HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC MINUTES 071420201 CITY OF ST. ANTHONY
2 CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
3 JULY 14, 2020
4
5 CALL TO ORDER.
6
7 Mayor Stille called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
8
9 PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
10
11 Mayor Stille invited the Council and audience to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
12
13 ROLL CALL.
14
15 Present: Mayor Stille, Councilmembers Jenson, Randle, Walker and Webster.
16 Absent: None
17 Also Present: City Manager Mark Casey, and Assistant to the City Manager Charlie Yunker
18 Guests: Julianne Hunter, Meredith Socha and David Socha, Semhar Solomon
19
20 CONSIDERATION, DISCUSSION, AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON ALL OF THE FOLLOWING
21 ITEMS.
22
23 I. APPROVAL OF JULY 14, 2020 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA.
24
25 Motion by Councilmember Randle, seconded by Councilmember Walker, to approve the City
26 Council Meeting Agenda of July 14, 2020.
27
28 Motion carried 5-0.
29
30 II. PROCLAMATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS.
31
32 A. Presentation of VillageFest 2020 Activities
33
34 Ms. Julianne Hunter made a presentation to the City Council on VillageFest 2020 activities
35 during COVID-19. She explained there was planned to be a sidewalk art contest using Google
36 Maps. She noted they have partnered with the Voyagers and plan to have a medallion hunt.
37 Two music mayhem events are also being planned. There has been collaboration with CTV
38 where past parades and fireworks will be shown. They are looking at giving back to the
39 businesses with a business passport and will be available July 31 St through August 9th. She noted
40 there will also be a blood drive, the St. Anthony Community Theater will be doing some events
41 and they are also going to encourage the graduating seniors to put their banners back out in order
42 for the community to congratulate them.
43
44 Mayor Stille asked how the budget was going this year and what is the strategy to raise money.
45 Ms. Hunter indicated they are City supported but self -funded. She stated money is made from
46 the silent auction, the beer and water tents and vendors that come each year. She indicated they
47 are not planning on soliciting funds at all this year, there are enough funds for one more year.
48
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 2
1 Councilmember Webster thanked Ms. Hunter for her leadership in chairing VillageFest each
2 year. She also thanked the volunteers for finding ways the community can get together that
3 weekend as well. Mayor Stille concurred and is a grassroots effort.
4
5 Councilmember Walker stated with COVID-19 he tells people the City needs to do what it can
6 do.
7
8 III. CONSENT AGENDA.
9
10 A. Approve June 23, 2020, Council meeting minutes.
11 B. Licenses and permits.
12 C. Claims.
13 D. Resolution 20-057; a Resolution Accepting Grants and Donations Received in the 2nd
14 Quarter of 2020.
15
16 Motion by Councilmember Webster, seconded by Councilmember Randle, to approve the
17 Consent Agenda items.
18
19 Motion carried 5-0.
20
21 IV. PUBLIC HEARING — NONE.
22
23 V. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF — NONE.
24
25 VI. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL.
26
27 A. Dangerous Dog Appeal.
28
29 City Manager Casey reviewed the staff report with the City Council regarding an appeal of the
30 dangerous dog order.
31
32 Mrs. Meredith Socha and Mr. David Socha, 3207 Silver Lake Road NE, respectfully requested
33 that the City Council reverse the designation of their dog Hammerheart as a dangerous dog. She
34 reviewed the materials she submitted to the City with the Council.
35
36 Councilmember Jenson asked if going forward anytime the dog is outside and walking will he be
37 wearing a muzzle. Mr. Socha indicated that was correct, anytime he is outside the bounds of
38 their yard he will be wearing a muzzle. Mrs. Socha indicated given what has happened they will
39 muzzle the dog while out walking going forward and since this has happened, they have
40 submitted a request for the City to allow them to build a six-foot vinyl fence in their yard as well.
41
42 Councilmember Randle asked what other precautions might be made for this because he was
43 kind of disturbed by this. He noted he walked by the Socha's house the other day to see what
44 provisions they had such as a fence and he also saw children riding up and down the street and
45 also down Silver Lake Road and that is a concern for him.
46
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 3
1 Councilmember Walker stated as an owner of a dog he has a certain sensitivity and objectivity
2 about the relationship between pets and owners. He did not have a problem with the definition
3 of their dog being classified as a dangerous dog, it is more the consequences of being labeled a
4 dangerous dog. The muzzle seems to nullify a lot of the concerns for future incidents. If the
5 owners are in compliance with that, even with the designation of being a dangerous dog, he
6 thought that was something to be considered in a decision about where the City goes with
7 Hammerheart. Mr. Socha explained if the City reverses the designation, they will still continue
8 to have Hammerheart wear the muzzle if he is off of their property and also to wear a walking
9 harness recommended by Bark Busters.
10
11 Councilmember Webster asked Mr. Casey to share with the Council and audience that if the City
12 Council appeals the order and this dog bites another person, would the City be liable. Mr. Casey
13 indicated he would not have a direct answer for that, but he would assume it would have some
14 sort of affect on the City's insurance rates that would come back and place them into a higher
15 classification. The insurance does look at the City's risk and also at claims that the City has and
16 as a part of that formula it is determined what kind of premium to charge the City. He noted he
17 has not had any discussion with the insurance agent, but he thought the City could be at a greater
18 risk if something like this would happen again.
19
20 Mrs. Socha indicated if she is a lawyer and if a claim were brought against the City it would
21 affect its insurance rates but she did not foresee anything like this happening again because this
22 startled them and they plan on taking additional precautions along with additional intensive
23 training as well as having their dog wear a muzzle and walking harness along with building a
24 fence. She also indicated they currently have State Farm Insurance and that does cover dog bites
25 and that insurance is for $300,000 and they also carry a one million dollar umbrella policy so
26 they would be the first liable under the dangerous dog statutes and it is only if the damages
27 exceed what their insurance would cover up to one million dollars so there would not be any
28 reason for someone to make a claim against the City.
29
30 Mrs. Socha indicated the City Ordinance, 91.36, is an unusual Ordinance and she did some
31 research and could not find another Ordinance that said that if a dog is labeled a dangerous dog
32 that it could not stay in the City. The Statutory scheme seems to be that if a dog meets the
33 definition of a dangerous dog that these precautions and restrictions have to take place, which
34 quite frankly, registering with the City and having a sign that says "dangerous dog lives here"
35 and wearing a dangerous dog tag on the muzzle are the only things they are not currently doing
36 already. She stated the Ordinance get more extreme if there is another incidence, once declared a
37 dangerous dog. The City has the discretion to put the dog down if there are multiple bites. It
38 seems when she reviewed the Statute that the Statutory Scheme actually conflicts with the
39 Ordinance which states a dangerous dog cannot stay in the City. She thought the Ordinance was
40 problematic and thought it would be worth the City's time and consideration to review this at a
41 future time.
42
43 Councilmember Jenson asked if the City were to move forward with allowing them to keep the
44 dog and to drop the designation, does the history of the two bites stay with the City. He did not
45 think the track record should go away. Mrs. Socha thought the history would stay with the City
46 as a public record. Mr. Casey indicated the City would retain a history.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 4
1
2 Councilmember Randle asked if the owners are currently using a muzzle on the dog. Mr. Socha
3 indicated they were. Councilmember Randle asked how long the muzzle has been used. Mr.
4 Socha stated it has been used since the incident.
5
6 Councilmember Webster thanked the Socha's for submitting such detailed records for the appeal
7 but while she was reviewing the information, she kept thinking about had the two incidents
8 happened to either a child or to someone who is deathly afraid of dogs, might this discussion be
9 tremendously different. She thought that was the piece she had trouble getting out of her head
10 and she appreciated the steps they have taken to put things in place to ensure the dogs safety and
11 she indicated she continues to think about the what ifs.
12
13 Mayor Stille thanked the applicants for their presentation.
14
15 Detective Rushton reviewed his police report regarding the incident with the City Council.
16
17 Mayor Stille thanked Detective Rushton for his report.
18
19 City Manager Casey indicated the City received an email from Andrea Braun at 3741 Foss Road.
20
21 Mayor Stille indicated the Council needed to deliberate this item. He noted the Council had
22 three different choices that could be made, the first being designating this dog as a potentially
23 dangerous dog, in essence bringing this back to where it was before it became a dangerous dog
24 before the last incident. Secondly, the Council can affirm the dangerous dog classification and
25 the third option would be no designation at all, which he did not see as a possibility. He
26 indicated this is a tough one for the Council and no one likes to put a dog down but is a part of
27 what the Council is tasked with. He pointed out that the second victim has come to the defense
28 of the dog. He really believed that the owner has the history and wherewithal and the result to do
29 the right thing. He thought the sincerity has been demonstrated and there have been further
30 precautions with the training and the fence. He acknowledged that this is a difficult thing.
31
32 Councilmember Randle explained he understood where Mayor Stille was coming from but in his
33 mind a bite is a bite, whether it be aggressive or any other kind of bite, the fact of the matter is,
34 people got bit. As Councilmember Webster stated, which he thought about all weekend, what if
35 those had been children and if those were children there would be a different conversation. He
36 did not disagree that the Ordinance is antiquated and needs to be looked at, but the Council still
37 needs to deal with what is before them today. He indicated it is about the children in his mind.
38 With the number of children and traffic up and down Silver Lake Road and even on the Socha's
39 street, that is not a chance he is willing to take.
40
41 Councilmember Walker stated one could argue that perchance there was negligence, prior
42 negligence in terms of after the first bite and so forth but what he is hearing now is that there has
43 been adequate or sufficient steps taken with the muzzle and with that in place, particularly
44 outdoors, that kind of rules out the likelihood of a bite to anyone at that point whether it is a child
45 or an adult. He thought the steps that the Socha's are taking need to be taken into consideration,
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 5
1 particularly with the muzzle because that nullifies the concern about whether it is a child or an
2 adult.
3
4 Mayor Stille did not think the City would be putting a muzzle requirement in place. If this
5 passes, the applicant would be doing that so the question would be does the Council believe the
6 applicant would be doing that. He noted he would not be supportive of any kind of arrangement
7 where the City has to try to enforce a muzzle requirement on one particular dog. He stated what
8 troubles him is the Police cannot be subjective when reporting this, they have to report what has
9 taken place and it is up to the Council to determine the type, type of dog, and situation. Because
10 of that, it is the Council's rule to be arbitrators.
11
12 Motion by Councilmember Webster, seconded by Councilmember Randle, to affirm the order of
13 the Police Chief's dangerous dog order.
14
15 Mayor Stille indicated he has confidence in the applicant that they will do the right thing. He
16 knew this is risky, but he thought the risk will be mitigated one hundred percent going forward.
17
18 Ayes — 3, Nays — 1(Stille, Walker). Motion carried
19
20 Mrs. Socha requested that the City Council agree to review the Ordinance. She indicated
21 the Council could repeal the Ordinance and the State Statute and all other requirements
22 would still apply along with muzzling their dog. She also requested the Council stay
23 enforcement of the Ordinance until it can be reviewed. She asked if a motion could be
24 made to review the Ordinance and enforce a stay.
25
26 Mayor Stille indicated the Council did not have the information in front of them in time and
27 he thought it was really hard to craft an Ordinance at this stage. He will promise that this
28 will be reviewed at a work session. Ms. Socha was not asking for a review and decision at
29 the meeting but would request the Ordinance be reviewed at a work session and for the
30 Council to stay the Ordinance for removal of the dog from the City until the Ordinance can
31 be reviewed. Mayor Stille thought the Council could do that if there was a consensus.
32
33 The Council consensus was to stay the Ordinance until review could be done at a future
34 work session.
35
36 Mrs. Socha thanked the City Council and indicated they will abide by all of the regulations
37 and Ordinance in the meantime.
38
39 B. Resolution 20-058; a Resolution Modifying Observed Holidays.
40
41 City Manager Casey reviewed the resolution with the Council.
42
43 Councilmember Jenson appreciated the fact that staff is recommending the change to Juneteenth
44 as a National Holiday in St. Anthony.
45
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 6
1 Mayor Stille indicated this is an example of a work session where things are discussed to bring
2 forth to the Council meeting to make decisions.
3
4 Mr. Casey indicated he received a letter from Mr. Tom Wersmon, 2609 Paul Avenue.
5
6 Councilmember Webster noted in this new plan, City offices would be open one additional day
7 during the year. Mr. Casey indicated that was correct.
8
9 Motion by Councilmember Walker, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to approve Resolution
10 20-058; a Resolution Modifying Holidays Observed by the City of St. Anthony.
11
12 Motion carried 5-0.
13
14 C. Request to Paint Mural on St. Anthony City Hall Building.
15
16 City Manager Casey reviewed the staff report with the City Council.
17
18 Mayor Stille asked if the applicant would like to speak.
19
20 Ms. Semhar Solomon indicated she was going to be a senior at St. Anthony Village High School
21 this fall. She reviewed with the Council the reason for the mural request.
22
23 Mr. Casey indicated the City received ten emails, which he read from:
24
25 • Erin Jordahl-Redlin, 3013 Armor Terrace
26 • Richard Dallmeyer, 2513 30th Avenue NE
27 • Kate Martin, 2513 30th Avenue NE
28 • Emma Friend, 3113 Edward Street NE
29 • Sandi Sherman, 4008 Foss Road
30 • Joe Lofgren, 2704 31 St Avenue NE
31 • Laura Luftman, 3508 Roosevelt Street
32 • Travis MacLoud, 2501 Townview Avenue
33 • Bradley Jordahl-Redlin, 3012 Armor Terrace
34 • Andrea Mason, 2844 132nd Avenue, Coon Rapids
35 • Heidi Andermack, no address
36
37 Assistant City Manager Yunker indicated there were no phone call-in's and no one has indicated
38 they wished to speak online.
39
40 Mr. Peder Engebretson, 3124 Rankin Road, indicated he was at the meeting as a person of faith,
41 St. Anthony citizen and a public -school teacher. He thought about democracy as not be a thing
42 that they have but something they do. He believed everyone in the community deserves to be
43 heard and speaking justice in their hearts. Out of respect to their young voices, he is in favor of
44 the proposed mural. These young people deserve a yes or no tonight and if necessary, the chance
45 to proposed alternatives in the future. He urged the Council to vote in support of this mural.
46
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 7
1 Ms. Sabrina King, 3628 Roosevelt Street, indicated she did not agree and felt this is going to
2 open up something so much more. This will allow people to come forward and say the mural
3 was approved so they want something too. It is something where she has seen St. Anthony
4 Police Department make the changes. They are within the community and are active. They did
5 not do it, the person who did it no longer works there. Change starts with us and if it something
6 where they want a mural then to put it on their house and people can still see it, but this is the
7 entire community and not just them. She personally did not agree with it and did not think this
8 should be approved.
9
10 Mr. Paul Brett, 3625 Coolidge Street, indicated he was at the meeting to express his support for
11 the request to place a mural honoring the memory of Philando Castile on this building and he
12 thought this would be one of the most important steps the City could take toward showing that
13 St. Anthony Village is a Village that is truly welcoming to all. The mural would honor the
14 memory of Mr. Castile and it could become a place of healing for the family of Mr. Castile and
15 for all of his friends and all of the people that fought for justice for him in the same way that the
16 corner of 381h and Chicago is becoming a healing place for the memory of George Floyd. We
17 really need something like this in the community and is something that goes way past the
18 community and will help them to recognize the City's place in the larger Twin Cities
19 community. He thought it was important to remember that while a lot of the same people may
20 not work in the same positions, St. Anthony has been involved in some pretty serious
21 discriminatory and racist acts and have had to pay a lot of money and fines to the Department of
22 Justice because of some of them. It is important for them to remember that the City is starting to
23 turn a big corner on a lot of these things and starting to move in a very different way. He thought
24 the City could find a way to work around the City Ordinance too.
25
26 Mayor Stille noted as a point of clarification, the City has not paid the Department of Justice any
27 money in fines.
28
29 Ms. Mel Chaput, 3537 Coolidge Street NE, stated she is hearing from a lot of folks speaking
30 talking about this mural and about the accountability and the reminder that the mural can work to
31 help heal but the other point she wants to make is they need representation in this community.
32 The residents need it in the schools, in our leadership. She explained she has two kids of color
33 and she knew that they need to feel represented. She has heard over the years and since Mr.
34 Castile was killed that they feel invisible and that this is a place that they belong. She did not
35 think this is an uncommon thought for the kids of color in this community. She thought a mural
36 like this will give the kids hope that they are seen, heard, and valued and she thought that kind of
37 representation is incredibly important. This mural is an opportunity to bring a chair to the table.
38 People have been talking about this for four years and has fallen on deaf ears. She stated the
39 City Council needs to take a serious look at this mural and ask yourself why they would not go
40 forward with something like this.
41
42 Mr. Mark Wald, 3024 Harding Street, voiced his support for the mural. He sensed the passion in
43 Semhar's voice when she spoke, and it reminded him of the passions of the people he works
44 with. He had to admit that for up to the first ninety percent of his life he has been rather tone
45 deaf to the challenges that people of color face. Four years ago when Mr. Castile was killed he
46 was saddened but it did not really sink in and then when George Floyd was killed it spurred a lot
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 8
1 of discussion for people and he started to see what the challenges really were and why people are
2 so angry. He indicated he needs this mural to remind him of the challenges and anger of the
3 colored people and that there is racial injustice in the world. He urged the mural to be
4 commissioned and painted.
5
6 Ms. Sandi Sherman indicated she sent an email but needed to comment. She listened to Mr.
7 Casey's reference to the Ordinance which he felt would preclude this mural and she thought it
8 was a big stretch because no one is donating money or asking for something to be renamed. The
9 community is asking for a piece of art that reflects something that happened to and in the
10 community to be put up as a way to acknowledge, memorialize and as a way to heal.
11
12 Mr. James Wald, 3024 Harding Street, voiced his support for the mural in remembrance of
13 Philando Castile on the wall of City Hall. He asked what tangible steps the City has taken since
14 this atrocity to combat the crippling effects of systematic racism and police injustice. As a
15 community they must set the standard for rectifying our inequities of the past. We must hold the
16 community members, our representatives and most of all our Police Officers accountable for
17 what they have done. What better way to start this than painting a beautiful mural to remember
18 the life of Philando Castile. A mural like this does not have a political agenda. A mural like this
19 does not breed hate or division, what a mural like this does do is let every single person in this
20 community know that as a City we will not sit back and allow racism to fester. As a City we will
21 value the voices of people of color just as much as we do their white counterparts. Every single
22 day our officers will drive into the station and see the smiling face of Philando Castile. His smile
23 will not be a smile of condemnation but rather a smile that reminds them that they have to be
24 better. That every day they must vow to search each and every member of this community with
25 quality and grace, regardless of the color of their skin.
26
27 Mr. Randy Anderson, 3604 33rd Avenue, stated he hears of the passion expressed and he can feel
28 the concern which is wonderful. There are probably, however, many individuals within the City
29 of St. Anthony who may not see it the same way. They may feel that having a mural is not a
30 source of unity in the community but instead causing more disunity and uncomfortableness.
31 Promotion of values that they may not agree with such as a support for maybe, Black Lives
32 Matter, which whether you personally express a confidence and good feeling towards Black
33 Lives Matter, as far as maybe fifty percent of the American people, and who knows how many
34 within the community, they are not as comfortable with Black Lives Matter. Either with the
35 philosophy behind it, those who represent it, the damage that has resulted because of it and so to
36 some degree then having a mural may not be a unifying, helpful, healing process that we would
37 like to have and maybe the better healing process comes from each of us enjoying each other,
38 getting to know each other and experiencing life together and really respecting each other at a
39 deeper level than merely saying that we respect each other or that something will help the
40 community experience the unity and we may find out that it is really not helping to bring greater
41 unity but maybe uncomfortableness. He explained there were a number of people in St.
42 Anthony, who when the people came down 33rd and saw people carrying AK47's did not feel
43 very comfortable about that march through there even though it was peaceful but never the less,
44 there may be a lot of people within the community who are not encouraged by a mural but may
45 feel very sad to have a mural. Some people have different opinions that this audience may not
46 agree with and everybody is free to have their opinion and to encourage others to see their
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 9
1 opinion and to respect their opinion and even follow along and agree with their position and want
2 to stand up for that position but there are a lot of people who do not have the same opinion,
3 either for their character of Philando Castile or their concern of Black Lives Matter in the United
4 States today. And the philosophy that may be under herding a lot of what is going on in the
5 society today that is causing a tremendous amount of disunity in the Nation. To his feelings, he
6 did not think the mural is the appropriate way to encourage unity and healing in the community
7 but rather eating meals with each other and enjoying each other's company, sharing common
8 values, work side by side but not opening the idea of having murals, which may be the first of
9 many murals because there are people who have deep feelings about all kinds of different issues
10 and may want that represented by somebody that they see as standing for that particular value
11 that they hope all will agree with. He thought it would be a good idea not to have the mural and
12 to work in other ways of uniting, caring, listening, and developing a sense of respect.
13
14 Ms. Kara Ballot, 3637 Roosevelt Street, indicated she is a Native American and have lived in
15 this community her entire life. She believed art does help heal but this is a public building and
16 we pay our taxes and she did not believe that on the wall of a public building there should be art
17 and those kind of murals because it does open them up for other murals. She asked where does it
18 stop and where does the line get drawn.
19
20 Ms. Jessica Swiontek, 2704 Murray Avenue, stated she has lived in St. Anthony for six months
21 and loves the community. She has discovered that the property she lives on is in possession of a
22 racial covenant. She explained what a racial covenant is. She believed that they have a lot of
23 work to do and she supports the mural that is being attempted to be added to the City. She
24 wanted to know why it is easier for her to select a beer that she would like to find at the St.
25 Anthony Municipal Liquor store near her home than it is to find the records for any of the Police
26 Officers within the City. This is just information that she would like to know, as a citizen, to be
27 more informed. She explained she is thirty-three years old and feels like she has a lot of
28 American history to catch up on. She is from a family that has served in the armed forces with
29 people of many color and she did not know that we, as a Country, have come very far in
30 recognizing the education that is missing from a lot of us. It makes her very sad that so many
31 people were not afforded the same luxuries. She thought that a mural is an incredible step and
32 thought this brings a lot of discomfort. She is nervous because she does have a high level of
33 discomfort in the lack of education she has and that she needs to relearn and catch up on so that
34 she can be a better steward to her kids and others in the community.
35
36 Mr. Brett stated the community does not need to be afraid of the Freedom Riders, they are
37 probably not here protecting us. He would challenge the state about feeling discomfort if a
38 mural went up would be wrong, the discomfort felt for such a mural pale in comparison to the
39 discomfort that people of color and black indigenous people feel when they have to go out at
40 night and worry about being pulled over. He indicated he works with a lot of black men and they
41 have a lot of problems getting pulled over. He was not sure if St. Anthony was getting any better
42 because he has heard some things in the past. That fear of disunity caused by a mural and that
43 discomfort is not the discomfort they have to fear, we have to fear the discomfort that our youth
44 of color are feeling in schools. They do not want them leaving the St. Anthony School system
45 feeling that their concerns were not heard or that we are not recognizing how unsafe they are.
46 We really need to focus it back and think.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 10
2 Mayor Stille closed the public input. He asked the City Council for discussion or a motion to
approve or deny the request.
4
5 Councilmember Randle applauded the work that Semhar Solomon has been doing but he did not
6 agree with the mural. He has heard many people say that this will bring the community closer
7 together, but he did not think so. He thought it would divide the community. He has heard the
8 residents and people who have spoken at the meeting but he also represents St. Anthony as a
9 whole and he has heard from a lot of other residents who have chosen not to speak in public,
10 probably for the same reason that the gentleman spoke of, afraid of repercussions or being
11 bashed or whatever on social media. He indicated he is not on social media, so he did not know
12 the extent of it, only about what people hear. He did not believe it would bring them together.
13 He is open for some type of compromise and was willing to work with the community to do
14 something as a community as a whole. He did not believe this is the way to do it and once the
15 door is opened there will be unattended consequences behind it and there will be requests for
16 other murals and where will the line be drawn so he will not be in favor of the mural and he is
17 also not pleased about the location of it. He did not think anyone in that Police Department need
18 reminding what happened four years ago. The Police Department has made major strides since
19 then. We are quick to pounce on them when something is wrong, but we never give them their
20 due diligence for protecting us and making the changes they have made. He stated he just does
21 not reach out and talk to white people, he also reaches out and talks to people of color to get their
22 opinions on this. Other people need to be able to have open dialogue and open discussion
23 without feeling like they are under attack. He was open for suggestions and discussion in the
24 future.
25
26 Councilmember Walker thought it was good there was diversity on the Council, and he would
27 say he would have to disagree to previous comments. They should not get lost in rhetoric. There
28 is a term called confirmation bias where the evidence you look for is confirming what you
29 already want to believe is the case. There is a lot of rhetoric out there. The comment regarding
30 Black Lives Matter is divisive and is dangerous, that is more rhetoric than substance. When
31 someone says they do not like the term, that offends him because he is black, and his life does
32 matter. It is a matter of logic and it puzzles him that people do not see the importance of the
33 distinction made. He was puzzled why people will say All Lives Matter but refuse to say Black
34 Lives Matter, it is a matter of pure logic. He indicated they can get together and have meals
35 together, but it should not be reactionary, it should be just a given and should not be the result of
36 having someone be shot by a Police Officer or a matter or racism. He stated there are Black
37 Lives Matter individuals who are in the movement, he is not in the movement but definitely
38 stand for the statement and is definitely open to interaction. He explained some believe that
39 mural would be divisive and cause division, who is causing the division, those who are the
40 creators of the mural or those who are opposing the mural. Restricting smokers from public
41 buildings was divisive, wearing seatbelts was divisive. The Civil Rights Movement was often
42 called divisive and the leaders were called agitators. He was puzzled that when a mural is being
43 proposed that same rhetoric is being used again. On a grand scale, so was slavery divisive and it
44 split the Union. No one fighting for justice would suggest that addressing slavery should be
45 forbidden or not discussed because it divides the Union. It goes without saying that pretty much
46 any call to justice will leave those not interested in justice to oppose it, thus causing division.
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 11
1 Division often exposes those on the wrong side of justice. Speaking of justice, there are different
2 kinds of justice, there is compensatory justice, and there are other kinds of justice. There is
3 something called restorative justice, and a mural could function in that way. We should not
4 narrow our attention to one type of justice. There are other forms of justice that need to be
5 pursued and not limited to a check to a family member.
6
7 Councilmember Walker explained a mural is not disrespectful to the Police Department. When
8 the idea came to his attention, he thought it was a great idea. He thought he had a healthy
9 relationship with the Police Department, and he can actually and honestly say to the Police
10 Officers that this is not disrespecting the department because he did not see them being charged
11 with anything here. A mural is simply honoring a person and does not say anything about how a
12 person was killed, it could and he did not know what the mural may look like but to have a
13 presumption that a mural is by definition going to be anti -police. Maybe it could be an image of
14 remembering Philando Castile for his life, what people value of him as a person. People coming
15 to the City, not knowing the history of Philando Castile, and seeing the mural, given what he just
16 said, would not know what happened to this man. They would see the positive things stated
17 about him, like we see at a funeral.
18
19 Councilmember Walker personally believed that the Police Department is doing great things and
20 making some reforms. He applauded the Police Department and was not in opposition to it,
21 while at the same time he thought a mural actually is not in opposition to the Police Department.
22 He stated there is no slippery slope here with this mural. The death of Philando Castile was a
23 unique experience for this community and cannot be compared to any other situation and should
24 not be treated in the same category of other individuals that someone may want to honor with a
25 mural.
26
27 Councilmember Jenson thanked the residents for being at the meeting. He explained he attended
28 a rally for Philando Castile on June 6th. He wanted to broaden his perspective and see how he
29 could take additional steps towards reconciling and repairing the relationships in the community.
30 He believes listening to each other with respect and being willing to change in our relationships
31 regardless of skin color will lead us towards greater justice and peace. All towards the goals to
32 eliminate systemic racism. Early on, he heard many speeches focused on racism within our
33 society and why change and honest, open dialogue is imperative. Something they need to
34 continue to address, follow up and act upon. He also heard speeches telling how terrible the City
35 and School District is. He stated at 5:45 p.m., during the rally he saw six men arrive as a group
36 on the corner of 33`d and Silver Lake Road, each one was carrying automatic assault riffles and
37 he felt quite unnerved to see them and walked away. In Tuesday's StarTribune paper, two of the
38 men were pictured flanking some of the leaders of the event. The tone of the rally changed as
39 they marched to 37th Avenue back to Nativity Lutheran Church. Their chant was "F... the
40 Police". The men with the assault riffles intimidated people along the march and fortunately no
41 shots were fired.
42
43 Councilmember Jenson shared some significant 2020 statistics with the audience. He stated the
44 City took immediate action following Philando Castile's death. He explained how City Staff and
45 the Police Department held themselves accountable by making operational changes to prevent
46 this type of tragedy from reoccurring. This was accomplished by reaching out to President
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 12
1 Obama's Twenty -First Century Procedural Justice Initiatives to the Department of Justice, the
2 Cops Technical Assistance Program and followed up with a deployment of body cameras. He
3 stated St. Anthony is the only city in American with a population under ten thousand to go
4 through this two-year training. We also confirmed that the City procedures meet the standards of
5 Eight Cannot Wait Campaign. This program has identified eight practices leading to fewer
6 deaths. In 2019 the St. Anthony Police Department reviewed its manual to ensure that
7 Department policies comply with all eight policies.
8
9 Councilmember Jenson stated multiple chants of "F...the Police" and marching on our streets
10 with automatic assault weapons do not reflect the spirit of healing and reconciliation, quite the
11 opposite and this behavior of hatred will not promote further positive reform. Following the
12 rally, his impression is the message of the mural is to be put up for spite and not supporting our
13 goal to end systematic racism. Furthermore, he cannot support this request nor any other request
14 for political statements and advertisements to be placed on City walls and structures. He stated
15 he was open to other avenues for additional reconciliation.
16
17 Mayor Stille indicated there was a person who raised their hand on Zoom.
18
19 Ms. Hawo Kamal, 3021 Silver Lake Road, stated for the gentleman that got up and talked about
20 feelings, for him it may be feelings but for the people of color in St. Anthony, it is their
21 livelihood. She stated for people of color they are not comfortable every single day in St.
22 Anthony. She stated St. Anthony has not done anything given the current situations of people of
23 color. She stated her people are not bitter, they are mad entirely. She stated she supports this
24 and believes it will be a great healing opportunity for St. Anthony.
25
26 Councilmember Webster stated she was quite proud of the community. She received over eighty
27 emails from residents either expressing their support or not supporting the mural. She
28 appreciated how the residents are recognizing the leadership of the young people, like Ms.
29 Solomon. She believed art can heal and supported the idea of a mural, but she cannot support the
30 mural on a publicly owned building. She also supports exploring alternatives. How might we
31 look at this mural as a way of generating conversation.
32
33 Councilmember Walker thought they needed to make a distinction between listening and
34 hearing. Hearing is a very passive ability we have, and listening is very active and intentional.
35 They should not get lost in the rhetoric or some particular actions that occurred in the marching
36 and the language that was used or the men who showed up. They need to focus on the reason
37 why this was done and should not focus on the words but the what it means. Many people are
38 fed up. If we do not have a mural or even one on public property then those who are suggesting
39 or initiating a mural should be partners in the City's decision making in terms of what is done if
40 the mural is not approved rather than the City deciding what occurs.
41
42 Mayor Stille thought maybe they should all work together and figure out what to do. He thought
43 the discussion tonight was inspiring with a lot of thought and a lot of words that ring true. He
44 thanked Semhar Solomon for bringing this forward and told her she was very passionate in
45 which the way she presented herself. He thought the idea of putting a mural on City property
46 makes him not supportive for two significant reasons. He stated this would be a precedent along
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 13
1 with unintended consequences. He stated the City has said no many times over the years and he
2 did not want to take a chance of setting a precedent for something occurring in the future. He
3 thought they needed to be supportive of the Police Department and training in fair and impartial
4 training techniques with de-escalation and implicit biased training. They need to make sure that
5 a tragedy like what happened with Philando Castile does not happen again. He did not like the
6 idea of having a mural on the Police Department wall is because of mental health and he thought
7 it was important for the Police Officers to have good mental health and common sense tells him
8 that daily punishment of the Police when they walk in the door is not a good thing and they need
9 to find other ways to encourage them and we all need to find better ways to work together.
10
11 Motion by Councilmember Randle, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to deny the request.
12
13 Councilmember Walker apologized to Councilmember Randle but did the motion need to be an
14 issue about the mural or the mural on the building itself because if the distinction is not made it
15 will be shut down immediately. Mayor Stille indicated the Council needed to stick to what is at
16 hand and will not expand tonight.
17
18 Councilmember Randle expanded on the motion to state:
19
20 Motion by Councilmember Randle, seconded by Councilmember Jenson, to deny the mural on
21 public property.
22
23 Ayes — 4, Nays — 1(Walker). Motion carried.
24
25 VII. REPORTS FROM CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL MEMBERS.
26
27 City Manager Casey reported that Saturday is carboard recycling event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at
28 Public Works. Coffee with the Council is also this Saturday and will be hosted by
29 Councilmember Walker and Councilmember Webster through Zoom. He also acknowledged the
30 work that was done by the Police, Public Works and Fire Departments from the Monday's march
31 and keeping everyone safe. He thought it was good outcome overall without any injuries.
32
33 Councilmember Webster stated on Monday, July 6th she attended the remembrance event of the
34 death of Philando Castile as organized by Ms. Solomon. It was a well -attended event. July 7th
35 the City Council had a work session and talked about realigning some of the paid holidays.
36 Thursday, July 9th, she had the opportunity to be the guest speaker on a Boy Scout Zoom
37 meeting, the topic was Constitutional Rights and Obligations of US Citizens. She thanked Troop
38 Leader Mark Duncan.
39
40 Councilmember Randle stated he attended the July 7th work session as well and discussed
41 budget, holiday realignment and other items. Sunday, July 10th, he attended the Sister City
42 meeting and they are promoting a road show from Finland in October, if it happens and will be
43 held at the 3M Building.
44
City Council Regular Meeting Minutes
July 14, 2020
Page 14
1 Councilmember Jenson stated he attended the work session as well and eight items were
2 discussed with no decisions being made. On July 10th he attended the Ramsey County Local
3 League of Governments meeting where there was discussion about the CARES Act program.
4
5 Councilmember Walker stated on June 25th he was recorded for the program City Speaks for
6 CTV. The person who interviewed him was Dan Healy and they talked about recent racial
7 tension in the Country in light of the death of George Floyd. Since that time, he has been in
8 conversations with a lot of residents in person, at a distance, discussing the same matters. He
9 also attended the gathering for Philando Castile but was not there for the march.
10
11 Mayor Stille stated he attended the work session where the budget was discussed. On July 13th,
12 he went to the Regional Council of Mayor meeting and the topic was learning and School
13 Districts and how they are coping with COVID and distance learning. He also attended the
14 Mississippi Water Management Organization Board of Director meeting today.
15
16 VIII. COMMUNITY FORUM.
17
18 Mayor Stille invited residents to come forward at this time and address the Council on items that
19 are not on the regular agenda.
20
21 City Manager Casey indicated he received two emails from the following residents:
22
23 • Ms. Marie Schuster, 3409 31 St Avenue NE
24 • Mr. Rick Schuster, 3409 31 St Avenue NE
25
26 IX. INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.
27
28 None.
29
30 X. ADJOURNMENT.
31
32 Mayor Stille adjourned the meeting at 9:23 p.m.
33
34
35 Respectfully submitted,
36 Sue Osbeck
37 TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
38
39 4 Mayor
40 ATTEST:
41 C. Clerk
42
43