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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 062720171 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 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 48 49 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES JUNE 27, 2017 CALL TO ORDER. Mayor Faust called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Mayor Faust invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL. Present: Mayor Faust; Councilmembers Brever, Gray, Jenson, and Stille. Absent: None. Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey Guests: Peggy Moeller, Redpath Ltd. CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. I. APPROVAL OF JUNE 27, 2017 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA. Motion by Councilmember Gray, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve the City Council Meeting Agenda of June 27, 2017. Motion carried 5 -0. II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS — NONE. III. CONSENT AGENDA. A. Approval of June 13, 2017, City Council meeting minutes. B. Licenses and Permits. C. Claims. D. Resolution 17 -052: a Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Joint Cooneration Agreement between the City of St. Anthony Village and Hennepin County for Participation in the Urban Hennepin County Community Development Block Grant program in Fiscal Years 2018 — 2020. Motion by Councilmember Brever, seconded by Councilmember Stille, to approve the Consent Agenda items. IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS — NONE. Motion carried 5 -0. 0 6 7 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 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 27, 2017 Page 2 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF - NONE. VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL. A. Presentation of 2016 Audit. Ms. Peggy Moeller, representing Redpath, Ltd. presented a PowerPoint of the 2016 Audit Review for the City of St. Anthony. The reports that were issued included the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, State Legal Compliance Report, Report on Internal Controls and Communication with those Charged with Governance. For the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Ms. Moeller noted the financial statements are the responsibility of management, the role of the Independent Auditor is to report on the fair presentation of the financial statements and a clean opinion was issued on the 2016 financial statements. Ms. Moeller reported the State Legal Compliance Report is required by Minnesota Statute 6.65. The OSA audit guide covers seven categories including contracting and bidding, deposits and investments, conflicts of interest, public indebtedness, claims and disbursements, other miscellaneous provisions and tax increment provisions and there were no findings of noncompliance. Ms. Moeller stated for the Report on Internal Control consideration of internal control as a basis for designing audit procedures. No opinion was provided on internal control and there were no findings for 2016. The financial results were reviewed including the General Fund, Water and Sewer Enterprise Fund, the Liquor Fund, and HRA. Ms. Moeller reviewed the Communication with Those Charged with Governance required communications indicated no change in accounting policies, no difficulties encountered in performing the audit, and no disagreements with management. Councilmember Stille asked about the desegregation of duties and City Manager Casey stated some responsibilities and duties were shifted. Ms. Moeller stated enough changes were made that it is no longer a significant deficiency. Mayor Faust noted Ms. Moeller works for the Council on the audit and not the Finance Department. Motion by Councilmember Stille, seconded by Councilmember Brever, to accept the 2016 Audit as presented. VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. City Manager Casey had no report. Motion carried 5 -0. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 27, 2017 Page 3 1 Councilmember Gray stated on June 14 -16, he attended the annual League of Minnesota Cities 2 (LMC) Conference in Rochester along with the rest of the Council. 4 Councilmember Brever noted she also attended the LMC Conference in Rochester. Councilmember Jenson stated he also attended a pre- conference seminar along with the LMC Conference in Rochester. On June 26, he attended the St. Anthony Fire Department Relief Association Meeting. 10 Councilmember Stille attended the LMC Conference and on June 26, he attended the Planning 11 Commission Meeting. 12 13 Mayor Faust was also at the LMC Conference and noted how the LMC handled the incident in 14 July 2016 and embraced the equity issue and inclusiveness. The majority of the Conference was 15 related to that. 16 17 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM. 18 19 Ms. Nancy Gonzalez, 3109 Rankin Road, stated she has lived there for 31 years and a dear friend 20 of hers, Frank Adelmann, took his own life on June 20. Frank lived in Lowry Grove and killed 21 himself 10 days before the City was going to evict him. He was a lifelong citizen of St. Anthony. 22 She provided a brief explanation of Frank's life in St. Anthony, indicating she had looked after 23 him and provided monetary support over the years. Ms. Gonzalez is caring for the cat that had 24 survived Frank. Ms. Gonzalez warned there will be repercussions from the closing of Lowry 25 Grove and asked why no study was done about the closing of Lowry Grove. She believed 26 Frank's death was caused by poorly executed public policy. 27 28 Mr. Howard Dotson, Maple Grove, stated he has served in St. Anthony has a hospice chaplain. 29 He believed the death of Philando Castile was a homicide and that every officer needs to have 30 CIT training. Mr. Dotson noted Officer Yanez had 2 hours of CIT training, which is the source of 31 this tragedy. 32 33 Mr. John Thompson, noted he heard the meetings the Council had attended which is just 34 checking the box. He stated he was in the courtroom when he heard black lives don't really 35 matter. Mr. Thompson stated they cannot move at Council's pace. He saw Officer Yanez shoot 36 his friend seven times and they can move forward when blood money isn't paid. Mr. Thompson 37 believed that the Council has blood on their hands and asked the Chief of Police, Mayor, and 38 Councilmembers to stand up and resign. He stated he will organize to remove all from their 39 positions and wants his friend back, not money. 40 41 Ms. Sandy Sherman, Foss Road, stated she is a member of St. Anthony Villagers for Community 42 Actions ( SAVCA). She read a statement prepared by the SAVCA and stated her belief that 43 Mayor Faust and the Council have demonstrated a pattern and practice of ignoring and 44 dismissing concerns, compromising the well -being of many community members. She believed 45 that Mayor Faust has become a liability to the city and the results of his decisions were fiscally 46 damaging to our community. The statement read by Ms. Sherman included incidents through the City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 27, 2017 Page 4 1 past few years including the Islamic temple, the closing of Lowry Grove, the murder of Philandc 2 Castile, the actions of the police department, legal fees paid by the City, and added liability for 3 the City. Ms. Sherman stated a Mayor is needed to communicate and answer questions, noting 4 she believes that violations of Title VI were also included. She stated legal settlements after -the- 5 fact do not indicate leadership and asked Mayor Faust to resign. 6 7 Ms. Antonio Alvarez, resident of Lowry Grove, speaking through an interpreter, indicated that in 8 the last 14 months she has had no representation from the City. She stated she saw Mayor Faust 9 at the vigil for Frank, who committed suicide because he was losing his home. Ms. Alvarez 10 believed the City has done nothing to provide affordable housing for the residents of Lowry 11 Grove and they do not have representation. She noted Frank voted for the Council but the chairs 12 they are in are too big for them. She wants justice for Lowry Grove residents and affordable 13 housing as many residents will end up homeless. 14 15 Ms. Beth Wook, Como Area 1145 Argyle, stated she is exasperated about the verdict for Officer 16 Yanez for killing Philando Castile. She stated a cousin of Philando's was protesting for the 17 death of his cousin, was arrested, and the trials were postponed. Ms. Wook stated she resents 18 how Mayor Faust treated her rudely. She thinks Mayor Faust should resign and has blood on his 19 hands as well as the other Councilmembers. Ms. Wook stated it sickens her about Frank who 20 killed himself, noting the whole world is watching St. Anthony. She believes that Officer Yanez 21 was not a good fit for an officer. 22 23 Ms. Luann Zappa, 2501 Lowry, stated she moved in November to Mounds View and is a 24 recovering addict. She stated she helps others with their recovery and is taking in people from 25 Lowry Grove who have nowhere else to live. Ms. Zappa noted that others in St. Anthony have 26 also taken in Lowry Grove residents. She stated she takes care of her people and she is a lonely 27 disabled woman. 28 29 Ms. Michelle Gross, president of the organization Communities United Against Police Brutality, 30 stated she is supporting the residents of St. Anthony. She stated she attended the trial, is certain 31 Officer Yanez lied on the stand, and that Chief Mangseth validated those lies. Ms. Gross stated 32 Officer Yanez has offers to go to other communities and their 24 -hour hotline has received calls 33 from people regarding Officer Yanez. She believed that Officer Yanez has an anger management 34 problem. Ms. Gross stated people had attempted to complain about Officer Yanez and St. 35 Anthony kept him knowing he had a problem. She believed that people don't give others close to 36 $3 million if they have no liability and that there are more lawsuits coming. Ms. Gross stated the 37 Council needs to bring back materials from conferences they attend and do something with it. 38 She believed there was a problem with the culture of the leadership of the community and the 39 police department and that Mayor Faust should step down immediately. 40 41 A speaker who did not identify herself stated she was born and raised in St. Anthony and lived in 42 Lowry Grove. She now lives in Edgemere and her son was stabbed when across the street of her 43 home. She stated had a fence downed and tried to complain to the City. She stated she was 44 harassed by a neighbor so her son came and stayed with her because she was afraid. Then she 45 was notified by the City Attorney that her son would need to leave since he was parking his 46 business equipment. She stated she is not black, she is not poor, and the City has done nothing City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 27, 2017 Page 5 for her. She was also questioned when her son was at her home about taking care of her lawn. She stated her son was stabbed seven times and Mayor Faust stated he was not aware that had happened. She stated has had some issues with a neighbor on numerous occasions and expressed concern for no lighting on the sidewalk. 6 Mr. Curtis Avent stated he has been to these meetings before, St. Anthony is a beautiful 7 community, and he has worked with people in this community to try to solve some of the issues. 8 He referred to the DOJ training and his belief that the officers taking the training did not want to 9 be there. He stated he was sorry to hear about Frank who committed suicide as everyone 10 deserves housing they can live in. He stated he does not live in St. Anthony but supports those I 1 that do as he is part of the "community," and thinks it was ridiculous that Officer Yanez was put 12 back on duty. He noted that $3 million will come from somewhere and yet no affordable housing 13 is available. He believed that the Council needs to address the issues raised by the residents and 14 questioned which communities have given shout outs to St. Anthony per Mayor Faust. He 15 believed the Council is screwing up, not listening to the community, and people can only take so 16 much before they begin to react negatively. He stated the Council's job is to listen and 17 implement what the residents need. He stated the former officer's actions are now getting the 18 current officer's death threats and that the Council let a murderer back into his position, which 19 was not okay. He stated Officer Yanez can still be a police officer in another community, which 20 he believes is horrible as all officers and Council take an oath to protect and respect the 21 community they make decisions for. He believed that Officer Yanez had numerous complaints 22 before the murder and the DOJ had to come to St Anthony twice. He stated there needs to be 23 communication and response between Council and their constituents so it does not surprise him 24 that people are asking for resignations. He believed that if Council can't do it they should step 25 down and give the positions to someone that can, noting he will continue to help the community. 26 27 Ms. Julie Pierce, resident of New Brighton, stated she feels betrayed, manipulated, and lied to 28 because they been told to wait. They waited and there still is no justice. She stated she assumes 29 that everyone present saw the dash cam video. 30 31 Mayor Faust stated Council saw it when it was on television. Chief Mangseth stated the tape was 32 turned over and confirmed it was not viewed prior to being turned over to the BCA. 33 34 Ms. Pierce stated she sees what the City is trying to do is in vein and believes that true change 35 will not come with Mr. Faust as Mayor since he has shown what white privilege and classism 36 looks like. She believed that Mayor Faust is the epitome of the problem, noting a community 37 forum or town hall meeting has never been called. Ms. Pierce believed the youth leadership 38 group has helped more than the Council and she has been shocked with Mayor Faust's lack of 39 respect. She asserted that Mayor Faust said in a meeting "At least in the south black people know 40 their place ". Ms. Pierce stated she found Mayor Faust's ownership over the Council and staff is 41 disgusting and St. Anthony shouldn't be treated as Mayberry. She stated enough is enough, St. 42 Anthony needs a new leader, and asked for Mayor Faust's resignation. 43 44 Ms. Nona Kennedy- Carlson 2926 Armour Terrance, stated she is far past being reasonable and 45 will go over 5 minutes. She referred to the joint statement from Philando's mother and the City 46 of St. Anthony. She asked where the "continuous healing" is happening as St. Anthony is a City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 27, 2017 Page 6 1 community divided, actions of the Council were just checked off on a list and her 50+ emails 2 were ignored. She stated there has been no reaching out to the community. Ms. Kennedy- Carlson 3 recapped the meetings she had with Councilmembers, asserting the Mayor controls the 4 councilmembers. She stated the murder of Philando Castile has been referred to by Council as an 5 incident and the amount of the contract with Falcon Heights did not cover the liability St. 6 Anthony had. Ms. Kennedy - Carlson stated there was a resolution that put all risk and liability to 7 Falcon Heights and Falcon Heights had also questioned the capability of the St. Anthony Council 8 to lead the City. She stated she had a conversation with the Middle and High School students, 9 was there to listen first, and heard that the black and brown youth in the community are terrified 10 as those students are racially harassed. Ms. Kennedy - Carlson believed that Mayor Faust is not a 11 leader, is a bully, a liability, and he should step down as Mayor of St. Anthony. 12 13 Ms. Rebecca Erler, 3151 and Edward, stated she moved here seven years ago. They chose St. 14 Anthony as an amazing place to raise kids. She asked the Mayor and Council why they are in 15 public service and stated she is ashamed to say she voted for the Mayor and Council. Ms. Erler 16 stated the last year has been very tough and this whole situation has opened her eyes. She 17 appealed to the residents and stated the Council did not want to deal with what was happening in 18 front of them, thinking they were not charged with solving the race problem in the nation. She 19 feels if she were in place of Philando and being pulled over, she would be alive. Ms. Erler stated 20 running for office is a huge responsibility. She regrets not knowing who she voted for and will 21 never do it again. 22 23 Mr. Steve Hanson stated he has lived in St. Anthony for 30 years and is ashamed to be a resident 24 of St. Anthony. He could not believe Officer Yanez could get off and that the Lowry Grove 25 situation was horrible. Mr. Hanson asked if the Council ever thought about what they were 26 doing to those people and if they attend church. 27 28 Ms. Vanessa Gadberry, resident of Minneapolis, stated she has lived in Twin Cities her entire 29 life. Her grandfather villainized the Black Lives Matter movement. She stated she works full 30 time and is passionate about her career, just like Philando Castile. Ms. Gadberry stated whether 31 or not a person has a job does not speak to their worth. She is a human who values other humans 32 and believes the Council should note the faces that appear before them. She stated Black Lives 33 Matter and this should be heard from the City officials and police department. 34 35 Ms. Erin Jordahl - Redlin, 3012 Armor Terrace, described her experience while attending a racial 36 bias training session with St. Anthony employees. She paraphrased comments made during the 37 training, finding most of the people were respectful but several St. Anthony employees acted 38 hostile and unwilling to be at the training. These employees were members of the Police 39 Department. Ms. Jordahl - Redlin relayed that several police officers shared their thoughts, felt 40 they were under attack, asked why people of color did not like members of their profession, and 41 whether they should continue in their jobs. She stated she heard very much anger and pain and 42 left the training upset by what she heard. Ms. Jordahl - Redlin believed mental health counseling 43 should be available to the police officers and that there is a culture of bias problem within the 44 Police Department. She stated officers attend warrior training to make them think more like 45 warriors but believed they don't spend enough time working to de- escalate situations. She stated 46 she is worried about the training for the police officers and lack of mental health counseling. Ms. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 27, 2017 Page 7 F11 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 IX. 38 39 X. 40 41 42 43 Respectfully submitted, 44 Debbie Wolfe 45 Timesaver off Site Secretarial, Inc. 46 Jordahl - Redlin believed that no changes will happen until those in power are gone, stating she has lost confidence that the leaders of St. Anthony can address the problems. Ms. Kelly Regen, 2614 30`h Avenue NE, stated they moved to St Anthony two years ago before they knew. She apologized she did not step up and join the residents and asked Mayor Faust to step up and step down. Ms. Heidi Andermack 2705 Townview Avenue NE, quoting Franklin Roosevelt, stated `the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.' She believed a lot of decisions have been made by the Council out of fear in the last year and that St. Anthony is in a downward spiral due to fear and decisions made. She stated the energy of the people present is going to take back the community because they are fired up and ready to go. Ms. Sophia Valdez, 2404 27`h Avenue NE, stated she appeared before the Council a year ago and spoke about progress. She believed that progress did not happen following Philando Castile's death. She quoted the definition of a good leader and asked the Council to exercise their strengths. Ms. Kate Martin 2513 35`h Avenue, stated she has attended Lowry Grove meetings every week for the past year. She shared examples of how community members have helped the Lowry Grove residents and stated she is very sad about what happened at Lowry Grove. She believed that while the Council attended different meetings, they found no time to help the Lowry Grove residents and this group of leaders has ignored the Lowry Grove residents. Ms. Jennifer McGuire, 3408 3151 Avenue NE, stated she shared last year about an incident that occurred in her front yard. She has spent a lot of time searching the database made available to her, spoke to the DOJ, spent some time with Lowry Grove residents, and a family from Lowry Grove is moving into her home. Ms. McGuire stated she is a member of the Police Advisory Council and her wife was at the meeting where the Police Department annual report was presented but was not allowed to ask Chief Mangseth any questions. Ms. McGuire stated she found Mayor Faust's treatment of her wife at that meeting to be horrible and disrespectful including homophobic commentary, which she does not appreciate that. She stated it is inappropriate to make commentary about people who are not like yourselves. Mayor Faust asked if anyone else wished to speak. No one appeared at the podium INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS — NONE. ADJOURNMENT. Mayor Faust adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m. City Council Regular Meeting Minutes June 27, 2017 Page 8 ii ATTEST: Mayo GLt1/ /� /�' City C Jerk 6 7