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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Council Worksession <br />July 11, 2023 <br />5:00 pm <br /> <br /> <br />Present: Mayor Kari Niedfeldt-Thomas <br />Councilmember Graeme Allen <br />Councilmember Pam Axberg <br /> <br />Absent: Councilmember Abdullahi Abdulle <br />Councilmember Emily Dunsworth <br /> <br /> <br />Staff in Attendance: Devin Massopust, Sergeant Matt Farmer, Heather Monnens, Attorney <br /> <br />Guests in Attendance: Jennifer Dickinson and Lita Morgan with the Tubman Center <br /> <br />Update from Tubman Center Representatives <br /> <br />Massopust stated Jennifer Dickinson from the Tubman Center reached out to staff and asked to meet with the <br />Council. He explained staff invited representatives to attend this meeting to speak with the Council. <br /> <br />Jennifer Dickinson, Tubman Center representative, introduced herself to the Council. She described the <br />advocacy work she does at the Tubman Center and explained Tubman was a non-profit. She reported the <br />Tubman Center was seeking sustainable funding sources to assist with providing domestic violence, mental <br />health and homeless youth services in Ramsey, Hennepin and Washington counties. She commented further on <br />how she works closely with the New Brighton Police Department on domestic violence cases. She noted she <br />also assists with drafting orders for protection (OFP’s). She discussed how the Safety Project helps clients by <br />providing representation at OFP cases. <br /> <br />Lita Morgan, Tubman Center representative, introduced herself to the Council and stated she has worked for <br />the Tubman Center for the past 16 years. She discussed how important it was for her to build relationships with <br />victims, parents and prosecutors. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas asked why the public safety department was able to share personal information with <br />the Tubman Center. Ms. Dickinson discussed the confidentiality clause and intervention line that was in place <br />for domestic violence victims. Deputy Hamdorf commented on how difficult domestic violence cases are and <br />explained officers work to bridge victims to advocates. He stated he has always felt good about assisting <br />victims and connecting them to the Tubman Center. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen indicated there has been a jump in domestic violence cases in New Brighton since the <br />pandemic. He questioned if this was occurring throughout the metro area. Ms. Dickinson reported this was the <br />case. She commented on how victims have been impacted by the pandemic and the isolation that ensued. She <br />reported the County Attorney’s office has had to take on more cases given the fact the Tubman Center only <br />manages intimate partner cases. All non-intimate partner cases were now being managed by the County <br />Attorney’s office. She further discussed how additional sustainable funding would assist with meeting the