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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Council Worksession <br />June 30, 2020 <br />5:00 pm <br /> <br />Present: Mayor Valerie Johnson <br /> Councilmember Graeme Allen <br /> Councilmember Emily Dunsworth <br /> Councilmember Nasreen Fynewever <br /> Councilmember Paul Jacobsen <br />Absent: <br /> <br />Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Tony Paetznick <br /> <br />Guests in Attendance: <br /> <br />Discussion with Director Tony Paetznick regarding New Brighton Public Safety Department <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson stated due to the COVID-19 pandemic this meeting was being held virtually. She explained <br />this special worksession meeting would be a conversation between the City Council and Public Safety Director <br />Paetznick. <br /> <br />Mayor Johnson indicated she became Mayor of New Brighton five years ago and at that time she understood it <br />would be important to make New Brighton feel like home for all of its residents. She discussed the work that <br />was done by the Inclusive Community Task Force. She believed that more discussions should have been held <br />by this group for the good of the community. She supported the City having an Inclusivity Commission but <br />understood this has been a budgetary concern for the City. She commented on how the tragic events surround <br />George Floyd had led to this conversation. She understood the City had a really great Public Safety <br />Department and she looked forward to the discussion that would be held by the Council this evening. <br /> <br />Councilmember Jacobsen stated New Brighton’s police force and its public safety model was different than <br />other communities. He reported the City’s model operates very well but understood the department could not <br />rest on its laurels. He appreciated the fact that an open dialogue was being held to further discuss the Public <br />Safety Department. He explained his only concern was with the demographics of the traffic stops and how <br />they do not match the demographics of the community. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen commented he talked to City Manager Massopust regarding the traffic data and he <br />agreed the demographics do not reflect the community. He questioned if residency could be tracked for traffic <br />stops. He indicated there were in City stops, along with stops near I-694, which may include people from <br />outside the community. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dunsworth stated she did not care about residency information given the high number of <br />people driving through the community. She commented on the large number of people that drove to New <br />Brighton to use the Community Center. She indicated she wanted all residents and visitors to this community <br />to feel included. She explained she was interested in the accountability and how the public safety department <br />continues to improve upon the environment that has been created. In addition, she wanted to see the City <br />continually working to strive to be more inclusive. She discussed the work completed by the Inclusive