be forthcoming.
7 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM
8
9 Ms. Luann Zappa, 2501 Lowry Avenue, stated the case was lost last week and another case is
10 being filed citing discrimination with the Housing and Urban Development League. An appeal
11 is being worked on. Mayor Faust stated the public hearing will be reconvened on October 11,
12 2016.
13
14 An unidentified gentleman complimented the Council on the movement he has seen on the
15 racial bias issue, stating many steps are being taken to address issues.
16
17 IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
18
19 X. ADJOURNMENT
20
21 Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 7:55 p.m.
22
23
24 Respectfully submitted,
25 Debbie Wolfe
26 Timesaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
27
28
29
30 ATTEST:
31 City Clerk
32
Mayor