[0:45] Good evening everyone [0:48] and welcome. It is 5:30 [0:51] and I will call our regular city council [0:55] work session to order. [0:58] It's always wonderful to see everybody [1:00] here and welcome. Our work sessions are [1:04] very informal [1:06] and um [1:08] we go directly to our u agenda. [1:13] >> So thank you for being present. [1:16] >> Okay, I steal one of those. [1:18] >> The first item on the agenda is our [1:20] legislative agenda. [1:22] And um [1:25] let's see. [1:27] Um [1:35] and we have Chief um [1:38] BJ Jungman is going to lead up the [1:40] discussion. And so Chief, this floor is [1:43] yours. And welcome to our legislators. [1:46] Thank you for being here, Senator Port [1:49] and um Representative uh Berg. Thank you [1:52] for being here. [1:55] Madam Mayor, members of the council, [1:56] thanks for uh being here and giving us [1:58] time tonight to cover the legislative [1:59] agenda with our state legislators. Um [2:01] appreciate Senator Port and [2:03] Representative Berg being here with us. [2:05] Um uh Representative Ryerson's regret [2:07] she was unable to make it had a [2:08] conflict. Um I'd also like to point out [2:11] we have our Lockidge team over there. Um [2:14] and Alex and Kate. Um so appreciate [2:16] their support as well. So, uh, everybody [2:18] should have a copy of the legislative [2:20] agenda in front of them. And I'm happy [2:22] to walk through that. And, uh, again, [2:25] thanks thanks to our our state [2:27] delegation for their support. Uh, we've [2:28] had many successes over the years due to [2:30] their support and championing, uh, many [2:33] initiatives that that benefit uh, [2:35] Burnsville. So, [2:38] uh, starting at the top of our agenda [2:39] here, uh, we have three kind of bigger [2:42] initiatives. uh really uh working with [2:45] partnership with other other [2:46] organizations to uh modernize EMS [2:50] regulations uh emergency medical [2:52] services uh that allow communities to [2:54] adjust based on evolving needs. Uh [2:56] currently whoever was the license holder [2:58] in basically the early 70s is the [3:01] license holder today and many [3:04] communities have changed over time not [3:05] allowing local uh municipalities to [3:08] decide who their license provider is. [3:11] And so we would like to see that and [3:12] that becomes important to us with our [3:14] mutual aid partners and the support that [3:16] we can rely on back and forth. So um [3:19] we've worked with the League of Cities [3:21] on this. We've worked with um the fire [3:23] chiefs and others to to work on moving [3:27] the the dial on this and it's a big one. [3:29] So uh little by little we continue to [3:32] work on that. The second one is is a bit [3:35] broader but it's about local control. We [3:37] want to have uh make sure that we have [3:39] legislation to uh allow the city to make [3:44] um decisions that fit our local needs. [3:46] Each municipality is a bit different and [3:48] has its own needs. So whether that's [3:50] local option sales tax, the franchise [3:52] fees, um zoning, uh revenue tools, [3:57] things like that. Each city approaches [3:59] all of these a little bit differently [4:01] and we feel it's important that the [4:02] locals have the ability, the local [4:04] elected officials have the ability to [4:06] make those decisions um as each [4:08] community approaches it differently. Uh [4:10] the third of these is the construction [4:12] sales tax exemption. Uh as everybody [4:14] that's here in person knows, you walked [4:16] uh by an awesome construction site going [4:18] on and uh we're putting an addition and [4:20] remodeling city hall and the police [4:22] department. Uh public safety buildings [4:24] are already sales tax exempt, but city [4:27] facilities are not. So half the project [4:28] is sales tax exempt, the other half [4:30] isn't. So we would like to round that [4:32] project out and ensure that uh the city [4:34] hall portion also becomes sales tax [4:37] exempt. So that's our major initiatives. [4:40] I'll pause there, see if anybody's got [4:41] any questions. [4:45] >> Representative Berg, [4:47] I think there we haven't changed much [4:50] from last year. It's about the same [4:52] priorities that we continue to work on. [4:55] And my hope is that one of those days it [4:58] gets off the list. [5:01] So [5:02] >> we continue to work on them. Sometimes [5:04] they they're longer longer term projects [5:06] and that's okay. [5:06] >> Well, keep at them. [5:08] >> Especially our EMS services. That's been [5:11] on the list for such a long time and [5:14] >> and this is something that's so [5:16] important to all of the communities to [5:18] really understand how that happens. So [5:21] >> madame mayor, I have a question about [5:22] that. the EMS services chief. Uh is [5:25] there [5:27] the bill existing from last year [5:29] continuing to move forward or is there [5:30] new legislation this year? [5:33] >> Uh members of council and Senator Port, [5:36] the bill still exists from last year. Um [5:38] and we'll continue to work through that. [5:40] There was some modifications that kind [5:42] of watered it down, but we continue to [5:45] work on that transparency piece and move [5:46] that forward. So, we look forward to [5:48] keep working on that and I know there'll [5:50] be other initiatives introduced this [5:51] session as well. [5:53] >> Great. [5:54] >> My question, Senator Port and um [5:56] Representative Berg, when these items [5:59] come before you, are there do you see [6:01] some of these sticking points that um we [6:04] could work on on any of the on on this [6:07] particular one because it's been on our [6:10] agenda for such a long time. [6:12] Um, you know, I will say that EMS [6:16] services has been very uh present, a [6:19] very present conversation at the [6:21] legislature for the last few years. Um, [6:24] I think it is becoming more clear to [6:27] both legislators and the public that [6:29] sort of the system that exists now in [6:31] the way that it exists now across the [6:34] state is just not sustainable. Um, so I [6:37] do feel like in the last couple of years [6:39] that that conversation has moved [6:41] forward. Um, there are powerful entities [6:45] that be that really like things the way [6:47] they are or want them a specific way. [6:50] Um, but I do think that legislators are [6:53] beginning to understand that it's just [6:55] not tenable. Um, and we need to make the [6:58] changes. uh it's it's being felt by the [7:00] people in our communities and that's [7:03] just not an acceptable uh cost to keep [7:07] things the way they are. So, so I do [7:09] have hope that that conversation is [7:11] opening up a little bit at the [7:13] legislature. [7:14] >> Thank you. because we're moving forward [7:17] and I think there are more and more [7:20] cities that are adding their voice to [7:22] this conversation and that helps also [7:26] because [7:28] >> chief you can correct me if I'm wrong. [7:30] Uh sometimes there are some cities that [7:32] are silent and are okay with just a few [7:35] of the chiefs to uh carry that water. [7:38] But I think now there are more and more [7:39] cities who are now opting in because it [7:43] hasn't they're seeing and the effects of [7:46] this [7:47] that is not sustainable to your point, [7:50] Senator. [7:52] >> Yeah, Chief. [7:53] >> Madame Mayor, that's correct. Yeah. [7:55] >> All right. And I'd like to welcome [7:58] Representative Hansen. Thanks for [7:59] coming. Good to see you. [8:00] >> Welcome, [8:01] >> Representative Hansen. Welcome. [8:04] >> So, moving on to state funding requests. [8:05] Like like the the top initiatives, these [8:08] are probably very familiar to all of [8:09] you. Um again, uh two funding requests. [8:13] One is the water treatment plant uh $ [8:16] 8.55 million uh funding requests um [8:20] through bonding. And as we know, the [8:23] world of water treatment is continuing [8:24] to evolve. Um Burnsville has a unique [8:27] water treatment plant that treats both [8:29] surface and groundwater. Uh which is [8:31] great from a redundancy standpoint, uh [8:33] but creates challenges with water [8:35] treatment, particularly with things like [8:36] PAS and that coming. And our our water [8:39] treatment facility is uh built in 1976 [8:42] and needs some significant improvements [8:45] and it is it supplies water beyond the [8:48] borders of Burnsville. It supplies the [8:49] majority of Savage's water and [8:51] potentially beyond. So it is super [8:53] important to the to the area that that [8:55] um that water treatment plant gets [8:58] renovated to meet the growing needs. So [9:01] uh and changing needs I should say. The [9:03] second one is the highway 13 and [9:05] Nicollet mobility program. That is not a [9:07] bonding request. That is more about [9:08] using um uh highway funds for that and [9:13] we've been working closely with Mindot. [9:14] We've had a great meeting with them and [9:15] it sounds like that project's on track. [9:18] uh we maxed out the bonding dollars, but [9:19] just keeping that support and making [9:21] sure it stays the front of of mind to [9:23] Mandot and our legislators that we know [9:25] how important that that interchange is [9:27] there for uh not only motor vehicle [9:30] safety but pedestrian safety. Um [9:32] unfortunately we've had some tragedies [9:33] over the years and we want to prevent [9:35] those from the future uh tragedies. [9:39] And then moving to the back uh we have a [9:41] handful of of supporting positions as [9:44] well. Uh again, many of these will [9:47] probably sound familiar to you, but the [9:48] freeway landfill and dump remediation [9:51] um again making sure that that we [9:54] protect the the drinking water down [9:56] there um and that gets remediated [9:59] um if anything happens in that area. So, [10:02] we just want to make sure that that [10:03] stays protected and that the online area [10:06] is accounted for and and future water [10:09] projections if um the quarry were to [10:12] stop operating. Uh the second one is the [10:15] host community economic development [10:16] grant. You know that you know or one of [10:18] a handful or two facilities that that [10:22] host uh um [10:25] waste facilities um with the the dump [10:28] down there and making sure that that [10:30] continues to be a viable grant program [10:32] for us. Um and we know that that has [10:34] been uh looked at and diverted at times [10:38] and we appreciate your support of [10:39] maintaining that to the host facilities, [10:42] host communities. Uh the second one is [10:44] just something to monitor is the school [10:45] resource officer legislation [10:47] implementation. As you remember two [10:49] years ago there was there was some uh [10:51] modifications to that language and then [10:52] there was some discussion about how it [10:53] was going to be implemented. So far [10:55] that's worked well. Uh but we want to [10:57] keep that on the forefront to make sure [10:58] that it continues to because the agency [11:01] could could interpret some of those [11:02] things a little differently. Uh the last [11:05] one on the lefth hand column is the [11:06] statutory plan B administrative [11:08] purchasing. Uh statutory plan A um [11:11] cities uh which are the majority of [11:13] cities by count uh have the ability to [11:16] purchase administratively at a much [11:17] higher uh cost at like 75,000 and [11:20] statuto plan B is capped at 20,000 and [11:24] that's been in that way for many many [11:26] years and what you can buy for 20,000 is [11:28] much different than it was decades ago. [11:30] Um, so we would just like to have parity [11:32] of those two so that the handful of [11:33] statutory plan B agencies have the [11:36] ability to adopt a policy that would [11:38] allow admin administrative purchasing. [11:40] That would still leave it up to the [11:41] policy uh decision of the council what [11:44] that threshold would be to not exceed uh [11:47] but it wouldn't be any higher than that [11:48] 75,000. [11:51] Uh on the right hand column, the [11:52] aggregate mining fee. We host a a quarry [11:55] here and uh continuing to have that uh [11:59] fee and um have that again similar to [12:03] the dump fee, the host community fee for [12:05] that. And then the last one on the right [12:07] is the franchise fees, making sure that [12:08] we maintain that. Um uh our our council [12:11] has made a a wise investment of using [12:14] those funds to to fund city facilities [12:16] and we believe it's very important to [12:18] maintain that that model moving forward. [12:20] and we want to make sure that that's not [12:21] taken away from our local decisions. So, [12:24] so in in uh short summary, that's our [12:26] our legislative agenda for 2026. Uh as [12:29] always, we appreciate your support and [12:31] continuing to work with us and and our [12:34] legislative team and and accomplishing [12:36] great things for Barnesville. So, with [12:38] that, I'll stand for any questions. [12:40] >> Okay. Any questions for Chief Gentleman? [12:43] >> Um for the statutory plan B [12:45] administrative purchasing, is there a [12:47] bill for that? [12:50] Um, [12:51] >> Madame Mayor, members of council, [12:52] Senator Port, I believe there is from [12:54] last year. I would have to look it up. I [12:55] don't have it at my fingertips, but I am [12:57] pretty certain there was one in last [12:59] year's session. [13:00] >> Okay. I'll follow up with you offline. [13:02] >> Yeah, we can find it and get it to you. [13:03] >> Great. [13:04] >> Absolutely. Senator Port Council, we'll [13:06] get it to you. [13:08] >> Thank you. [13:09] >> And I want to thank uh Representative [13:12] Berg um because you carried the bill for [13:14] the water treatment plant last time and [13:16] we testified before. Yeah. [13:19] >> Um [13:20] the House and also at the Senate. So, [13:22] thank you so much. And I I believe [13:25] you're going to be carrying this bill as [13:27] well. [13:28] >> So, thank you so much for your your help [13:30] with all of that [13:31] >> and um I don't know, Senator Port, is [13:34] this something that uh you're carrying, [13:37] Miss Senate? [13:38] >> It is. [13:38] >> Thank you both so very much. I know that [13:40] it was a higher number when we began [13:43] with and then we were asked to lower it [13:45] down and so we were we're now at 8.5 and [13:48] hopefully that we can move it forward [13:50] but I know there's a lot of need [13:53] and um but [13:55] hopefully that we can uh can get it over [13:58] the finish line this time. It's been [14:01] three years since we started this [14:03] process. [14:04] >> I think so. Yeah. [14:05] >> Yeah. and I can't thank you both enough [14:07] for all of your support and for thing [14:10] the things that you carry for our shared [14:12] constituencies here in Burnsville. It [14:15] really is um I'm really grateful for all [14:19] of that work. Yeah. [14:21] >> Thank you. [14:22] >> I do have a quick question about the [14:24] Highway 13 and Nicollet Avenue project. [14:28] Have we secured any additional federal [14:30] funding for that? [14:33] I think if I recall, Angie Craig had [14:36] gotten [14:37] some money for us, but I'm not sure if [14:39] we've ever revisited [14:41] federal funding sources. [14:45] >> Yeah, we have. We've [14:46] >> grant tried to go for grant money and I [14:50] three times, four times. [14:52] >> I think it was four. The fourth time was [14:53] a safer streets for all [14:55] >> which got [14:56] >> 521 [14:58] >> cities benefited from safer streets for [15:00] all but we we didn't make that pile [15:03] >> um in the recent award but it sounds [15:05] like Mandat has shifted funds and is [15:08] considering it [15:10] >> fully funded as far as that intersection [15:12] goes. [15:12] >> Okay. We had a very good meeting with [15:15] Mandat and um and so [15:20] we understand that this year there will [15:23] they're going out for RFP and then we're [15:25] going for design build. [15:27] >> Okay. [15:29] So at least that's my understanding as [15:32] of this time. Chief, is that correct? [15:35] >> Yeah, madam mayor, members of the [15:36] council and repres that that's correct. [15:38] We we have applied for the st safe [15:40] streets for all as well as [15:41] congressionally directed spending. So, [15:42] we've we've tried to maximize the the [15:45] both state, federal, and local shares of [15:48] this as much as we can. Um, and yeah, [15:51] the last we heard is is Mindot is [15:53] considering this funded and planning on [15:55] a design build [15:57] >> uh starting later this year. So, [15:59] >> we would have appreciated a $25 million [16:01] award from Safer Streets for All, but [16:03] >> you know, that's competitive. Grants are [16:05] competitive, right? [16:06] >> There's winners and losers each round. [16:10] But thank you because [16:14] it took all of us to work together to [16:16] get to this point. So, and it's been a [16:19] long journey, but you've been there and [16:22] I really appreciate that. [16:25] And Madame Mayor, if I can share an [16:26] update as well um on the local control [16:30] piece and the zoning and land use reform [16:33] uh bills that have been working their [16:34] way through the legislature over the [16:36] last threeish years, I think. [16:39] >> Yeah. [16:39] >> Um so we have spent uh the interim in [16:43] conversation with individual cities as [16:45] well as with the league and MLC. Um we [16:49] have toured a bunch of cities uh and [16:51] visited with uh a a number of planners [16:55] uh really trying to get to [16:58] um to answer the questions about like [17:01] actual feasibility of what how cities [17:04] make their decisions, how planners work, [17:07] um how all of that happens. And um [17:10] you've probably seen the language. We [17:12] sent it to the league um over a month [17:14] ago. uh the final sort of uh beginning [17:18] language um of a new bill that we will [17:22] move this year that is significantly [17:24] paired back from the bills that we have [17:26] brought in the past and is focused much [17:30] more on flexibility for cities. Um there [17:34] are a few base requirements in them but [17:37] they allow cities to pick where those [17:39] requirements go. um so they fit with the [17:43] growth of the city and the planning that [17:45] the city has already done. And then [17:47] there's a menu for cities to pick from [17:49] to choose which additional ways uh we [17:53] can lower costs of housing and create [17:56] more of the housing that folks are [17:57] looking for, starter homes, uh [17:59] affordable housing, things like that. Um [18:03] that that aren't being built across [18:05] Minnesota for the most part right now. [18:07] Um, and cities can choose which of those [18:09] they think fit best. Um, we really [18:13] listened last year when cities said, "We [18:15] need choice. We need something that can [18:18] fit our cities." Um, and so came back [18:21] with this approach that really creates a [18:24] ton of flexibility for each city to [18:26] choose. Obviously, this is in the very [18:29] early starts of negotiation through [18:31] another session. Um, so I'm certain [18:34] things will shift and change. Um, but [18:37] would love, you know, as always, my door [18:39] is open and I'm happy to take feedback. [18:41] We're meeting uh consistently with the [18:44] League of Minnesota Cities um to get [18:47] their feedback and they're meeting with [18:49] all of their member cities as well. Um [18:52] the door is wide open, but really our [18:55] goal uh going into session this year is [18:58] to bring a bill to committee and to the [19:01] floor where the league and MLC [19:05] are at the very minimum neutral on the [19:08] bill, if not supportive. Um so it really [19:12] we understand that there's no path uh to [19:15] making this change if we don't have um [19:18] something that cities can work with. And [19:20] so that has been really our goal over [19:22] the last year. [19:25] >> Appreciate um the effort that you [19:27] continue to put into this and to [19:29] listening and to hearing um what we have [19:33] been saying what it works for us and how [19:35] we work here [19:36] >> uh on the municipal level. So, I really [19:39] appreciate all of that and I look [19:41] forward to reading the bill and uh and [19:44] seeing u the flexibility that uh has [19:48] been put into it and I don't know if [19:51] you've seen it, Chief. [19:53] >> Madame Mayor, I have not. [19:58] So, I think that'll be something that um [20:01] our deputy city manager and economic uh [20:04] our community development director would [20:06] also be interested in looking at it. And [20:09] but thank you and I appreciate you're [20:11] saying your door is wide open. So, as we [20:13] read the bill and we can but thank you [20:15] so much for I know you have listened and [20:19] I know that you have taken to heart the [20:21] things that you have heard and I [20:24] appreciate that a lot. to hear you talk [20:26] about [20:28] um what you have done with that [20:30] particular item and continuing to move [20:32] it forward and um giving the flexibility [20:35] to cities [20:37] uh to have local control on land use and [20:40] zoning and uh and ordinances. Thank you [20:43] so much. Really appreciate that. [20:45] >> You're welcome. Um I I appreciate all of [20:48] your conversations on it over the year. [20:51] Um, and I will say, um, to change the [20:55] subject a little bit, uh, it feels a bit [20:57] jarring, um, to be here tonight talking [20:59] about next session and legislation and, [21:04] um, these proposals, which I think all [21:06] of us, uh, are supportive of and want to [21:09] continue doing the work with you. Um, [21:11] but I will be really honest. In the last [21:14] probably four or five months, uh, I've [21:16] gotten not a single email from [21:19] constituents about these sorts of [21:20] things. Um, there are different, [21:25] uh, concerns, fear in our community that [21:29] is has risen to the top for people. Um, [21:32] we have community members who are afraid [21:34] to go to work, who are being abducted [21:37] from their homes, um, who are afraid to [21:41] send their kids to school. Uh, and I I [21:44] wonder if we could just take a few [21:46] minutes to hear from Representative [21:47] Hansen, who has done a a very [21:51] significant amount of work with [21:53] community um, over the last particularly [21:56] the last month as we have seen this [21:58] massive surge of uh, ICE agents in our [22:02] community and what that has meant for [22:04] the people of our city. [22:07] >> Thank you, [22:09] Representative Hansen. [22:10] >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. Um, I appreciate [22:12] you taking time and thank you for No, [22:14] it's fine. Put me on the spot. It's [22:15] okay. Um, I appreciate you talking about [22:18] this and for bringing it up because it [22:20] is it is really important. I've spent [22:22] the last 30 days talking to families [22:24] who've had their loved ones ripped out [22:25] of their arms, who's had their car [22:27] windows smashed by masked people that [22:31] didn't have identification on them, that [22:33] were terrified, that have had guns [22:34] pulled on them, um, that don't know if [22:37] they're safe to go to work. people being [22:39] abducted from the grocery store, the gas [22:42] station, daycarees, [22:44] um parks, the side of the road, the [22:46] highway, run off the road by [22:50] unmarked cars. They don't know who these [22:52] people are. We can assume they're ICE [22:55] based on the federal landscape, of [22:57] course. Um but that doesn't change the [23:01] trauma that people are feeling right [23:03] now. We have people who are not eating [23:05] because they are too afraid to go to the [23:06] grocery store, to leave their house. We [23:08] have people who children who are not [23:10] going to school because their families [23:11] are too afraid. I today some an ICE [23:15] agent tried to snatch a child. We [23:18] watched a child get off a bus to run to [23:21] his dad at like the end of the day like [23:22] all the kids do and his dad was taken as [23:26] the child screamed for him. And these [23:28] are experiences that people in our [23:30] community are seeing and that will never [23:33] change if we don't do something about [23:36] it. We do have the power to, if nothing [23:39] else, we can't stop the federal [23:40] government from doing what they'll do. [23:42] But we don't have to let them operate in [23:44] the dead and night. We can at least [23:46] speak up about it. We can also make sure [23:49] that we are standing with the families [23:51] and and [23:52] holding them. I'll never unfeill the [23:55] heaving of our community members chests [23:57] against mine as we hugged because they [24:00] were pretty sure they would never see [24:02] one of their loved ones again who is a [24:04] contributing and taxpaying member of [24:06] society. [24:07] I'll never unfeill the moisture and the [24:10] wetness of on my sleeves of the tears of [24:13] people of this city [24:16] and I'm never going to unhear the sound [24:18] of children screaming for their parents. [24:22] um and looking at us and saying, "Will I [24:25] see my dad or my mom again?" And that's [24:27] a real thing happening here. On top of [24:29] that, we have folks who can't afford [24:30] rent, who can't afford like the [24:32] affordability crisis is there, too. So, [24:34] I think, you know, the compounding [24:36] trauma is happening in our community. It [24:38] won't matter if we have a water [24:40] treatment plant that works if it if we [24:42] don't have people who need it, right? [24:44] This can't be a monolithic city. Our [24:46] city is beautiful. We are one of the [24:48] most successful cities um of immigrants [24:51] in the state. Uh and we're proud of [24:53] that. And I know I moved here over a [24:55] decade ago to raise my kids in this [24:57] community on purpose. And a lot of other [24:59] people did too. And so I just would hope [25:01] that folks know that this is happening, [25:03] know that, you know, their concerns [25:05] deserve to be heard, but they'll never [25:07] come into this room to share them with [25:08] you because they are too afraid. And so [25:11] I'm here to try to speak up for them [25:13] that as we think about legislative [25:15] actions, it's not just about what the [25:17] city needs to continue to function. It's [25:19] about what the people of the city are [25:20] counting on the city to do to have their [25:22] back against an unprecedented hundred [25:25] billion dollar machine um that they're [25:27] up against with whistles. [25:30] Right after Renee Good was murdered, uh [25:32] her wife said, uh they brought guns and [25:35] we had whistles. And that's the reality. [25:37] And I hope that more people are out [25:38] talking to our business owners. Um, stop [25:41] at any market, any store that's um, [25:43] business in the community that's owned [25:44] by an immigrant. It looks different. [25:46] Many of our businesses are not open [25:48] right now. They're closing early. And I [25:51] don't know how many folks are aware of [25:52] that. Unless you go to get tacos [25:53] somewhere and all of a sudden it's just [25:55] not open. Then folks notice. But I want [25:58] to make sure that as we think about what [26:00] changes we need to make and what changes [26:02] we can help support, that some of it [26:04] isn't just in legislation. It's just in [26:06] us being brave enough to say what needs [26:08] to be said and to stand alongside folks [26:10] that are going through something awful. [26:11] So, thank you. [26:13] >> Thank you. [26:16] Um, [26:19] is there anything else? And I understand [26:22] everything that you're reporting because [26:25] I have been meeting with the businesses [26:29] who have been affected and residents who [26:33] have been affected that I have come to [26:35] know about. So it is [26:40] heartbreaking [26:42] and that's what we're experiencing. But [26:44] it's not just Burnsville, it's all over [26:46] the metro. [26:48] And so [26:50] tomorrow there's a big meeting of mayors [26:52] that are being called for mayors and [26:55] city managers and police chief that [26:58] we're going to attend. So [27:02] we're all trying to do our best [27:03] together. [27:05] Yes, Representative Bird. [27:07] >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. If I could ask [27:09] the uh [27:12] elected city council members and the [27:15] other public servants of our community, [27:17] what are you planning to do? Because [27:22] if the three of us know how bad this is [27:25] because we're actually out in the [27:27] streets doing the patrolling, doing the [27:29] observing, [27:31] where [27:33] where do you all plug in in this [27:35] scenario? Because it's going to take all [27:37] of us. And it's not just our business [27:40] members, although the disruption of [27:41] commerce is concerning, but these are [27:44] the people that take care of our elders [27:46] that teach our children that are deeply [27:50] woven in the fabric of our community. [27:52] And yes, I intentionally moved here too [27:54] to raise my kids here. Um, we are one of [27:58] the most diverse cities in the south [27:59] metro and proudly so. [28:03] So you that are in charge of the city in [28:06] various ways, [28:09] what are your next actions to ensure the [28:11] safety um of our community members that [28:15] they can continue to go to work so that [28:19] they can provide for their family so the [28:21] children can continue to go to school so [28:23] that they can grow up and thrive. [28:26] What is your response, responsibility, [28:29] and action you're going to take to [28:31] ensure our community remains safe [28:33] because we are a targeted community? We [28:37] know that [28:43] you ask a very [28:45] difficult question for all of us. [28:48] You know that the federal government [28:50] operates under a different set of rules. [28:55] it doesn't follow the law [28:58] that we're all [29:00] that we all abide by. [29:03] So if you're asking what am I doing or [29:06] each of the elected officials that are [29:09] on the city council, I think that's [29:11] something that someone can answer to you [29:14] personally if they so wish. But I can [29:17] tell you when I am [29:19] made aware, I have been to a daycare [29:22] center when I was called to let me know [29:25] what was going down. And when I got [29:28] there, [29:29] I was told the story [29:33] and the teacher that was lured out, [29:36] apprehended, [29:38] and taken away. [29:40] And then by the time I got there, she [29:44] was brought back. [29:46] I had the chance to [29:49] talk with her, hold her in my arms, [29:53] and cried with her. [29:58] There is nothing I or our police [30:00] department can do to ICE. [30:05] You've seen what went what happened in [30:08] Minneapolis. [30:10] So when you ask that question, it is a [30:12] difficult question. We're all struggling [30:14] with [30:18] and you've heard [30:22] the information that comes out of the [30:24] administration. [30:26] So [30:29] if a city like Minneapolis and the state [30:32] is now putting together a lawsuit, the [30:35] 87 pages [30:40] So there is a unit of government that is [30:42] addressing that to help all of us. [30:47] It's a difficult time that we're in. [30:51] And we're all doing the best that we [30:53] can, but we need to work together rather [30:56] than saying, "What are you doing?" We're [30:59] all doing something [31:01] together. Maybe it's not the same as [31:05] what you're doing, but there is [31:07] something [31:09] that we're all doing. [31:11] And that I know that there are times [31:13] when [31:17] I talk to my city manager and I says, "I [31:20] need to recharge. I need to go home and [31:23] recharge for the next day." [31:29] And I see [31:31] not only the families but the economic [31:33] impact in our in our community. So [31:37] please know that it's not lost to us [31:40] what we're experiencing. We we know what [31:44] we're experiencing. [31:49] But it's not just us. It's all around. [31:53] And this is why mayors [31:56] have come together and called a meeting [31:58] with our city managers and police chiefs [32:01] so that we can all talk about the [32:03] experiences. But what can we do? There [32:06] are a lot of attorneys that we're we're [32:08] talking to immigration attorneys. [32:16] If I may, Madame Mayor, I um [32:20] I don't think Representative Berg uh [32:24] meant that question as uh an attack, but [32:28] rather [32:28] >> I didn't take it as an attack, but it's [32:30] it's a what I'm saying is that it's a [32:32] difficult question. [32:34] >> Of course, it is. We're in completely [32:37] unprecedented times. Uh, and I think, [32:40] you know, acknowledging that, um, un [32:44] hoping that our community hears us and [32:46] understands that we understand, um, that [32:49] this is an incredibly difficult time. [32:52] There's not an easy answer for Chief [32:55] Schwarz. I would, frankly, I'm very glad [32:58] I'm not in your shoes. Like, I think [33:00] police chiefs across the state have an [33:02] impossible job at the moment. Um, I [33:05] think we are in a dangerous situation [33:09] with a vol volatile federal leader um [33:13] that could explode at any moment. And I [33:17] appreciate the work that um our public [33:20] safety officers across the state are [33:22] doing to try to um assist community in [33:26] ways that they can. And I think it is [33:29] important for us as legislators. This is [33:31] how I've been thinking about it anyway [33:32] as legislators and public officials that [33:35] you know I have official like job [33:39] duties, right? I have to carry these [33:41] bills and I have to go to committee and [33:44] move things through the floor. But we [33:47] have a federal government that right now [33:49] is not obeying laws. So, it feels sort [33:52] of like a joke um to do my job some days [33:56] uh when I turn around and watch [33:59] lawlessness in our street by federal [34:01] agents. And that is really what has [34:04] reminded me that we have significant [34:06] power outside of the halls where we make [34:09] legislation, where we pass ordinances. [34:12] Um, we have a platform and I think we [34:16] should use every moment on every [34:19] platform we have like here tonight to [34:22] remind the community how we show up for [34:25] them. Um, I know many of you are out [34:28] doing work with community. You're [34:29] working with your uh faith communities. [34:32] You're working with food shelves. You're [34:34] some of you are out patrolling. Like all [34:36] of those things are important pieces. [34:38] There are a million ways to plug into [34:41] this work and there's far too much work [34:43] to be done. Um, and I think, you know, [34:46] my I guess request to you is I would [34:49] love to see that work um on your [34:54] Facebook pages on like publicly shared [34:58] to remind community that we are all here [35:02] for you. Um because you're right, there [35:06] aren't official levers that we can pull [35:09] at this moment. Um I my worst nightmare [35:13] is hearing that Burnsville PD is in a [35:15] standoff with ICE. Like that is a [35:18] terrifying prospect. Um I don't want [35:21] that to come. But I think it is critical [35:24] that we continue to show up in small [35:26] ways, in ways that we're not used to [35:28] showing up because there's not a bill to [35:30] pass, there's not a law to make. um [35:33] there's not a lot to enforce um safely [35:37] and uh but I think like the more that we [35:39] can take moments like this to let [35:42] community know we have an incredible [35:44] council, we have an incredible mayor, we [35:46] have incredible city staff and I think [35:48] um it's so easy for people to forget [35:52] that they have a city that cares about [35:54] them. And so I just encourage you all [35:56] whether it's privately on your own [35:58] social media or however you share it or [36:01] through the city to let the community [36:04] know that you all have their backs, that [36:06] you are thinking about them, that you [36:08] are doing whatever quiet um or loud work [36:13] for the good of the community. Um [36:16] because I I think so many too many [36:19] people feel alone. [36:23] Yeah, it was not an attack. It was we [36:25] have various levels of government and [36:28] other public servant responsibilities in [36:31] this room and how do we innovate at each [36:35] level what we can do in response to this [36:38] because we have an administration that [36:41] does not abide by the law. So, of [36:43] course, our attorney general is filing [36:45] lawsuits. And if we had an [36:48] administration that valued the rule of [36:50] law and responded to it, it would be an [36:54] effective tool. We can't count on that [36:56] happening. So, it's up to us. It's up to [36:59] us on the city level, the state level, [37:01] the county level, all the way up to, you [37:04] know, Congress. I mean, it's even school [37:07] boards, like all of us that have [37:10] somewhat of a presence in the community [37:12] or an elected office uh that they hold. [37:17] We all have a chance to be creative in [37:21] how we can keep our community members [37:23] safe um and how we can ensure that [37:26] people can buy groceries and provide for [37:29] their family and run their businesses. [37:31] Um, it's all a piece of of of the the [37:34] puzzle here and because we don't want a [37:38] standoff in the streets between two law [37:40] enforcement agencies um that doesn't [37:44] keep anyone safe. But if our residents [37:48] are in fear, are there ways that we can [37:50] respond [37:52] um in each of our own different ways, in [37:54] capacities for the position we hold that [37:59] is seen as a cooperation and as a [38:02] support [38:03] um in these dark times because none of [38:06] us have the answer. So no, it's not an [38:08] attack. It's a question on how are we [38:11] all thinking about what we can do and if [38:15] there is a way to have a united front at [38:18] each level of government with each [38:20] different uh position that that we have [38:24] visible in the community. Um, and also [38:27] what Lindsay was saying is like for [38:30] people to be able to see on your own [38:32] personal pages in any way that feels [38:35] right and comfortable for you to sort of [38:38] um send out that message that that we [38:42] see you um because nobody is doubting [38:44] that we aren't doing anything and [38:46] everything that we can think of. But [38:49] agreed people are tired. There's a lot [38:51] of community members out doing big [38:53] things and they are tired and we're [38:55] always searching for more people to get [38:58] involved. So, what if any innovation or [39:01] creativity? How can we all plug in to [39:03] each other in all of our roles to come [39:07] together to be able to ensure our [39:09] community is safe? Because these are the [39:11] people we love. These are the people we [39:14] serve intentionally. Each one of you [39:16] intentionally serves this community. So, [39:19] I apologize if it seemed like an attack. [39:21] I'm tired and I'm angry and I'm [39:23] frustrated that our neighbors are [39:24] suffering and like how do we come [39:28] together and do this? That would have [39:29] been a better framing. [39:31] >> Thank you. And we hear you [39:34] >> and see you. [39:36] >> Yes. [39:37] >> Um I hear what you're asking us. Um, I [39:41] think the the issue for us, for me [39:44] personally, we actually operate within [39:46] the law. And so we're constrained by the [39:50] rule of law in in our city, in our [39:52] state, our county. And yeah, we can go [39:55] out and we can patrol and we can report [39:57] and we can do all those things and and [39:59] we can talk to our residents. We can [40:01] talk to our businesses to try to make [40:03] let them know that we we have their [40:05] backs. But the bottom line is we're [40:08] dealing with an organization that does [40:09] not operate within the law and we are [40:11] still trying to operate that way. And I [40:14] don't know how effective that's going to [40:15] be and I don't know if they're laws that [40:17] can be changed at the state level or if [40:19] Congress needs to get their head out of [40:21] their ass and actually do their job. Uh [40:23] that would be a good good start to end [40:26] on a lot of this stuff. So [40:28] >> we'll try to send Representative Berg [40:29] there to to help them. I mean, [40:31] seriously, it's [40:33] >> Yeah, [40:33] >> because because we do honor our laws [40:36] here and and try and operate that. It's [40:38] very frustrating. It's very frustrating [40:40] for a lot of people. And I've been out [40:42] there and I've seen I've seen some of [40:43] these things happening and I've seen [40:44] what they do and it's not good. I mean, [40:48] I I wish our police department could [40:49] arrest them, but on the other hand, I [40:50] don't want to see 10,000 troops in our [40:52] city tomorrow morning either. And which [40:54] I believe would happen. [40:55] >> Yeah. [40:56] >> So, where do we find that? You know, the [40:59] best thing that can happen is a a [41:01] grassroots support from all of our [41:03] citizens to just stand up and say enough [41:05] is enough. [41:06] >> I can let you take all of us to do it. [41:09] >> There is a list of uh a number of bills [41:14] uh that are being worked on and proposed [41:17] um by legisl legislators for next [41:20] session based on what we have seen over [41:22] the last year. But the reality is those [41:25] won't save us. Um therefore the next [41:28] administration, the next uh iteration of [41:33] you know making sure that we have rules [41:35] and and laws and norms that will be [41:38] followed. Um but we know that that's [41:40] simply not the case with this [41:42] administration. Um, so we're, you know, [41:45] I don't have any, uh, I have I have a [41:48] bill that bans, uh, masks. Yeah. For law [41:52] enforcement, uh, except for particular [41:55] situations where it's for their safety [41:57] and things like that. [41:58] >> Iowa did that yesterday, put it into a [42:00] bill. [42:00] >> Like I have, if that bill passed [42:02] tomorrow, I have no illusion that the [42:07] federal agents currently in our state [42:09] would suddenly take their masks off like [42:12] this. it's just not going to happen. [42:14] >> Um, so [42:16] >> it is about managing expectations, isn't [42:19] it? Also, you can put a law in place, [42:24] >> but is it going to be abided by? So, [42:26] it's managing people's expectations as [42:28] well. [42:29] >> Yeah, absolutely. And then also finding [42:31] ways outside of the normal ways that we [42:34] do business um to support our [42:37] communities. understanding that the the [42:41] biggest power I have to, you know, try [42:43] to pass a law is probably not going to [42:46] help anyone right now um is a really [42:50] sobering fact, but it's meant that I've [42:52] had to find other ways to [42:55] >> show up and support my community. [42:56] >> Yeah. [42:58] Jess, do you want to [42:59] >> Well, [43:01] >> I just want to say like the some of our [43:03] community members who are taken have [43:04] been taken to detention centers where [43:06] they don't eat for they're only fed [43:07] every three days. They're allowed to [43:09] shower once a week. There's detention [43:12] centers where people can't find their [43:13] families for months. And I talk to these [43:15] families and try to help them find on [43:17] some piece of paper in their home a [43:18] number that's going to help them find [43:20] their families. You know, it's it's [43:22] always lawful to observe. It's always [43:24] lawful to care. it's always lawful to [43:25] take an extra couple minutes and stand [43:27] with somebody. Um, when these things [43:30] happen, it's the worst moments of their [43:31] lives for some of them. Um, and you [43:35] know, I want to just make sure we're [43:36] really clear that this is not just [43:38] happening to folks who are not here [43:40] lawfully. We have citizens who are being [43:42] taken every single day and then released [43:45] later like you shared with the the story [43:47] of the our teacher friend, right? Um, [43:50] and those folks deserve justice. [43:53] Maybe it's not justice in the form of [43:55] holding the federal government [43:57] accountable, but maybe it's justice in [43:59] the form of having an officer that shows [44:01] up and sits with them for a few minutes [44:02] and talks to them about what happened [44:05] and helps them understand why they're [44:07] limited. Maybe it's justice in the form [44:09] of, you know, bringing the council to [44:12] them to have a meeting rather than [44:13] asking them to come out. Some people [44:15] have asked me for that, right? Maybe [44:17] there's just it's a matter of just [44:19] understanding, you know, that some [44:21] people can't do some of the things, but [44:22] some people can do other things and that [44:24] those strengths complement each other. [44:27] And I know I'm a pain in your butt, [44:29] mayor. I get it. But I want to make sure [44:31] that you know what's happening. That's [44:33] why I send you every time something's [44:35] happening because if I were mayor, I'd [44:38] be really upset if someone didn't tell [44:39] me what was happening in my city. So, I [44:42] think, you know, keeping those lines of [44:44] communication open, not doing [44:45] performative politics. Um, I'm [44:47] interested to see how the proposal next [44:49] week will go because even if we do say [44:52] that they can't stand in the parks, what [44:53] are they going to do? What are the [44:55] police going to do even if we do say [44:56] that, right? Because they can't [44:58] interfere. I get that. So, does that [45:00] mean they can evict them off of the city [45:02] prop? I mean, I hope that conversation [45:03] comes up next week. Um, but really to [45:06] have meaningful actions that we can take [45:08] at the city level. For example, I heard [45:10] that there's a number of cars that have [45:11] been abandoned around the city, found [45:13] abandoned. More than likely, these are [45:15] cars of folks who have been taken. We [45:17] don't know for sure, right? But nobody [45:20] can look up those plates except for law [45:22] enforcement. I can't look. Nobody can [45:23] look up who this family is. And maybe a [45:25] phone call and just say, is there any [45:27] chance that this is, you know, can we [45:28] help those families in that way? There [45:30] are other things we can do to help [45:32] support them. Um, escorting people to [45:35] work. We have had ICE go through the [45:38] apartments. almost every apartment in [45:39] this city knocking on people's doors [45:41] into buildings that they're not welcomed [45:43] in where there are signs that says [45:44] they're not welcomed in. Um but when [45:46] there's a presence of observers or [45:48] presence of law enforcement, they don't [45:49] usually do it as much, right? And having [45:51] community presence in places matters a [45:53] lot. And I know there's limits to what [45:55] folks can do. And again, not asking for [45:57] anyone to, you know, stop what they're [46:00] doing, but to be there with our [46:01] community while it's happening. that [46:03] presence matters and it does reduce the [46:06] traumas that can happen. Um, and so I [46:10] just really want us to think hard and [46:12] dig deep and remember that [46:14] like yesterday a father of three who was [46:16] widowed three months ago has three young [46:18] kids. He's a citizen and he was taken [46:22] and now we have to his car window got [46:24] broken and they came back and they [46:25] robbed his car afterwards. They took [46:27] things out of his car after the fact. We [46:29] have video evidence of it, but like what [46:31] can we do for to help people who've been [46:33] through something atrocious? I do think [46:34] there's things we can do that aren't [46:36] about defeating the federal government [46:38] or, you know, having some pie in the sky [46:40] expectations. I think we can just be [46:42] people to each other and think, what [46:44] would I want in that situation? Um, or [46:46] maybe just do what folks are asking, [46:48] right? Help them out. These are tough [46:49] times. Whatever we can do for them. [46:52] >> Thank you. Thank you for sharing those [46:55] thoughts with us this evening. And um [46:58] absolutely it takes all of us our faith [47:02] community the people who are observers [47:04] who are standing witness and there's [47:06] many of them every day that are and then [47:11] there are those who are driving to [47:13] deliver foods [47:15] uh from churches [47:17] from grocery stores and so forth and [47:21] then there's our businesses. So, there's [47:23] a lot [47:26] that we're all working together to do [47:30] and um we'll get through all of this [47:32] together. [47:34] It's a hard road, [47:37] but it's going to be something that I'm [47:39] I think about in terms of not just [47:42] today, but the long term and its effects [47:45] on our community. [47:48] So, thank you for sharing your thoughts [47:50] with us this evening and thank you for [47:54] working with us uh at this coming [47:56] legislative session. We appreciate the [47:59] work that you do uh to help uh our [48:03] community with some of the issues that [48:05] we're working on together and also [48:08] working together during the this dark [48:10] time that we're all experiencing [48:12] together. Thank you. [48:16] >> Thank you. [48:17] >> Thank you. [48:19] Um, [48:22] Chief, is there anything else that you [48:24] wanted to close with? [48:26] >> I'm good. Thanks, Madam Mayor. [48:27] >> Okay. [48:29] >> Thank you so much. [48:30] >> Thank you. [48:31] >> Okay. [48:33] So the next item uh on the agenda is the [48:38] resiliency briefing [48:41] and uh Chief Vijay and um [48:45] um Mike Tracy our HR director and Paul [48:49] Oat [48:50] uh are presenting this particular item. [48:54] And uh maybe before we start that, let's [48:57] just take a minute, a couple of minutes [49:00] before we get to that. Just say [50:35] Okay. Um, let me just [50:41] um, Chief BJ, [50:45] >> Chief Gentleman, I [50:48] you're on. [50:49] >> I'm up again. Madame Mayor, members of [50:51] the council, again, thanks for uh, [50:53] having some time tonight to talk [50:54] resiliency briefing. Uh we have a cross [50:56] functional team across the city of all [50:58] the departments that participate or many [51:00] departments that participate in this [51:02] regular meeting uh really to focus on [51:05] resiliency and that the the concept of [51:07] resiliency [51:09] um is about not necessarily the [51:12] emergency itself. We know that things [51:14] happen and we have uh very competent and [51:17] professional emergency responders that [51:19] that handle and we have systems in place [51:21] to handle that initial crisis. The [51:24] resiliency team is about what do we do [51:25] once the crisis is managed and how do we [51:28] bring ourselves back to normal? How do [51:30] we and and how quickly can we do that [51:32] and how do we work together to be [51:33] prepared? And that that's a multi- [51:36] department um meeting or uh [51:40] effort we need when when disasters [51:43] happen, when major incidents happen. Um [51:46] that's not just a police and fire [51:47] response to be resilient. How do we get [51:50] back to normal? How do we make sure we [51:51] have a continuity of operations across [51:53] the organization and and how do we bring [51:56] normaly back to an organization, a city, [51:59] a community? And how do we do that? And [52:02] so again, that's been a multi-ep [52:04] department effort and trying to be [52:06] prepared on that, try to focus on [52:08] well-being, try to focus on on preparing [52:10] ourselves for those things. Um and and [52:13] Paul and Mike are going to talk in more [52:15] depth about that and particularly some [52:16] of our communication strategies and and [52:18] how do we how do we do that and and get [52:20] close to the folks that are most [52:22] affected. So, um I'm proud of what this [52:25] team's done and how we work together to [52:27] to be prepared uh when unfortunate [52:30] things happen so that we aren't trying [52:32] to make it up as we go. And you know, we [52:34] don't necessarily know what's going to [52:35] happen in the future, but we're better [52:36] prepared when we talk about it. So, with [52:38] that, I'll turn over to uh Mike, our HR [52:40] and communications director. Yes. Thank [52:42] you, Mayor and Council. Um, we've done a [52:44] lot of work over the last year, year and [52:46] a half or so, um, kind of revisiting our [52:49] crisis communication plan, uh, to make [52:51] sure that we are prepared, uh, when [52:54] things, uh, bad things happen. Um, we [52:56] know we can't prepare for, you know, you [52:58] can't think of every scenario, but what [53:01] we what we've really been working on [53:02] when it comes to our crisis [53:03] communication plan is, um, putting [53:06] together a basically a playbook that [53:09] will allow us in a moment of crisis, um, [53:13] to communicate clearly and effectively [53:15] um, with our community members. Um so [53:19] we've been working quite regularly with [53:20] with Paul Om, our crisis communication [53:23] uh consultant along with our resiliency [53:25] team um and others around the [53:27] organization to develop those um those [53:30] scenarios. Um beginning to tabletop some [53:33] of those scenarios and kind of walk [53:34] through um uh how we might play those [53:37] out if in a real world situation. Um [53:40] with that also kind of developing a [53:43] unified public information officer [53:45] structure. So talking about our um you [53:48] know who's communicating with the media [53:50] and uh how do we get reliable [53:52] trustworthy um information out to the [53:55] out to the community and to the public [53:57] in a moment of of crisis. So um that's [54:00] working with our police and fire teams [54:02] um who have great staff uh who who can [54:05] do that um as well as our communications [54:07] team and and obviously Paul our [54:09] consultant uh to help us during those [54:11] times. Um and then we're also [54:13] strengthening our intergovernmental um [54:15] connections. So we've we've reached out [54:17] to our neighboring um cities along with [54:20] other uh partner uh organizations, [54:23] school district, MVTA, etc. um to bring [54:26] local communicators together so we can [54:28] be working um alongside them um building [54:31] relationships and talking about how we [54:33] might work well together if something [54:35] were to happen um and we need support or [54:38] draw support from other uh from other [54:40] organizations. [54:42] uh we're prepared. We have those [54:44] relationships and we're talking about [54:45] those scenarios u before they happen. [54:49] And with that, I'm going to pass it over [54:50] to Paul Om, our crisis communications [54:53] consultant to talk a little bit more [54:55] about our strategy. [54:56] >> Very good. Madame Mayor, council [54:58] members, city staff, and guests. Uh Paul [55:01] Omat with Oman Associates Critical [55:03] Communications. I've had the privilege [55:05] of working with you guys for the past [55:06] couple years on communications. Uh, one [55:09] of the things that I do on a regular [55:11] basis in my professional life so I can [55:13] better assist my clients, many who are [55:15] municipalities, is provide training and [55:18] strategies on how to communicate better. [55:21] And I also do independent research on [55:23] things that affect municipalities, how [55:25] do we make municipalities, what are the [55:27] strategies that work better based on [55:28] like research we can do? And that's what [55:31] I want to go through with you guys this [55:32] evening if that's okay. So, a little bit [55:34] of a lecture at the front end and then [55:35] we can discuss some points after that. [55:37] But really, I gave this presentation to [55:40] the League of Minnesota Cities [55:41] Conference last year. I know a couple [55:43] council members were there for it and [55:45] they asked to bring it forward to this [55:46] group. So, you could kind of see the [55:48] thinking behind it and the reason why we [55:50] make some of the choices we do in terms [55:52] of communications. [55:54] A lot of that is grounded in the concept [55:56] of resiliency as well. And part of this [55:58] you'll see as we'll look at some slides [56:00] about how we have to ground ourselves in [56:02] the in the ongoing mindset and not get [56:04] stuck in an old mindset. So if we could [56:06] do if I can go through this with you [56:08] guys, it's really about the power of [56:11] what you can do with local government [56:13] communications, not just from the [56:15] communication staff side, but also what [56:17] elected officials can do to layer into [56:18] that effectively as well. So again, we [56:22] kind of start with the questions of does [56:23] a comm does a city communicate well? Do [56:26] you communicate well as an individual? [56:28] Are you and the city seen as the same? [56:30] And I mean that by our elected officials [56:32] and the city seen as the same. That's an [56:34] important question for people to [56:35] understand the difference between that [56:37] and then are there strategies that might [56:39] work better than others and that's what [56:40] I want to kind of run through today with [56:42] you guys. So let's just kind of start [56:45] with the definition of what is [56:46] communications. Communications is [56:48] imparting a two-way stream of [56:50] information back and forth between two [56:51] bodies right between two people. It [56:53] involves a sender transmitting something [56:55] and receiver understanding that message. [56:58] And again, that's the basic of it that [57:00] we tend to forget that a lot of times [57:02] we're not actually communicating people [57:04] to people. We're just throwing words at [57:06] them and we're not doing it in an [57:07] effective way. We have to understand [57:09] that communication is built on the [57:11] understanding of the message and making [57:13] sure that we keep it in in words and [57:15] phrases and image and symbols that [57:17] people can understand and that becomes [57:19] important in the things that we do as [57:21] communicators. [57:23] What this all relies on and part of the [57:25] big part of this presentation discussion [57:27] is it it all relies on trust between the [57:30] sender and the receiver. When we trust [57:32] each other, we can communicate better. [57:35] And trust is kind of some of the [57:36] definition that I won't read through the [57:37] whole thing, but it's the ability to say [57:39] that I can count on that person or that [57:41] other person to do what they say. And [57:43] that becomes super important as to what [57:45] people's expectations are and we meet [57:47] those expectations because we have a [57:49] track record built on trust that we do [57:52] what we say and they can count on that [57:53] and vice versa. [57:56] Here's the problem is that we are kind [57:58] of in a post-truth [58:00] and posttrust world. And again, I'm [58:03] going to walk through some of the slides [58:04] of how we got there. But that idea that [58:08] everybody trusts each other and that [58:09] government trusts each other uh that [58:11] people work in it all have the same [58:13] level of trust is something we need to [58:14] look back and say okay that may not be [58:17] the case. So we might need different [58:18] strategies or we may need to build [58:21] stronger strategies at the base to make [58:22] that work better. So Adelman's an [58:25] international PR firm and they do a [58:27] trust barometer every year. they have [58:29] since the the 70s and they look back and [58:31] say where's the trust in the world go [58:34] and it it es and flows and I want to [58:36] show you some of that and you can if you [58:38] go back in time I just decided to go [58:40] back 25 years because it was a round [58:42] number here but what was happening in [58:44] the start of the century right we all [58:46] kind of lived through the crash of n you [58:48] know 1999 we're all going to be here the [58:50] next year right everybody was kind of in [58:52] that mindset and the zeitgeist changed [58:53] as to who do we trust it trust from peer [58:58] to people that are like me as opposed to [59:00] because everybody got like oh fake right [59:04] you know the computers didn't all crash [59:06] when we turned to the year 2000 but that [59:09] whole thing of people saying oh you told [59:10] me to trust technology and then I should [59:13] it changed to something where I get my [59:15] information from so the trust connection [59:17] starts to erode there so a trust goes to [59:20] the person like me right young people [59:23] start to trust business more right older [59:25] people start to trust business less and [59:28] Again, you'll see this change through [59:29] time. Business and government 10 years [59:31] later regain trust and the fall of [59:33] government starts. And this is where [59:35] people start to have less ability to see [59:38] what government does as good. And again, [59:42] things like that happen. We have to be [59:43] ready to have that resiliency mindset in [59:45] communications too to make sure where we [59:47] anchor ourselves to. What happens is [59:50] that most people anchor themselves in a [59:52] certain point in time time period [59:54] whether it's when they went to high [59:55] school or college or got married [59:56] whatever those important moments are [59:58] they anchor their mindset in those [60:00] things and if we don't move through that [60:02] we can't be resilient to today and [60:04] that's kind of the training that we have [60:05] to understand. So we see this trust [60:08] start eroding through the early 2016 [60:11] 2017. [60:13] Trust tries to come back. Truth tries to [60:15] make a a comeback. But we also got this [60:18] concept of fake news started to come in [60:20] and people start to have the that not [60:22] trusting the message delivery system. [60:25] Where we are right now is we are this [60:27] portion of the crisis of grievance is [60:30] where we're living in terms of society [60:32] here in the world. people are really [60:35] into grieving against each other and I [60:38] think we see that on a daily basis [60:39] really it becomes more the norm and [60:42] again put this through the lens of [60:43] resiliency how does that mean we have to [60:46] respond differently than we might have [60:47] if we're anchored someplace else but if [60:50] grievance is the default that teaches us [60:52] something and here's what Adelman will [60:54] tell us is that 70% nearly 70% of people [60:58] believe that the government lies to them [61:00] around the world that's a universal [61:02] thing and that should kind of scare [61:04] scare us a little bit that what we say [61:06] isn't always believed, right? Um, you [61:09] also have this thing where most people [61:11] believe no matter who they are, where [61:12] they are around the world, they're being [61:14] discriminated against. So again, that's [61:16] that's a majority of people that feel [61:18] that way. And the last statistic I'll [61:20] share with you right down at the bottom [61:21] there is that young people believe that [61:24] activism is a way to change it. And so [61:26] that's why you start to see things [61:28] differently in terms of how the youth [61:30] respond. You know, back if you were in a [61:33] different mindset, it was, you know, [61:35] kids should be seen and not heard. Now [61:36] it's a much different type of equation, [61:38] right? Where kids want to be something [61:40] to make something happen. So again, [61:42] that's what the data is telling us. So [61:45] that's kind of where we base this off [61:47] of. And when I work with clients, I'm [61:49] telling them consistently or kind of on [61:51] an ongoing basis, let's make sure we're [61:53] addressing the world as it is today, not [61:56] the way we think we see it. And so [61:58] again, things change. The strategies we [62:01] use, the techniques we use change over [62:03] time. And so here's where it gets [62:06] interesting because everything kind of [62:08] exists on a polarity. It might be strong [62:10] over here and weak over here. It's like [62:12] squeezing a balloon and goes different [62:13] places. [62:15] For elected officials, there's a certain [62:17] power. And for local government [62:18] communicators, there's a certain power [62:20] that we can find in this because people [62:24] are more trusting of local government [62:27] than than big government. The smaller we [62:29] get, the better. So, let me give you [62:31] three things I think we should consider. [62:33] The first thing I tell my clients is to [62:35] get small now, which means get closer to [62:39] the people that you serve. And local [62:42] government can do that. People know it [62:44] if their streets are plowed on time. [62:45] That service component. people know what [62:48] their government is doing for them. And [62:50] so the best delivery systems are things [62:52] that we can control. So city [62:54] communications needs to ramp up. And [62:56] we've made some changes in [62:57] communications the last couple years to [62:59] make sure we're more effective, more [63:01] different ways to communicate with [63:02] people different ways, including if you [63:04] think about the the van that the city [63:06] has that goes out to events, that is [63:08] actually a communication that works [63:09] better. That is getting small and local [63:11] with people. So that persontoperson [63:14] component is something that we can [63:16] deliver on in a consistent basis and we [63:19] saw that and we've been using this [63:20] strategy of getting small in terms of [63:23] what's happening with ICE here lately. [63:25] We've had community groups or our [63:27] community van go out and talk to people. [63:29] So Mike, I think we've made 70ome [63:31] contacts with people, person-toperson [63:33] contacts out in the community. And [63:36] again, that's what people are looking [63:37] for is that high touch. I'm a human [63:39] being. I want the government to [63:41] interface with me in that way. So the [63:43] first step I tell people is let's get [63:45] small. Let's get close to people. The [63:47] second thing is is this concept of being [63:50] more human and more compassionate. Uh [63:53] people are looking for that from [63:54] government and we can deliver that in [63:56] many ways but the only way we can really [63:58] deliver that is through people showing [64:00] up right. So I say make the people who [64:03] matter feel like they matter. And it's [64:04] selling that feeling that we can do as [64:07] local elected officials and local city [64:09] officials as well. I care enough to show [64:11] up to this meeting. I care enough to do [64:13] something else for you. And then finally [64:15] we look at this about this is something [64:17] you know there was a discussion about [64:19] what we can do in terms of government. [64:21] If we run our government really really [64:23] well at the local level, people can [64:25] count on us. That's where trust gets [64:27] built. My streets get plowed, right? [64:30] things happen that are supposed to [64:31] happen. I understand what my government [64:33] is doing, that's where the trust anchors [64:36] differently than with the national [64:38] government. So the better we serve the [64:40] public and I'm talking all departments [64:42] within the city, the better off we all [64:44] become. And that means we deliver [64:46] results. So those three steps are the [64:48] things that we've been trying to work on [64:49] in terms of communication strategies and [64:52] resiliency strategies to make sure uh [64:55] residents feel what we are delivering to [64:57] them and there's a purpose to it. [65:00] One of the things that I mentioned [65:02] really quickly was the ability to go out [65:04] in vans and things like that. We use [65:06] this after February 18th was proximal [65:08] communications which meant that we [65:10] actually assign people to talk to the [65:13] the families to do that those types of [65:15] things. It wasn't an email that we sent. [65:17] It was persontoperson communications. [65:20] Proximal communication says that those [65:21] are the most the people most affected by [65:24] something should have the most personal [65:26] type of communication come to them. And [65:28] so we see that time and time again that [65:30] this is the most effective way. It's [65:32] also the most time inensive and the [65:34] hardest to do right. But again, we're [65:36] using that here with recent things by [65:38] sending our van out, talking to people, [65:41] making phone calls to them, making sure [65:43] that they feel that they have a [65:44] connection with city hall. [65:47] So one of the other things I did in [65:49] terms of research is that I looked at [65:51] the local trust barometer. Again, I did [65:54] a poll with my friends at ResearchCape. [65:56] So, we looked at towns of a certain size [65:58] to say, "How can we inform other cities [66:00] as to how to do this, right?" And here's [66:02] what we found. Um, most people, most [66:05] adults are trustful of local government. [66:08] Again, that's different than the [66:09] statistics I showed you before for [66:11] global trust and global trust in [66:13] government. When you look at local [66:15] government, 87% of adults trust local [66:18] municipal information. We should use [66:20] that as a point of strength for us that [66:22] people can trust what they see from us. [66:24] Which means that our job, what local [66:27] elected officials can do, they can point [66:29] to it. They can amplify it and they can [66:31] personalize the information because it's [66:33] trusted. Which means that you can go on [66:35] social media and take something and say, [66:37] "Hey, here's what I see about this. [66:39] Here's what the city's doing about [66:40] this." If we anchor it in the city's [66:42] trust, we then extend it with the trust [66:44] that the residents have in you because [66:46] they elected you. So that means that [66:48] there is a role for local officials that [66:50] works fairly well. The other thing that [66:53] we also see is that in terms of trust of [66:55] what communications vehicles they want [66:57] to use, hyper local media works the [67:00] best. And again, think about that. [67:03] Things that you might think, "Oh my [67:04] goodness, who watches this or who reads [67:06] this or who whatever?" But your Sun [67:08] Sailor, your Limitless, your hyper local [67:11] websites, Facebook pages are the things [67:13] that people are going to because it does [67:16] go through a filter that's not the [67:17] government saying it, it's someone else [67:19] looking at it. And you see it's always [67:21] be the highest end of it. Um, social [67:23] media is up there high and then the city [67:25] website at more than 50%. So people are [67:28] going to go for information and these [67:29] are trusted sources. And again, we lean [67:32] into that with a communication and [67:33] resilience approach that we take. So I I [67:36] tell elected officials, I want to see [67:38] you guys in those top three sources on a [67:40] regular basis because that trust that [67:42] you they engender by electing you gets [67:45] picked up that way too because there's a [67:46] role for that. [67:49] We also find this and again I've seen [67:51] this actually this strategy play out [67:53] here recently during some of the ICE [67:54] activity. Um, the most trusted [67:57] communications among police and fire is [67:59] fire. And again, I I've told the chiefs [68:01] this before, so it's not a surprise to [68:03] them, but more people trust a fire chief [68:05] than a police chief. And again, [68:07] >> I don't know, BJ looks kind of shady. [68:10] >> I'm not going to say that. Um, [68:14] >> but what that means is that both badges [68:16] work in terms of imparting information [68:18] and value to people. But what we've seen [68:20] with some of the ice raids in some [68:21] cities when when protesters are getting [68:24] out of hand, they're not having the [68:25] police captains go out there and address [68:27] the crowds. They're having the fire [68:28] captains do it because people re There [68:31] you go. Sorry, BJ. [68:34] >> Why don't you tell me that now? [68:37] >> Tanya's like, "Yes, [68:39] >> but what they're finding is that people [68:41] are more understanding because then the [68:43] pitch becomes, hey, I want to keep you [68:45] all safe because I run the ambulance [68:47] service. how to make sure that you can [68:48] go home at night. They take it better [68:50] from the fire service than they do the [68:52] police service. They see the same [68:54] message in a different light and a [68:56] different dynamic and that plays out in [68:58] polling. And again, sorry to tell you [68:59] that BJ, but [69:01] >> just add it to the list of things that [69:03] you have to do. Um, but that is really [69:06] what the data shows and again it's [69:08] backed up and we're seeing other cities [69:09] start to implement that again with the [69:11] recent activity here in the Twin Cities. [69:14] So again, this is about the better we [69:17] can make government work for people [69:20] locally, the more we can build a [69:22] person-toperson connection with them, [69:23] the better off we will be, not just for [69:26] when the incident happens, but after we [69:28] rebuild ourselves. I do think, you know, [69:31] there will be a time after ICE is done [69:33] here and there'll be kind of a [69:34] rebuilding time that needs to come in [69:36] that we need to rebuild what people see [69:38] and that cycle, a different cycle is [69:40] going to play out and we have to be [69:42] ready for that with communication [69:43] strategies and people strategies that [69:44] will work for our residents really and [69:47] that's kind of what the data shows us. [69:50] Um, I think [69:54] are we doing the rest of this [69:57] Greg? Are we doing the whole thing or [69:59] Yeah. Okay. So, there's a couple of [70:01] things in the secondary poll I did here [70:04] more recently. So, I did that first poll [70:06] and I wanted to see where local views [70:08] are of police and fire department. So, [70:09] I'll start with police. You look at kind [70:12] of the way this is built out like and so [70:14] I wanted to go dive deeper into this and [70:17] say, okay, what do people think about [70:18] local police? And you can kind of what I [70:20] say is look at the favorables and the [70:22] unfavorables, right? And look about, you [70:24] know, your favorable versus your [70:26] unfavorable ranking, right? And so most [70:29] police here like actually have fairly [70:31] decent numbers, right? That's that that [70:33] number that we see reflected there. Then [70:36] you see the difference between fire [70:37] coming up here more extremely favorable, [70:40] right? And less negative, right? So it [70:43] comes more into the middle, right? [70:44] There's not the extremes that you expect [70:46] to see. Okay. [70:49] What that tells us again is that there's [70:52] a strategy to be used in terms of [70:54] resiliency building and response [70:56] mechanisms and effective outgoing [70:58] communications as well because where the [71:00] trust lives right is where our strongest [71:03] points are. And again, the more we do [71:05] really good service, the better off we [71:07] are. I I try to tell clients like in the [71:10] resiliency cycle because everything kind [71:12] of cycles back and it starts a new cycle [71:14] just like we've seen trust cycles rise [71:17] and fall. We want to go back to these [71:19] times that might not exist again, right? [71:21] We want to keep going back to those [71:23] things. And I think what we need to [71:25] focus on is um the new normal and how we [71:29] build that and what we want in it and [71:31] how we can reflect that. Um there's good [71:34] signs in here. I was telling Greg this [71:36] earlier today. You know, we had a an [71:39] incident at a park uh a summer ago, [71:41] right, in Red Oak Park, right? and local [71:43] residents didn't want to play ball and [71:45] and give information to the police in [71:47] some cases, right? And that's kind of a [71:49] a trust issue, right? [71:51] >> But we recently had the thing over the [71:53] Christmas New Year's period where [71:55] someone was attacked in the park and the [71:57] detectives went out and people responded [71:59] to them, right? [72:00] >> Again, they're seeing the value of the [72:02] police and the approach of the police [72:03] and they put together an incredible case [72:05] and they arrested someone I think in [72:06] four days, chief. Right. [72:08] >> That's built on trust. I mean, that is [72:10] the work of residents and the police [72:12] department together because they trust [72:14] each other with the information, the [72:15] ability to share that information. And [72:18] so, we've got to hold that close to us [72:19] and make sure that that is something [72:21] that we say, okay, we we still have some [72:23] of that. We need to build that up [72:25] ongoing because that is kind of the [72:27] resiliency right there. We didn't have [72:29] that a year ago, right? Different [72:31] incident, different circumstances, but [72:33] we didn't have it. And again, we need to [72:35] say, okay, what made that work? And I [72:37] think it's the approach of the [72:38] detectives and the officers that were [72:39] out there that day right away showing [72:41] that they cared for the person that was [72:43] attacked and putting a case together [72:44] where people helped them do it. And that [72:46] is a trust factor. The good the bad news [72:49] about that was is that we were going to [72:50] do some media on that and some social [72:52] media and stuff that involved other [72:53] people and it was the day of something [72:55] else that happened and it completely [72:57] shut down all the media that wanted to [72:58] come and talk about the arrest and [73:00] everything else. It's just really [73:01] horrible timing. But we would have [73:03] amplified that. we would have used those [73:05] strategies right away to say look what [73:07] happens when we work together and it [73:09] worked together at a very local level [73:11] and it just unfortunate timing on that [73:13] we had TV stations lined up we had [73:15] social media stuff ready to go and it [73:17] just couldn't fall all into place at the [73:19] same time but I do think we need to keep [73:21] hopeful that we can do these types of [73:23] things if we work on it and keep [73:25] building that trust person to person at [73:26] the local level and that is part of the [73:28] work of the resiliency team as well and [73:30] with that I'll stop and uh madame mayor [73:34] council if you want to do questions or [73:36] Greg whatever he feels appropriate I'm [73:38] happy to [73:38] >> any questions for BJ Mike or Paul [73:46] >> well thank you so much [73:47] >> thank you [73:48] >> thank you for the information [73:53] >> and the direction of compassion [73:55] >> thanks Vince [73:56] >> caring for people and compassion is the [73:58] right message [74:03] >> quickly So Paul, when I when I watched [74:05] this [74:07] presentation, [74:08] are you kind of telling us to get back [74:10] to our grassroots and just get out [74:12] amongst the public and talk to people? [74:14] >> Yeah. Just be out there. [74:16] >> It's the most it is the most effective [74:18] things and do our jobs really well. And [74:20] what I mean by that is every department [74:21] in the city, you know, not elected [74:24] officials, you know, you look at all the [74:25] departments within the city. I'm talking [74:27] police department, fire department, [74:28] parks department. The better we do our [74:30] jobs locally and the more we celebrate [74:32] that, the better off we are because [74:34] otherwise people become cynical about [74:36] government and we don't attach to big [74:38] government. We won't attach to small [74:40] government that we can control and that [74:42] again that comes with being out there [74:44] and listening to people and and making [74:45] sure we're we're meeting their needs. [74:48] >> Well, trust is always based on personal [74:53] relationships. [74:53] >> Exactly. [74:55] and how you treat one another on a [74:58] consistent basis. [74:59] >> Correct. [74:59] >> Not just because something happened, but [75:03] how you do it every day. [75:07] Okay. Thank you so much. [75:10] >> Thank you. [75:10] >> Okay. [75:12] So, the next item then is round table [75:15] and members of the council and in front [75:18] of you. Um when we had when we went [75:21] through the last community builders [75:24] application forms, I uh I was concerned [75:28] about two areas. One was uh having a [75:32] person who lives in Burnsville but works [75:36] in a different city [75:38] and um [75:41] she was a police officer and everything [75:43] that was in that application had to do [75:45] with her work in the as a police officer [75:49] in the city of uh I think South St. Paul [75:55] and then the other was business. So, if [75:58] you look at um the community builders [76:02] policy, [76:04] I'm hoping that uh we could talk about [76:07] amending it because the whole purpose of [76:09] this was building within our community [76:14] uh the people who step up to build the [76:18] community that [76:21] say we're all in this together and [76:24] building a viable community that uh is [76:30] welcoming to all. So we have uh [76:36] the [76:40] first bullet gives an example of a [76:42] community [76:45] builder and what all of that is. So my [76:48] hope is that [76:50] we could look at [76:53] the third bullet that uh has elected [76:56] officials or um [76:59] school board members, state, county or [77:03] all of that. But we also don't allow [77:06] staff. [77:08] They're exempt. So it's [77:12] I mean so they're not eligible. [77:15] And I would like for us to, [77:23] you know, that's your job. It's like the [77:25] police officer [77:27] >> um that works in South St. Paul. All of [77:29] that was about her job in South St. [77:32] Paul. She wasn't building community in [77:35] Burnsville. She lives in Burnsville, [77:38] but she [77:40] but she's a police officer in South St. [77:43] hall [77:45] there. And like I said, there are a lot [77:47] of our police officers that I would [77:50] would say, oh, there [77:53] they should be eligible for uh building [77:57] community because of the things that [77:58] they do, all of the people who do [78:01] engagement work in Burnsville and what [78:04] they do, but they're not eligible. And [78:08] so I'm thinking that we should amend it [78:10] that [78:11] if they are [78:13] staff members doing their job, [78:17] they're not eligible. This is about [78:19] people uh in our community who are [78:22] stepping forward. And then I'm thinking [78:24] that for businesses, there should be a [78:26] separate category and we should look and [78:29] say, what is it that a business needs to [78:33] do to build community? Is it just giving [78:35] us money? I don't think that's enough. I [78:39] think it should be more than that. [78:41] um you know are they [78:44] are their employees part of engaging in [78:48] building our community? There are a lot [78:51] of businesses that do that but they [78:54] haven't been nominated. Um, so my ask to [78:59] you tonight is to do two things [79:06] to put in the um [79:10] the people who are not eligible or staff [79:12] members. Doesn't matter where they, you [79:15] know, whether they're our staff, school [79:18] staff, um, [79:21] county staff, [79:24] staff for police or fire in other [79:26] cities. This is about people, our people [79:29] stepping forward and saying we're here [79:32] to build community. And then the other [79:35] ask is that let's look at a separate [79:39] um award for businesses and then look at [79:42] what are the criterias that would make [79:45] uh a business a um eligible business to [79:49] be recognized as a business that is [79:52] helping build community. So those are [79:55] the two asks that I have for you this [79:56] evening. [80:00] Vince, [80:01] >> I [80:03] agree with the sentiment just based on [80:05] how this last round went. The only thing [80:08] I would want to be careful of is if [80:10] there was somebody in town who just [80:12] happened to be employed [80:15] for a different government [80:18] agency, but the work that they're being [80:20] awarded for was not pertinent to that [80:23] work. [80:25] I would hate to take that person off the [80:28] table. So, if there's a way to wordsmith [80:30] that to say, you know, uh, [80:34] >> but they're doing the work in [80:35] Burnsville. [80:37] >> Well, okay. So, like before Erica was [80:39] hired here, she worked for a different [80:42] city. Let's, and I'm going to use her as [80:44] an example. Let's say she did a really [80:47] good job volunteering in Minnesota in [80:49] Burnsville that had nothing to do with [80:50] her job at that city. [80:52] >> Yeah. Okay. Do we Yeah. and and I think [80:56] >> would she be excluded from consideration [80:58] purely because she was employed [81:00] >> included because she's doing all of her [81:02] work here in Burnsville and she's [81:05] stepping up as a member of the [81:07] community. [81:08] >> Yes. [81:08] >> Yes. [81:09] >> I just want to make sure that that [81:10] employment piece isn't a disqualifier if [81:13] somebody is doing good in Burnsville. [81:17] >> I get it. I get it. Yes, Michelle. Madam [81:20] Mayor, I think that um to clarify this [81:23] where we make the exception for [81:25] commissioners that do work outside of [81:27] the commission would be the same for [81:28] staff if they're doing work outside of [81:30] their staff work. [81:32] >> Yeah. If the work is not [81:34] >> as long as it's not their job [81:35] >> job. [81:36] >> Yeah. [81:37] >> Yes. Then totally [81:39] >> as long as it's not their job. [81:42] >> Can that be delineated? [81:44] Can that be delineated in the policy? [81:46] So, [81:48] >> madam, [81:51] I apologize. [81:51] >> No, I sorry, just took me a while to [81:53] spell out the last two words. [81:55] >> Uh, madame mayor, members of the council [81:57] first. Council member Keely, I apologize [81:58] for cutting you off there. [82:00] >> Um, uh, [82:02] Michelle makes a good point. I I was [82:04] looking at the the final bullet under [82:06] section one. if the um if the will of [82:09] the council would be uh to to make a [82:12] similar statement um that would be [82:14] outside the work of outside the work of [82:18] paid city staff. We can we can find [82:20] language but it seems to I think M [82:22] Michelle's suggestion if I'm [82:24] understanding the discussion right now [82:26] >> yeah that works [82:27] >> might be a good way to address that. And [82:28] that works because the they're a member [82:30] of the community doing work in the [82:33] community, but they they work in [82:36] government or a school district outside [82:38] of [82:38] >> Yeah. [82:39] >> Yeah. But they're here and that's the [82:42] spirit of what the purpose is that [82:45] they're working. They're doing things to [82:47] build community [82:49] >> and then we would just strike business. [82:52] >> Nope. Go for it. [82:54] >> But I just wanted to clarify. And then [82:55] we would just strike any businesses or [82:58] business owners from receiving the [83:00] award. [83:02] >> Yeah. And then have a different category [83:04] because I think there's more to that [83:06] than just [83:09] you know but have a different category [83:11] for business if we want to do that and [83:13] then what are what are all of the [83:14] criteria that would make a business [83:17] eligible. [83:18] >> Yeah. [83:20] >> Cara. So keep in mind when you are [83:22] saying a business that includes [83:25] notfor-profit [83:26] businesses. So that pushes them out of [83:29] the running as well. [83:31] >> No, [83:32] >> when you talk about a business, there's [83:34] for-profit businesses and notfor-profit [83:36] businesses. [83:37] >> Not for-p profofit is a business. They [83:38] just have a different tax structure. [83:40] >> Yeah, exactly. So you're pushing them [83:43] out as well. I I think we can clean this [83:47] up without making it a separate award or [83:49] a separate category if we do it in a [83:53] similar way to how we are phrasing [83:55] commissions and staff for saying that it [83:57] has to be something that they are doing [84:00] for the community that is outside of [84:02] normal business operations. [84:05] >> Yeah. Because you you know 360 does so [84:09] much. [84:10] >> Yeah. I don't want I don't want to I [84:11] don't want to boot them out of things [84:13] like this. [84:13] >> Yeah. But the thing is that's their [84:15] business. Their business is to is to [84:18] serve the community. That's why I [84:19] thought that a separate category looks [84:22] at that differently than because you [84:26] know [84:28] I look at [84:32] a business like Ames that gives so much [84:35] more than just money. They [84:38] they do art. They give us art. They do [84:43] they have their employees [84:45] uh participate in in things that make [84:48] our community great. They create events [84:52] for the community to come together. But [84:57] you know we don't [84:59] >> and I don't I don't have a problem with [85:02] >> having them come up for a community [85:03] builder award because that is like [85:05] things like that are outside of the [85:07] scope of their normal business [85:09] operations and mission. So like I don't [85:12] have a problem like if someone wants to [85:13] nominate Ames for like the amazing stuff [85:16] that they're that they're doing, you [85:18] know, like [85:19] >> bring it just throughout this year. It's [85:21] like throughout the [85:23] >> you know what they do throughout the the [85:25] time that they [85:27] >> I would agree and I think there's two [85:29] different types of affecting positive [85:32] change. For those that can't write a [85:35] check, they volunteer their time and [85:36] they [85:37] >> uh go out of their way even as a city [85:40] employee to donate an enormous amount of [85:42] time that makes a very positive impact [85:44] on the community. [85:45] >> Companies sometimes will do that or they [85:48] will in the case of Ames show their way [85:51] of giving back by using their financial [85:53] strength to do things that enhance the [85:56] positive right give back to community. [85:58] I think we have to recognize it's not [86:00] just all based on volunteering per se [86:02] that it it can be another way of giving [86:06] um depending on the business. [86:09] >> Um any business that is in the business [86:11] of profit or nonprofit of doing things [86:15] for the community like [86:18] uh you know a nonprofit agency that um [86:23] like 360s, right? Do we recognize 360s [86:27] with a community builder board because [86:29] that's the whole mission of their agency [86:31] is to do what they do. Uh, I think it [86:34] would almost have to be a person within [86:37] that organization who steps out of that [86:40] standard daily business mission and does [86:42] something else, [86:44] >> right, [86:44] >> separate from that that donates a [86:47] significant amount of their time and [86:48] effort and brings other people together [86:50] and affects change in a positive way [86:52] that is outside of the lane that they're [86:54] in under their 360. I'm using that as [86:56] example because it's the biggest one I [86:58] could think of. [86:59] >> Yeah. Because there's the other thing is [87:01] that there are faith communities that do [87:03] so much and give back to the community, [87:09] you know, whether it's food, it's [87:10] clothing or [87:13] other things. So that's what I'm looking [87:15] at. And I look at faith community as a [87:18] business. It is a business. [87:20] >> Yeah. [87:21] >> It's a very big business, [87:24] >> you know, but it's it's the faith [87:26] community. um [87:31] they have a service that they provide. [87:33] And so [87:35] there's a lot in looking at business. [87:39] There are many different types of [87:41] business from nonprofit to profit to [87:44] faith and um [87:48] you know you you can look at the YMCA [87:51] too but the YMCA there was a time that [87:54] they do a did a lot of partnerships with [87:56] us. [87:57] >> Yeah. [87:58] >> And then things change and [88:04] management change and all of that. And [88:07] so [88:11] there wasn't that much engagement in the [88:14] community except their programs. But I [88:16] understand why they had to get back to [88:19] making sure that their business uh [88:22] is resilient and continues to thrive. [88:25] >> CO was very hard on the YMCA. [88:26] >> Yeah. [88:29] So, what I'm hearing is that um we can [88:32] take a look at [88:34] amending the piece about the people that [88:37] we look at. I still don't know if we can [88:40] do a separate [88:43] category or a separate bullet under this [88:46] same policy for businesses. [88:56] I have to agree that for a business it [88:58] has to be more than just they wrote a [88:59] check last year so they're a business [89:01] award winner. It's [89:03] >> I think it needs to be even if a [89:05] business is writing checks it should be [89:07] that they've been doing that for a long [89:08] time or something and not just the last [89:10] couple years and [89:12] >> before they get any kind of award like [89:14] that. [89:15] >> You know it's [89:17] >> so many businesses that have gotten [89:18] awards actually provide services to the [89:20] city. They provide services to our [89:22] citizens and a lot of times proono type [89:24] services to our citizens and [89:26] >> so they give their they give they give [89:27] their time which is [89:30] >> changes a lot. [89:31] >> So do we have a another bullet [89:37] that addresses business [89:40] the business category? [89:42] >> I think that's easiest. [89:44] >> Okay. Instead of a a separate policy for [89:46] business [89:47] >> because I think here's the thing. I [89:48] think if we do a category then people [89:49] always feel like they have to fill a [89:50] category. We don't need to fill a [89:52] category. [89:52] >> Yeah. [89:53] >> You know what I'm saying? [89:54] >> Yeah. Yeah. I I get that. [89:56] >> So, [89:58] >> yeah. So, a different bullet that [90:01] addresses [90:03] um the qualifications for business and [90:06] what makes them eligible for community [90:09] builder. [90:12] And that [90:13] >> I think that's just further [90:14] clarification of what we probably think [90:16] in the spirit of this, but we need to [90:17] put it in words [90:19] >> for future councils to [90:21] >> staff to understand what the guide guard [90:23] rails are for this program. [90:26] So, Greg, [90:27] >> Madame Mayor, members of the council, [90:29] um, if I'm counting correctly, I I I [90:32] believe I'm hearing a majority of the [90:34] city council is interested in adding a [90:36] bullet under uh policy number one, uh, [90:40] that would uh clarify, much like the the [90:44] current fifth or fourth, fifth, I can't [90:47] count tonight. I apologize. Uh bullet [90:50] that that's worded um to address outside [90:54] of the scope of of paid city staff work. [90:57] We can we can work language, but [90:59] generally the spirit of [91:02] >> uh outside of the scope of of that paid [91:04] city staff work. And then also uh an [91:07] additional bullet uh that would clarify [91:09] outside the scope of normal business [91:12] operations. I I think what I heard at [91:14] least a majority of the council say is [91:17] those two [91:19] >> um maybe two bullets to clarify the [91:21] council's position. [91:22] >> Okay. So I'm seeing I'm seeing head [91:25] nods. So all all four. Yeah, I see [91:28] thumbs up. Okay. So that Okay. And so [91:31] you'll bring back [91:33] >> Yeah. With that, Madame Mayor, members [91:35] of the council, I would suggest for your [91:36] consideration if it if the council is [91:39] unanimously supportive that we we draft [91:41] that and bring it back on the consent [91:42] agenda for your consideration. We [91:44] certainly could bring it to work [91:45] session, I will take your direction, [91:46] whatever you prefer. [91:47] >> Bring it back to for a consent agenda. [91:50] >> Yeah. [91:50] >> And then if Yeah. And because we see it [91:53] before and if you want to amend it, we [91:55] can do some of that. [91:56] >> And madam mayor, members of the council, [91:58] I can certainly share a draft version in [92:00] my weekly communication with you [92:02] >> there. That that's a that's a great way. [92:04] Perfect. Okay, that's what we'll do. [92:06] >> Well, thank you so much. [92:06] >> I think it just needed a little [92:07] finetuning and this was exactly what it [92:09] needed. [92:10] >> Thank you so much uh council for all of [92:12] that. [92:13] >> Okay, so then um [92:16] >> and then uh with that um agenda uh [92:19] reports. [92:22] Um [92:23] >> I got nothing. [92:24] >> Okay. [92:25] >> Our next experience burns meeting is [92:27] next week. [92:28] >> Okay, Cara. Yeah, we're at the beginning [92:31] of the year, so I got nothing. [92:34] >> Okay, Dan, [92:36] >> got a couple things. Thanks, Sergeant [92:38] Mer. [92:38] >> Yeah. [92:39] >> For hanging with us tonight. [92:40] >> Yeah. [92:42] >> Uh just uh on MBTA. I'm wrapping up uh [92:46] my two years as chair and passing the [92:48] gavl later this month to current vice [92:50] chair Jay Whiting from Shakape City [92:53] Council. I35 solutions. I got [92:57] Allen told to accept uh a nomination as [93:00] chair from uh the outgoing chair, [93:02] Commissioner Liz Workman at our January [93:05] meeting last week. Um Dan Gustoson has [93:08] some history on the I35 and knows what a [93:10] great group it is and really good [93:12] collaboration with all the cities [93:14] between Elco New Market and Minneapolis [93:17] on the I35 corridor and adjoining east [93:20] west corridors. [93:22] The new vice chair is Sean Han uh [93:25] Hayford Olirri from the Richfield City [93:27] Council. [93:29] Uh from National League of Cities news, [93:31] the executive committee retreat is [93:33] Friday through Sunday, January 29th [93:36] through February 1st. I believe those [93:37] are the days immediately following the [93:40] mayor's conference in DC. Um and we're [93:43] meeting at the it's a retreat, but we're [93:45] meeting at the headquarters in National [93:47] League of Cities headquarters in DC. And [93:49] ironically, in the same building, the [93:51] National Association of or I think it's [93:53] the National [93:56] Association of Counties maybe or [93:58] whatever they is in the same building. [94:00] >> Does US Conference of Mayors have their [94:02] office in the same building? [94:04] >> No, we have our offices in a different [94:05] building on I Street. [94:08] >> And then the last item, Burnsville [94:11] Public Policy Committee met Friday [94:13] morning and I provided a city update. We [94:15] hadn't met in a couple months. and uh [94:19] Jeff Thompson was there. It was great to [94:20] have you. And the chamber presented [94:23] their chamber federation priorities for [94:25] 2026 and asked for some feedback. [94:27] >> Okay. Um [94:30] the uh Savage Burnsville collaborate uh [94:34] joint council committee that's coming up [94:37] on Thursday. That's when we meet. Yes. [94:41] And um [94:43] nothing's happening in Metro Cities. Um [94:47] our um [94:50] community [94:53] foundation meeting is this coming [94:56] Thursday. It was supposed to be last [94:57] Thursday, but there were some issues [95:00] with the quorum. So it was uh delayed [95:02] for this coming Thursday. So I don't [95:05] have anything to report there. [95:08] And that's all. [95:10] Um anything from you, Greg? Uh madam [95:14] mayor, members of the council, might be [95:15] two quick things. Uh first would be [95:18] mayor, you mentioned a meeting that the [95:20] city of Eden Prairie, the mayor of the [95:22] city of Eden Prairie had called for [95:24] mayors and city managers uh this week to [95:26] discuss um immigration, federal [95:29] immigration enforcement action and city [95:31] roles. Uh mayor, I believe that we've [95:34] accepted and we'll attend that. I'll [95:35] provide a summary to the council in my [95:37] weekly update to you on Friday uh [95:39] following that meeting. Um, also I just [95:41] uh take the opportunity to express my uh [95:44] my gratitude for uh Dr. Daniels uh at [95:47] the school district 191. Uh Jennifer [95:49] Harmon, the president of the chamber and [95:51] Amy Burl, the president of Experience [95:54] Burnsville. Uh we've all uh the four of [95:56] us have invested quite a bit of time [95:57] together over the course of the past um [96:00] uh several months. We're we're meeting [96:01] on a quarterly basis starting to talk [96:04] about uh how we can uh best unify and [96:07] support each other. Um, and I hope to [96:10] bring that conversation to the the [96:11] council and and I believe that we hope [96:13] to bring those conversations to our [96:15] boards uh as well uh as we continue to [96:18] strengthen partnerships. So, just wanted [96:19] to express my appreciation to them and [96:21] let you know that you'll hear more from [96:23] me about our conversations as we look at [96:26] uh our our strategic partnerships across [96:29] the city. [96:30] >> Yeah. Wonderful. Thank you. And uh I I [96:33] enjoy reading your partnership uh [96:35] communication so that it informs us also [96:38] on uh the activities that uh you and the [96:42] partners are doing along those lines. So [96:45] thank you for so much for that. Okay. [96:48] And um with that [96:51] uh we stand adjourn by acclamation and [96:54] then we will take just a short break and [96:57] then uh reconvene for the budget work [96:59] session. Okay. [97:02] Um [97:03] >> 10 What?