this is uh your opportunity as a council to help staff draft a response if you feel there's a response that is needed to the Met Council as you know we're in our current met council plan the 20 well it's called the it's always kind of confusing because it's called the have a whole slide on it got a whole side on this I'll just say we're in the current the current plan our 20 240 plan which was developed in 2018 or approved in 2018 and that really operationally takes us from 2018 to 2028 which is then called the 20 240 plan.

unless funding significantly changes for affordable housing specifically to 30% there's not a lot of traction the city can do on its own we can try to piece together different projects get a few 30% here and there but we're not going to get 752 752 right so that that one I will mention that in the comments that that is going to be a hard number to hit doesn't Ma I mean it's a good goal to have it's just and we need that it's not I'm not saying that the point is that executing and implementing is going to be a a really big challenge.

with um met counil saying 752 units I mean are we able to get any if we haven't had none in the last 10 years how do we get to any right and so what are some I yeah I think you could get there um perhaps maybe if if you got a few of your units on a mixed use um project to be 30% like I said we got down to 40% with a project but we haven't been able to get to 30% because sometimes 30% depends they need services to go with it or there's complimentary Services supporting that housing uh that go with that unit so sometimes that's the um barrier to providing 30%.

I've worked in business for a long time and I've always had stretch targets and if you don't stretch you don't grow and I and I believe that but I've also been parts of organizations where the plan is so far out of the realm of possibility that people go through the motions because they have to do their jobs but they know they can't get there and so they really don't try and I think that's the that's the balance.

I think we've come a long ways from where we were when this was first put on the agenda so I read the staff report I talked to Mike I I I talked to um Rebecca and I thought you know what let's have I don't know if we need to dig into a lot of detail on this I think we're in a pretty darn good spot in our our relationships and our and are working we're working pretty well if somebody has a different opinion I don't want to cut anybody off but I also don't want to get all involved in a lengthy detailed conversation um on a problem that is not won't ever raise its ugly head again but but one that we've got largely resolved or solved.

my inclination would be honestly maybe more unintended harmful consequences could come from digging too deep into this conversation today um than it than good is is kind of my thoughts.

I think it would be probably be helpful and I told Mike this — this morning — helpful to have clear information on procedures and guidelines and parameters for groups interacting groups and staff interacting with each other but I do feel it's up to council members to set, uh, their own parameters and guidelines and how they interact with volunteer groups in that regard. I also agree that council's statutory role is big picture ordinances, resolution, budgets, EIP, CIP, etcetera. However, I feel that the line can also be fuzzy between policies and operationalizing them, plus just as staff advocates for major policies and ordinances that it feels are in the best interests of the community, council should also be able to occasionally weigh in on more minor issues that we nonetheless feel are important. While we cannot and should not direct staff, we can and in my opinion should be able to question and advocate about them via Mike privately and even to use our bully pulpit to respectfully do so publicly, and even if that runs counter to staff opinion and practice, that is simply representative democracy and part of the deal.

I don't feel uncomfortable and that's just me as personal I don't get uncomfortable when groups organize or even come to the council um I did talk to Mike about yeah um we have to be prepared for it but to put in too many any policies and procedures to me that start to take away Freedom um and it it it it makes you go through a lot of red tape you know and I just don't feel comfortable saying um to add more red tape I think yes there was attension yes people got uncomfortable but I'm like I you know as a black woman I'm uncomfortable all the time and I think we have to get uncomfortable and I think that is is okay.

For Community inclusiveness, uh, what we have right now is build and engage accepting and compassionate community that Embraces diversity and uses varied perspectives to create an inclusive and Equitable City for for everyone.

you have expanded my thought I won't speak for anyone else my thought on what inclusiveness represents and I think that's that's really important um we we want you know our actions tell people where our values are and things like having um accessible restrooms and using American Sign Language and demonstrating that people who we may not see every day need to be part of our inclusiveness and as a parent of disabled children I mean I've I've been exposed to a world that a lot of people don't know exists and I think your definition of inclusiveness really does a nice job of that and and so I I I want to commend you on that I'm I'm supportive as well.

what excites me about this one than that we haven't seen before in our in our current strategic profile is that that second one enhancing Community representation through ART and imagery and I think for those that were at the league of Minnesota City's conference we heard that from a number of speakers that just how art can influence culture in your community.