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Discussion re ag rdin the Appointment of an Acting Mayor for 2021 <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas requested the Council discuss who would serve as Acting Mayor for 2021. She <br />reported she discussed this matter with City Manager Massopust and understood seniority would make the <br />most sense for this appointment. She explained in the previous election Councilmember Dunsworth received <br />more votes than Councilmember Allen. <br />Councilmember Abdulle supported Councilmember Dunsworth being appointed as the Acting Mayor for 2021. <br />Councilmember Axberg asked if Councilmember Dunsworth was willing to serve in this capacity. <br />Councilmember Dunsworth stated she would be willing to serve as the Acting Mayor. <br />Councilmember Allen supported this recommendation as well. <br />Continued Discussion on Inclusive Community Task Force Findings <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas reported she had a conversation with City Manager Massopust about the <br />findings from the Inclusive Community Task Force. She indicated the City would like to bring a new staff <br />person on board mid -year to assist with inclusivity/equity issues for the City while also supporting <br />an Inclusive Community Commission. <br />Massopust commented further on the findings from the Inclusive Community Task Force. He noted the task <br />force was formed in October of 2017 and convened in April of 2018. He explained this group was tasked with <br />addressing how the City of New Brighton can be made more inclusive. The final recommendations from this <br />group were presented to the Council in January 2019. These recommendations were discussed with the Council <br />in further detail. <br />Councilmember Dunsworth requested staff provide further comment on the term outcomes. Massopust stated <br />he would like to know more about the Council's vision for the work this Commission would be doing on a <br />monthly basis and from this work, what expectations would the Council have for outcomes for this <br />organization and the overall community. <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas stated some of the work this Commission would do would be interconnected with <br />existing organizations in the community. She anticipated there were specific changes that should happen in the <br />community. She would like the Council to identify and envision what this would look like. She anticipated this <br />would help the Council and staff create a job description for the new position and would assist in setting the <br />framework for the new Commission. She supported the Council having an outcomes mindset in order to assist <br />this Commission in getting things done. <br />Councilmember Abdulle explained he would like to see an assessment of where the City is and how the <br />different services and programs are either helping or hurting racial minorities or underserved groups. He <br />believed from this information goals could be set. He loved the idea of maximizing power from the <br />community and trying to get direct feedback from community members. He supported having community <br />involvement in the hiring for the new position. He recommended the future Commission members be diverse. <br />He stated he appreciated all of the work that was completed by the Task Force. <br />Councilmember Allen discussed where the City was at this time and believed areas of focus should be ableism, <br />ageism, training and diversity and race relations. He agreed the City needed to hear more voices and supported <br />the City celebrating its diversity. He supported the City continuing to listen when issues arise. The Council <br />