2019.02.26 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• Mayor Johnson asked what changes Ms. Kuiper would make to draw younger people to the community. Ms. Kuiper commented she wished the community had more things to do, such as more restaurants, activities or places to gather. Mayor Johnson discussed the process the Council would be following for the committee member appointments. She asked if Ms. Kuiper for her interest in serving and asked if she had any questions. Ms. Kuiper asked what were some of the Council's favorite projects in the City. City Manager Lotter stated he liked to see the planning the City had put in place for its parks system. He discussed the great work being completed by the City's new Parks and Recreation Director. He commented further on the Comprehensive Parks Planning process the City was undertaking, while also discussing how park and recreation services are a great way of creating community. Mayor Johnson commented on the value each Commission brought to the City. She stated she appreciated the fact that Commissioners put the City before themselves and were making decisions that put the City's best interest before their own. She explained this was very rewarding to see. Councilmember Jacobsen stated as a Councilmember he served as a liaison to a Commission each year. He discussed how rewarding it was to serve in this role. He stated he really appreciated the engagement the City received from its Commissioners. 1 Mayor Johnson welcomed Stephanie Kitzhaber. Councilmember Allen asked Stephanie to tell the Council a little bit about herself and her experiences in the community. Stephanie Kitzhaber stated she has had limited involvement in the community but has lived in New Brighton for the past 8 or 9 years. She reported she works for Ramsey County as a social worker. She explained she wanted to be more connected to the City which led her to apply for this position. Mayor Johnson asked why Stephanie was interested in Public Safety. Ms. Kitzhaber explained this was due to the fact she worked with people with mental illnesses. She stated her skills may help police in understanding how to respond to calls. She indicated she received training on race, racism, white privilege and biases. City Manager Lotter commented on the City's Inclusivity Task Force and asked if Ms. Kitzhaber would be interested in serving with this group. Ms. Kitzhaber stated this would depend on her schedule but noted she would be interested in serving with this group. Councilmember Jacobsen asked why she would be a good person to represent the community and advise the City Council. Ms. Kitzhaber reported her mental health background would be valuable. She noted she worked with people who were in extreme poverty and were struggling the most. She discussed how she worked to find these