[0:03] Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
[0:05] It is 5:30 and I will call this regular
[0:08] meeting of the Burnsville City Council
[0:10] to order.
[0:12] It is our tradition to stand for a
[0:14] moment of silence followed by the Pledge
[0:16] of Allegiance and we invite you to join
[0:18] us.
[0:53] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[0:56] United States of America
[0:58] and to the republic for which it stands,
[1:01] one nation under God, indivisible, with
[1:05] liberty and justice for all.
[1:12] The clerk will note that um all council
[1:15] members are present. Council member
[1:17] Schultz is joining us remotely. Good
[1:19] evening, Council member Schultz.
[1:23] And it's good to see the members of our
[1:25] community in attendance in person.
[1:28] Um members of our community can also
[1:31] choose to watch the meeting at
[1:32] burnsvillemn
[1:34] .gov/meetings
[1:36] or Comcast channel 16 or 859.
[1:41] The public can also participate through
[1:43] Zoom by joining us at zoom.us/join.
[1:50] More information is available
[1:53] on our meetings webpage and in the
[1:56] council agenda packet.
[1:59] The first item on our agenda is
[2:01] announcements.
[2:03] Our announcements have to do with all of
[2:05] our upcoming meetings.
[2:08] Regular council meetings are scheduled
[2:10] for Monday,
[2:12] February 2nd,
[2:14] and it's moved to Monday, February 2nd
[2:17] because
[2:18] uh of caucus and um the law does not
[2:22] allow us to hold a meeting when there
[2:24] are caucuses happening.
[2:26] And that'll be at 5:30 right here in the
[2:28] council chambers.
[2:30] Also, a council uh meeting is scheduled
[2:33] for Tuesday, February 17th at 5:30.
[2:37] We have an annual offsite
[2:40] uh work session that's scheduled for
[2:41] Friday, February 6th at 9:00 a.m. and
[2:46] that's going to be at the Ames Center.
[2:49] We have a work session that's also
[2:51] scheduled for Tuesday, February 10th at
[2:54] 5:30 p.m.
[2:56] Unless noted, all meetings of the City
[2:58] Council are held here in the council
[3:01] chambers.
[3:04] The next item on the agenda
[3:06] is citizens comments.
[3:09] This is the opportunity for anyone
[3:12] that would like to address the council
[3:13] on an item that is not on the agenda
[3:17] and not an application form that's
[3:19] coming before us at a future date.
[3:24] Does anyone want to address the council
[3:27] on an item that is not on the agenda
[3:30] and not an application form coming to us
[3:32] at a future date?
[3:39] Ms. Henderson, is there anyone online?
[3:42] No, there is not.
[3:44] Okay, very good.
[3:46] Uh we will move on.
[3:51] Um
[3:53] the next item is additions to the final
[3:55] agenda and that is for emergency items
[3:58] only.
[3:59] City Manager Lindberg, are there any
[4:01] emergency items to come before the body?
[4:04] Nothing from staff, Mayor. Members of
[4:05] the council? Nothing.
[4:08] Okay.
[4:09] We are at the consent agenda.
[4:12] The consent agenda is a group of items
[4:14] that's um considered to be routine and
[4:17] will be enacted by one motion.
[4:19] However, an item on the consent agenda
[4:22] can be pulled for a separate discussion
[4:25] and vote.
[4:26] Is there anyone in the audience who
[4:28] wishes an item on the consent agenda to
[4:31] be pulled for a separate discussion and
[4:34] vote?
[4:38] Yes, ma'am. Um if you'll come to the uh
[4:41] podium,
[4:44] give us your name and the city that
[4:47] you live in. Thank you. My name's Jean
[4:50] Forman. I live in Burnsville. Okay,
[4:53] thank you. And what item would you like
[4:55] to pull? Okay, well I've never done this
[4:56] before, so I hope I'm not out of order.
[4:58] So, forgive me if I'm incorrect. Item
[5:01] 4G, the ordinance amending in the title
[5:03] one, chapter 13. Thank you. Have a seat.
[5:08] That item is being pulled for a separate
[5:10] discussion and vote.
[5:12] Is there another item that anyone would
[5:15] like to pull for a separate discussion
[5:17] and vote?
[5:21] Ms. Henderson, is there anyone online?
[5:24] No, there is not. Okay. Um
[5:27] Mr. Lindberg, does staff want to pull an
[5:30] item? Nothing from staff, Mayor. Members
[5:32] of the council?
[5:33] Okay. Nothing.
[5:35] All right.
[5:36] So, may I have a motion to adopt the
[5:38] consent agenda, please? So moved.
[5:41] Second. There's a motion and a second.
[5:43] All in favor, please say I.
[5:44] >> Mayor, Mayor, we we need a roll call
[5:46] » Mayor, Mayor, we we need a roll call
[5:46] vote. Oh.
[5:47] Oh, yes. I'm sorry.
[5:50] I
[5:51] Co-
[5:52] Council member Schultz, I'm sorry. We
[5:54] got to get used to this when you're when
[5:56] you're
[5:59] when you're joining remotely. So, we'll
[6:01] do a roll call.
[6:02] Council member Schultz?
[6:05] Yes.
[6:06] Council member Keely? Yes. Council
[6:08] member Gustafson? Yes. Council member
[6:11] Workman?
[6:11] >> Aye.
[6:13] » Aye.
[6:13] Mayor Coutts? Yes. Okay. You have the uh
[6:17] I do. Okay, very good.
[6:20] So, now um
[6:23] item 4G
[6:28] is an ordinance amending title one,
[6:32] chapter 13, stewardship of city
[6:34] resources and resolution affirming
[6:37] community values and stewardship of
[6:40] community resources amidst immigration
[6:43] operations.
[6:45] Presenting this ordinance is our
[6:47] attorney,
[6:49] Mr. Shepherd.
[6:52] Mayor, members of the council,
[6:54] at its January 6th meeting, the City
[6:56] Council voted for staff to bring back a
[6:58] policy prohibiting staging on city
[7:00] property at this meeting.
[7:02] Uh in front of you, item 4G, is that
[7:04] policy in ordinance form.
[7:06] The the proposed ordinance amends title
[7:08] one of the city code to clarify the
[7:10] appropriate use of city resources,
[7:12] including city property, by city staff
[7:14] and city public officials.
[7:16] It reaffirms that city resources must be
[7:18] for public purpose under state law and
[7:20] in a non and used in a
[7:22] non-discriminatory manner that serves
[7:23] the entire community.
[7:25] It prohibits the use of city resources
[7:27] for federal immigration enforcement,
[7:29] including the use of city property,
[7:30] buildings, and parks.
[7:32] Um the enforcement of the ordinance is
[7:33] an operational one subject to the
[7:35] discretion of city staff based on
[7:37] operational needs. Um like all code
[7:40] enforcement or all city ordinances, um
[7:42] allowing residents to peacefully
[7:44] assemble remains a chief priority
[7:47] uh during immigration activities. We can
[7:49] assume that enforcement will operate
[7:50] akin to nuisance or property enforcement
[7:52] where the key focus is on compliance,
[7:55] not punishment, and enforcement would be
[7:56] on a continuing again subject to
[7:59] resource allocation. Um the ordinance in
[8:02] front of you is accompanied by a
[8:03] resolution that explains the basis for
[8:05] the ordinance and affirms Burnsville
[8:07] community values in line with the
[8:09] discussion in front of the council.
[8:11] And a motion to approve would include
[8:13] both the ordinance and the resolution.
[8:15] Okay, thank you.
[8:19] Members of our community,
[8:21] there is only one thing hanging in these
[8:24] chambers and that is our values.
[8:26] And so I ask all of us
[8:30] to practice mutual respect
[8:33] and civility because that's who we are
[8:36] here in Burnsville.
[8:37] We care for one another
[8:40] and we speak respectfully
[8:43] and we listen politely
[8:46] because everyone's voice is important.
[8:49] And so we have
[8:53] people who have signed up to speak
[8:55] and we're happy to hear
[8:58] what you have to say, but I also want us
[9:00] to understand
[9:02] that we have been aware of all of the
[9:06] activities
[9:07] that has been going on in our region.
[9:12] And uh
[9:13] we also understand of our limitations.
[9:19] And well, I will speak to that when the
[9:21] time comes for me to make my remarks.
[9:24] And each of the council members will
[9:27] also make remarks
[9:30] after you speak.
[9:32] We will listen
[9:34] and I'm going to ask that everyone limit
[9:36] their remarks to 3 minutes
[9:39] so that we can move on and also do the
[9:41] work of the public that is before us for
[9:44] this evening.
[9:45] So, I thank you
[9:47] for your patience
[9:50] and
[9:52] your grace and understanding the things
[9:54] that we have to do together because this
[9:57] is about all of us together, working
[10:00] together
[10:02] for the good of our community.
[10:06] And so, the first person who is on this
[10:09] list is Yusef And Mr. if you
[10:13] would come to the podium
[10:15] and just give us your name and the city
[10:17] you live in.
[10:22] And we can all limit our remarks to 3
[10:25] minutes. And
[10:27] City Manager Lindberg, I don't know if
[10:29] you or somebody can
[10:31] time.
[10:32] Thank you.
[10:33] >> Madam Mayor, members of council, clerk's
[10:34] » Madam Mayor, members of council, clerk's
[10:34] office will take care of Yeah.
[10:36] Okay, thank you. Mr. the floor is
[10:38] yours. Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, city
[10:41] council and everyone else who has joined
[10:42] us here today.
[10:44] My name is Yusef and I live in
[10:45] Burnsville. I'm a homeowner. I'm raising
[10:48] my family here.
[10:49] And I'm so happy to see everyone here
[10:51] today. It's an important day.
[10:53] I am here to share with you guys
[10:55] with all of you of the collective
[10:58] suffering of our Burnsville residents.
[11:01] Uh it's more so our business owners. I
[11:03] am a business owner myself.
[11:05] Uh this issue this immigration this ICE
[11:08] in our community has really impacted a
[11:10] lot of business in our community. And it
[11:13] has affected even individuals, even
[11:15] families, even children. Children are
[11:17] have having to come home and talk about
[11:20] what ICE is doing in our community. And
[11:23] so, for me uh I'm here cuz I know all of
[11:26] you are you feel I'm you are human
[11:27] beings and I'm not here to criticize
[11:29] anyone. I'm not here to put anybody in a
[11:31] in a bad spot, but you have to feel it
[11:34] within you uh that you have to
[11:35] understand what impact we're having as a
[11:38] community and how we're being affected
[11:39] by this.
[11:41] Uh you know, I'll give you a story where
[11:44] my neighbor
[11:45] uh fearful
[11:46] uh of the Latino community
[11:48] uh haven't heard of him about 3 days
[11:50] now. Went and knocked his door. He
[11:52] opened the door and he the first thing
[11:54] he said to me was no ICE my friend. You
[11:56] know, so this is this is the fear we're
[11:58] talking about. This is the conversation
[12:00] we're having in our community. Uh you're
[12:02] have having to go all over Burnsville
[12:04] and getting to individual businesses,
[12:06] they're all empty. You know, and people
[12:08] are afraid to come to work.
[12:10] Uh even the normal democratic process of
[12:13] us expressing ourselves even when it
[12:15] comes to voting, you have fear of
[12:17] communities that usually come out uh
[12:19] asking themselves twice. When we go out
[12:21] and talk to them about how this process
[12:24] is important to you. So, for us also,
[12:26] we're building our city. Uh a beautiful
[12:29] city. You guys I think have done a great
[12:30] job in doing that. There's more that
[12:32] needs to be done, but you know, I got
[12:34] give you credit. Uh and so, we need to
[12:37] be able to have be having serious
[12:38] conversation about our community. Uh
[12:41] including having a Mother Martin Luther
[12:43] Martin Luther King Jr. Day educational
[12:46] conversation on race.
[12:47] 1 minute. And also
[12:50] I would love for you to consider
[12:52] unmasking ICE agents in our community so
[12:54] that we know who they are, how they look
[12:56] cuz we don't know who's coming to our
[12:57] community masked with guns. We are not
[13:00] sure if they're law enforcement, we're
[13:01] not sure if they're ICE agents. So,
[13:02] that's another thing I wanted to bring
[13:04] up and that is important to us. Thank
[13:05] you so much. Thank you, Mr. The
[13:08] next uh
[13:10] Okay, I'm going to ask that you know, I
[13:12] know that we appreciate everyone's
[13:14] comments, but at each time you do that,
[13:17] it's going I need to make sure that we
[13:19] keep moving along and let's be
[13:21] respectful. We all appreciate everyone's
[13:24] voice. So, thank you uh for your
[13:27] diligence with all of this. The next
[13:29] speaker is Yan Chen.
[13:31] And just uh give us your name and city.
[13:38] Good evening, council.
[13:39] Uh my name is Yan. I'm a resident of
[13:42] Burnsville.
[13:43] I've been involved in Minnesotan
[13:44] grassroots immigrant rights groups for
[13:46] over a year and I'm in favor of amending
[13:48] the city policy to prohibit immigration
[13:50] enforcement from using, staging,
[13:52] gathering, and or deploying to and from
[13:55] public city property. In fact, I'm in
[13:58] favor of the city council going even
[14:00] further to prohibit the use of any city
[14:03] materials, resources, or personnel to
[14:05] aid in the support of federal
[14:06] immigration matters.
[14:08] Part of your job, as I understand it
[14:11] is to ensure that all of your residents
[14:13] can wake up without the fear of being
[14:15] abducted on the streets, that they can
[14:18] go to work to beloved establishments
[14:20] without the fear of being violently
[14:21] tackled during a shift, and that they
[14:23] can operate businesses without being
[14:25] forced to shut down to keep their
[14:27] employees and co-workers safe from
[14:29] unidentified armed strangers.
[14:31] While you consider your own amendment, I
[14:33] insist that you consider an even more
[14:35] stringent amendment. Luckily for you,
[14:38] there's already a concrete model to
[14:40] follow. That is the revised separation
[14:43] ordinance that was unanimously adopted
[14:45] by the Minneapolis City Council in
[14:47] December and that I emailed to the city
[14:50] clerk earlier today.
[14:52] I've witnessed personally
[14:54] how multiple 20 or more plus unmarked
[14:57] vehicles in addition to lightly armored
[14:59] assault vehicles commonly known as a
[15:01] BearCat blockade multiple city blocks
[15:04] as ICE perp walked a a sole individual
[15:08] out of a house and I overheard on the
[15:10] radio that this person was identified as
[15:12] not the person that they were looking
[15:14] for, but simply as a {quote} {unquote}
[15:16] illegal. And after speaking to the
[15:18] sobbing wife of the person who's and the
[15:20] other people who are working at that
[15:22] house, they reported that even though
[15:24] the agents broke down the doors, they
[15:26] never saw a warrant.
[15:28] And similarly on January 6th, I spoke to
[15:31] the manager of my favorite local taco
[15:33] shop as he told me the ridiculous story
[15:35] of how ICE entered his restaurant and
[15:37] chased an employee. And then they
[15:40] decided to close early
[15:42] and remain closed for the rest of the
[15:43] week. He additionally told me that their
[15:46] other locations had to be shut down
[15:48] because their employees who had been
[15:50] working for more than 2 years with legal
[15:52] work permits were abducted during their
[15:55] shifts.
[15:57] I've personally been pepper sprayed and
[15:59] thrown onto hoods of vehicles and
[16:01] threatened with arrest without charge.
[16:03] These are not actions of a well-trained
[16:06] and measured law enforcement. These are
[16:09] actions of an unhinged paramilitary that
[16:12] I do not want to see on my streets or in
[16:14] my city ever again. Thank you. Thank
[16:17] you.
[16:18] Uh Mr. Doug Heuer.
[16:25] And just name and name of the city you
[16:28] live. Doug Heuer, Burnsville.
[16:30] And I'll yield two of my 3 minutes to
[16:33] someone else.
[16:35] Uh my wife and I have lived in
[16:36] Burnsville since 1988.
[16:39] And we fully support the ordinance
[16:43] amending title one
[16:45] chapter 13 stewardship of city resources
[16:48] and resolution number 26.
[16:50] Burnsville needs to stand for the values
[16:54] that make our community vibrant, strong,
[16:58] and a welcoming place for everyone.
[17:00] Thank you. Thank you.
[17:02] Um
[17:04] Ms. Alpha, I think it's
[17:07] Gorman? Goswami. Yeah. Yeah.
[17:10] You get your name and the city. And
[17:14] I know who you are.
[17:16] My name's Alpha Goswami. I'm from
[17:17] Burnsville. And I'll also yield my extra
[17:20] minutes to somebody because I'm not as
[17:23] eloquent as some of these other speakers
[17:25] are.
[17:26] Um but I have seen how terrified
[17:28] everyone is. I've seen the restaurants
[17:31] close down.
[17:32] Um
[17:34] there's so much distrust in the
[17:35] neighborhoods of seeing cars drive by
[17:37] like always watching. Um
[17:41] lack of workers coming in. There's a
[17:43] very popular gym around here that sent
[17:45] out an email today saying that their
[17:47] custodians aren't coming in
[17:49] across across the Twin Cities, not just
[17:52] in Burnsville, but they are just asking
[17:54] anyone to volunteer to be a custodian.
[17:57] Um
[17:59] And I feel like if we can um
[18:03] I I support this bill too. Um
[18:06] I think that's what called a
[18:07] proposition. I'm using the wrong words.
[18:10] Ordinance. Ordinance, thank you. Um so
[18:13] that kids can
[18:14] play safely and um
[18:17] parents don't have to worry about their
[18:20] kids even just driving to and from
[18:21] school.
[18:23] Thank you. Thank you.
[18:25] Uh Jesse Carlson.
[18:31] And just this your name and city.
[18:34] Uh members of the council, my name is
[18:35] Jesse Carlson. I live in Eagan. I'm an
[18:38] Eagan resident. However, I grew up in
[18:40] Apple Valley and uh I work in real
[18:43] estate and sell a lot of real estate in
[18:46] Burnsville, uh Minnesota.
[18:48] Uh Burnsville is one of my favorite
[18:49] places to sell. I grew up next to the
[18:51] city.
[18:53] Uh in in high school we would go we
[18:54] would go to the TGI Fridays that was at
[18:56] the Burnsville Mall. We're all still
[18:57] watching that and I've been thoroughly
[18:59] impressed over my entire life seeing how
[19:02] Burnsville has come about and has
[19:04] evolved and really risen itself up uh
[19:08] with given some of the mall and some of
[19:10] the economic turmoil that the city has
[19:11] seen.
[19:12] Uh I have found that many folks that I
[19:15] represent see Burnsville as a great
[19:17] place to move because of the
[19:19] up-and-coming nature, what has been done
[19:20] with the heart of the city, with with
[19:22] what has been done with the new
[19:23] businesses that come in uh that come in
[19:26] here. What I'm very afraid of right now
[19:28] for the citizens of Burnsville is with
[19:31] all the businesses closing, with folks
[19:34] not feeling brave enough to go outside
[19:38] uh due to all of the all of the unrest
[19:41] that's going on that ICE has brought to
[19:43] to the community here uh that these
[19:46] businesses may close their doors forever
[19:49] and all of the gains that have been made
[19:50] economically within Burnsville in order
[19:53] to advance itself and to make itself the
[19:55] city that we're all loving right now
[19:58] that I I again I I represent for to get
[20:01] people to move in here as best as
[20:03] possible. I I second the motion to try
[20:06] to amend this
[20:08] this ordinance to go more more
[20:11] stringently to ask for enforcement from
[20:14] the Burnsville Police Department in
[20:16] making sure that ICE does not use these
[20:20] uh these elementary schools for staging
[20:22] grounds. I I've seen ICE agents at Vista
[20:25] View lining that up. This is a place for
[20:28] children.
[20:30] This is They've been lining up in in
[20:32] those areas and and I I've even heard
[20:37] reports of of Burnsville Police
[20:39] uh
[20:41] cooperating, shaking hands with ICE
[20:42] agents here. Now, I am not here to
[20:44] disparage the police officers. They They
[20:46] put their They put their lives on the on
[20:48] the line every single day. But, what I
[20:50] ask is for help. This community needs
[20:52] the help and protection because no
[20:55] matter what happens with this
[20:56] enforcement with this enforcement items
[20:59] and the people they remove from our
[21:00] community, these are going to be your
[21:03] neighbors forever, right? Lining up with
[21:06] with ICE with these enforcement folks,
[21:08] they're only going to be here for a
[21:09] short time. We have elections that that
[21:12] could come up and that could change at
[21:13] any point in time. Do we really want to
[21:16] have a negative impacts on the leaders
[21:18] with with within the community between
[21:20] the police department and and its
[21:22] citizens? Thank you. Thank you. Thank
[21:25] you. Uh Jessica Benard
[21:31] And so,
[21:32] your name because I hope I
[21:34] pronounced it correctly, but uh
[21:37] in your city.
[21:38] >> My name's Jessica Benard and I live in
[21:40] » My name's Jessica Benard and I live in
[21:40] Burnsville.
[21:43] Um council members, Madam Mayor,
[21:46] I listened to the discussion about ICE
[21:48] enforcement in Burnsville from last
[21:50] week's meeting and I have to say
[21:53] residents don't need your sympathy or
[21:54] reassurance. We need action.
[21:57] Saying there is nothing we can do is not
[22:00] leadership. Doing nothing is
[22:02] unacceptable.
[22:03] This is a reality whether you like it or
[22:05] not.
[22:06] Inaction is permission for an abuser to
[22:08] escalate their behavior. This will only
[22:10] get worse unless Burnsville acts now.
[22:13] Doing nothing is a choice. You may not
[22:15] control federal agencies, but you do
[22:17] control how Burnsville uses its own
[22:19] resources and what it stands for.
[22:22] You are elected officials representing
[22:24] all residents.
[22:26] "You belong here" is our slogan, but it
[22:29] rings hollow at the moment.
[22:31] You say you're thinking about the
[22:32] long-term effects of our community as
[22:34] are others.
[22:35] Understand this, fear and silence cause
[22:38] long-term harm.
[22:39] You cannot hide from it or self-care it
[22:42] away.
[22:44] Please lead.
[22:46] You can start by voting yes on this
[22:48] ordinance to ban the staging in public
[22:50] property.
[22:52] I also agree with the proposal to ban it
[22:55] further with the unmasking of agents.
[22:59] These should be safe spaces for
[23:00] community members, not convenient
[23:02] locations for abductions.
[23:04] Community members being abducted at a
[23:07] police station or municipal center reeks
[23:09] of collaboration with federal agents and
[23:11] both of these things happened this week
[23:13] in our neighboring suburbs.
[23:16] Do the right thing. Vote yes.
[23:18] And I thank you for your hard work and
[23:20] your time. Thank you.
[23:23] Molly
[23:25] uh
[23:27] I'm not quite sure how to I scribbled
[23:30] Molly Gerke. That's I am a 20-year
[23:33] resident of Burnsville.
[23:35] My family and I are heavily involved in
[23:37] the community. My husband teaches at
[23:39] BHS. I work for the YMCA, a local
[23:41] clinic, and even right there at BCT V. I
[23:44] was very pregnant last time I was here
[23:46] though. It was quite quite a while ago.
[23:48] We're in sports, community ed, Girl
[23:50] Scouts. My daughter was up at the day of
[23:51] last year talking about parks.
[23:54] We love our community, our parks, and
[23:56] our neighbors.
[23:57] Since December, life in Burnsville has
[23:59] changed for the worse. Our immigrant
[24:02] neighbors, our black and brown
[24:03] neighbors, and honestly everyone I've
[24:04] spoken with are living with some kind of
[24:06] fear for their safety. That is not the
[24:09] Burnsville I know.
[24:11] I began going to mosque on Fridays in
[24:13] December to show support. Last week a
[24:16] leader there told me attendance is way
[24:18] down ever since these targeted attacks
[24:20] began.
[24:21] People are afraid to worship in
[24:23] Burnsville.
[24:25] I spoke with a teen at the mosque who
[24:27] said Thursday she was hassled by ICE in
[24:29] the parking lot of the Outlet Mall and
[24:31] asked for her documentation.
[24:34] A child.
[24:36] I spoke with another teen that attends
[24:37] BHS who said she recently watched ICE
[24:39] bother somebody walking to school. She
[24:42] now carries her passport with her all
[24:44] the time. Again, this is a child.
[24:48] I've joined a group of parents and
[24:49] teachers who are staying vigilant during
[24:51] school release time for William Byrne.
[24:53] Two weeks ago, there was a confirmed ICE
[24:55] vehicle idling at the entrance of the
[24:57] apartments near the school at release
[24:59] time.
[25:01] That child didn't come
[25:02] the rest of the week.
[25:04] Parents and children of all immigration
[25:06] statuses are afraid to leave their homes
[25:08] due to potential and honestly likely
[25:10] harassment and unlawful detainment by
[25:11] ICE.
[25:13] My husband's classroom is seeing a 25 to
[25:15] 50% absenteeism every single day in
[25:19] every single class at the high school
[25:21] since December.
[25:23] Teachers are reaching out to students to
[25:25] make sure they're safe. Parents are
[25:27] transporting vulnerable children to and
[25:28] from school activities.
[25:30] Community members are dropping off food
[25:32] and supplies. What's the city doing?
[25:35] What are the police doing?
[25:37] 1 minute. ICE is making the city less
[25:39] safe and definitely not a place where
[25:41] everyone belongs.
[25:44] Last week ICE caused a horrific car
[25:45] accident on five and that wasn't even
[25:47] the first of its kind. They've used that
[25:49] technique in Shakopee a couple days
[25:50] ahead. My 16-year-old who works for the
[25:53] city as a warming house attendant over
[25:55] at Northview, I'm not letting him drive
[25:56] anymore. That was two blocks
[25:59] from where he goes to work every Sunday.
[26:03] After how bad it is the roads just
[26:05] aren't safe anymore when they're doing
[26:07] this behavior.
[26:08] They're unlawfully setting up checks at
[26:10] entrances to mobile homes and
[26:11] apartments. They're unlawfully speeding
[26:13] through Burnsville and even ramming
[26:15] their vehicles into others.
[26:18] They're unlawfully forcing entry into
[26:19] businesses and daycares. Their
[26:21] activities caused Burnsville stores and
[26:23] restaurants to close for the safety of
[26:25] their staff and patient patrons.
[26:27] This is not the safe Burnsville it once
[26:29] was. Teachers are helping. Parents are
[26:31] helping. Tow companies are helping. Food
[26:34] shelves are helping. Community is
[26:35] helping. What is the city doing? That's
[26:37] time.
[26:38] Thank you.
[26:41] Andre Winters
[26:48] Good evening.
[26:50] Yeah.
[26:51] Name and just the city, please.
[26:54] Andre Winters, Burnsville.
[26:56] Um good evening,
[26:58] City Council,
[27:00] City Attorney,
[27:02] Fire Chief,
[27:04] Police Chief,
[27:06] residents.
[27:07] Um I was actually sent here to read
[27:09] something that my wife asked me to read.
[27:12] Um
[27:16] And
[27:17] if it seems like I'm going to give you a
[27:19] constitutional less lesson, yeah, that's
[27:21] my intent.
[27:23] Um so, I will I will read and I'm also a
[27:26] school teacher, so I have that bit. And
[27:28] and uh Mr. Shepherd, I apologize if I
[27:31] sound like an attorney cuz I am
[27:33] definitely not an attorney.
[27:34] Um
[27:35] So, she writes, "Good evening, honorable
[27:37] members of the City Council. My name is
[27:40] Beatrice Winters and I reside in
[27:43] Burnsville.
[27:44] I've been a resident of Burnsville for
[27:46] over 20 years. I am a mother, a wife,
[27:49] grandmother, and human rights advocate.
[27:53] As such, I am here before you or I am
[27:56] here before you
[27:58] to ask that the City Council of
[28:00] Burnsville uphold the oath of office you
[28:03] swore before you officially assume
[28:06] the duties and exercise the powers of
[28:09] your position.
[28:11] You swore to uphold Minnesota law
[28:14] and local city charter norms.
[28:17] Under Minnesota law, you affirmed that
[28:19] you would support the Constitution of
[28:21] the United States
[28:23] and the Constitution of the state the
[28:25] great state of Minnesota.
[28:28] So, I stand before you reminding you
[28:31] that the Minnesota Constitution
[28:34] Article 1, Section 7 addresses due
[28:36] process and habeas corpus.
[28:39] The Minnesota Constitution guarantees
[28:42] fundamental legal protections before
[28:44] someone can be held for a crime.
[28:47] No person might be held to answer for a
[28:50] criminal offense without due process of
[28:53] law.
[28:54] And no one can be deprived of life,
[28:57] liberty, and property without due
[29:00] process. Article 1, Section 10 addresses
[29:04] unsearchable seat Excuse me, searches
[29:07] and seizures. The Minnesota Constitution
[29:09] also mimics the Fourth Amendment of the
[29:11] US Constitution protected at the state
[29:13] level.
[29:14] People have the right
[29:16] to be secure in their persons,
[29:18] possessions against unreasonable
[29:20] searches and seizures. In short, the
[29:23] Minnesota Constitution firmly protects
[29:25] liberty by requiring due process before
[29:29] holding someone for a criminal offense
[29:32] that requires judicial authorization
[29:34] such as a warrant supported by probable
[29:36] cause before people and property can be
[29:39] lawfully seized or searched.
[29:42] While
[29:43] the Minnesota statute does not allow
[29:45] arrest without a warrant in some
[29:48] circumstances such as a crime committed
[29:50] in an officer's presence or when there
[29:53] is probable cause
[29:55] for a felony.
[29:56] This does not eliminate constitutional
[29:59] rights.
[30:00] Bottom line, Minnesota Constitution
[30:02] prohibits the detention
[30:04] without due process or deprivation of
[30:07] liberty without constitutional
[30:09] safeguards.
[30:10] Thank you, Mr. Winters.
[30:13] Uh Ada Winter.
[30:30] Name and city, please. Hi.
[30:33] I'm Ada Winter. I um have lived in
[30:36] Burnsville my entire life
[30:38] and I have never felt unsafe in this
[30:42] city until now.
[30:44] Um
[30:46] I've seen multiple ICE raids in our
[30:48] community and I've seen the Burnsville
[30:51] police assist ICE in these raids. Um I
[30:55] would like that to stop along with this
[30:58] amendment and stop anything from this
[31:01] city to benefit them whatsoever.
[31:05] And that's all.
[31:07] Thank you. Thank you.
[31:10] Tasha
[31:12] Weisenberger
[31:13] Pomeroy.
[31:18] Name and city.
[31:21] My name is Tasha Weisenberger Pomeroy.
[31:24] I live in Burnsville and have been a
[31:26] resident for 7 and 1/2 years.
[31:30] I moved to Burnsville from Minneapolis
[31:32] for its diversity.
[31:34] And that diversity is also what has um
[31:40] has been the best part of being here. I
[31:41] have children in the schools.
[31:44] Um we've enjoyed the parks. We've
[31:46] enjoyed all elements of living here and
[31:49] that diversity is also what
[31:52] is putting Burnsville under attack. And
[31:54] so I'd like to uh support the uh
[31:58] ordinance and ask actually that you go
[32:00] one step further. In the last weeks,
[32:03] I've been helping to support my
[32:04] neighbors.
[32:05] Um I've been observing.
[32:07] I've been seeing what tactics ICE is
[32:10] using on the road, completely dangerous.
[32:13] I've seen pictures of the accidents that
[32:15] they've caused. My children now know
[32:18] when ICE is on the road and can point
[32:20] them out by their dangerous driving
[32:22] behaviors. My kids are 7 and 10.
[32:24] Those aren't safe conditions for anyone.
[32:27] And I'd like you to So I'd like you to
[32:29] support this ordinance and consider
[32:31] additional steps that the police force
[32:33] can take to keep our citizens safe and
[32:36] how people are using our roads and how
[32:38] people are interacting with our
[32:39] citizens.
[32:41] Thank you.
[32:44] Sarah Beckman.
[32:51] Yeah. Hello. Name and just city. My name
[32:53] is Sarah Beckman um and I am a resident
[32:56] of Burnsville.
[32:57] Um I am not prepared cuz I didn't think
[32:59] I would make it in time, but
[33:01] I chose this city to raise my children
[33:04] in 11 years ago um because of its
[33:06] diversity. Um The beautiful things that
[33:09] happen in this community make it what it
[33:12] is. Um
[33:13] the fact that all we belong here, we all
[33:15] belong here. Um I truly believe that. Um
[33:19] but in the last 2 months, there are
[33:21] things that are making me question.
[33:23] Um my family's first interactions,
[33:27] personal interactions were December 6th
[33:29] when my children and I were driving out
[33:31] of our street and turned the corner to
[33:32] watch a raid by ICE with 10 plus
[33:35] vehicles
[33:37] where members of our community were
[33:39] taken violently. My children watched
[33:42] long arm long gun um armed officers in
[33:46] my street less than a block from my
[33:49] home. And I know you know these things
[33:51] are happening, but my kids are 5, 7, and
[33:54] 10.
[33:55] This is not what they should be seeing.
[33:57] Um in the last 10 days, I've been
[33:59] observing um with my community. Um the
[34:03] very first day, I watched a young father
[34:06] be violently detained.
[34:08] Um I've seen multiple abductions since
[34:11] then.
[34:12] I have personally been threatened by ICE
[34:14] twice now. Um once by using my name
[34:17] coming up and telling me that I will be
[34:19] arrested if I do not um stay out of
[34:21] their way. I was in my car multiple um
[34:25] aisles away from them in the Cub parking
[34:27] lot.
[34:28] The second time as I was watching them
[34:31] and had a confirmed ICE vehicle um to
[34:34] observe so that we can document and
[34:36] watch what's happening to our community
[34:39] so that no one goes missing, no one gets
[34:41] lost. I had an officer drive across town
[34:46] from 13 and 5 all the way to my home to
[34:49] show me that he knew where I lived.
[34:52] These are things that are not safe for
[34:53] my my home, my community, my family. I
[34:56] love Burnsville. I love Burnsville and I
[34:59] want it to be safe.
[35:01] So please adopt this ordinance. Again, I
[35:03] don't know what I'm saying, but please
[35:04] adopt this ordinance and
[35:07] I would like for our police who I
[35:10] deeply love. Um They work so closely
[35:12] with our PTO at Gideon Pond and um
[35:15] they're present and um
[35:17] I want them to step up and to
[35:20] um
[35:22] pull police pull the ICE officers over
[35:23] when they are being um aggressive, when
[35:26] they are breaking the law, and um to not
[35:28] threaten us. I don't want to feel unsafe
[35:30] here because I am trying to witness and
[35:33] keep our community safe.
[35:35] Thank you.
[35:37] Jean Foreman.
[35:45] Hello again. Hello. Jean Foreman. I live
[35:47] in Burnsville.
[35:50] And I'm coming today. I'm wearing my
[35:52] whistle. I don't leave the house anymore
[35:54] without my whistle and I think there's
[35:56] probably a lot of people here who do the
[35:57] same.
[35:59] Because every day I leave my house,
[36:02] I don't know if I'm going to have to
[36:03] stand up for a neighbor,
[36:05] someone I don't know,
[36:06] but I believe in our safety because if
[36:10] my neighbors aren't safe, then
[36:12] ultimately I'm not safe. And I'll just
[36:14] echo what the previous
[36:16] um
[36:16] testifier said. I went out on an
[36:19] observation uh actually was my first one
[36:22] just um
[36:23] a few weekends ago.
[36:25] And later that afternoon, um there was
[36:28] an ICE vehicle patrolling in our
[36:30] neighborhood and there had not ever been
[36:32] one there before.
[36:34] So I think they are following and trying
[36:37] to intimidate Burnsville residents who
[36:40] are trying to stand up and do the right
[36:41] thing for all of our neighbors.
[36:44] But I do want to tell you that there is
[36:46] no need to obviously assist federal
[36:48] agents by allowing staging on any city
[36:51] property. Uh Why would
[36:54] our city resources, our city council,
[36:57] and city leadership want to be
[36:59] associated with the stories that you're
[37:01] hearing to tonight?
[37:05] They're clearly getting their work done.
[37:09] Whatever it is, I'm not even sure.
[37:11] But they're disrupting life in
[37:12] Burnsville and we don't need to help
[37:14] them. And I don't want you all to help
[37:18] I want to help our neighbors.
[37:21] Understanding that some of the more
[37:24] serious events in other parts of our
[37:25] state uh have been far worse doesn't
[37:29] guarantee that it ultimately won't be a
[37:31] story told right here in Burnsville.
[37:34] It is time to recognize that the
[37:36] decision made tonight
[37:39] is a decision that our residents are
[37:41] going to live with now
[37:43] and into the future.
[37:46] How do we all want to be remembered in
[37:49] this moment?
[37:51] I appreciate it. Thank you. I just want
[37:54] to say that um
[37:56] public service and I respect you all for
[37:57] that means making difficult decisions,
[38:01] truly difficult decisions.
[38:03] But this should be the easiest vote you
[38:06] should take
[38:07] is to approve the ordinance amendment
[38:11] and deny access to city property by
[38:15] federal agents who are here to terrorize
[38:17] us and terrorize our neighbors.
[38:20] Thank you. Thank you.
[38:24] And Monica, I can't read your last name,
[38:26] but it starts with an N.
[38:32] And
[38:33] Hi. My name is Monica Nicole. I am
[38:35] Nicole. Yes. Uh I'm first time, too, so
[38:39] hello everybody. Um I do want to start
[38:41] by saying
[38:42] >> Burnsville?
[38:42] » Burnsville?
[38:42] >> And I'm from Burnsville, yes. Okay.
[38:44] » And I'm from Burnsville, yes. Okay.
[38:44] I just want to say thank you to the
[38:46] community who's showing up.
[38:50] And um
[38:51] using your voice. Sorry. Um
[38:56] But as a brown woman, um
[39:00] it has been very
[39:01] hard to leave the house
[39:04] and making sure that I have my passport.
[39:06] Um I also am in
[39:10] I have witnessed from first hand family
[39:11] members are in fear.
[39:13] They're no longer contributing to our
[39:15] society, to our communities, and our
[39:17] society because they are afraid of being
[39:19] abducted and treated inhumanely.
[39:21] I ask that you also pass the amendment.
[39:25] Um
[39:27] I don't have my paper with me, but I ask
[39:29] that you please um help and use your
[39:32] power to help us, to help our community,
[39:35] to
[39:36] support us because this is what is
[39:38] happening is not right in any in any
[39:41] level. Um
[39:42] I recently had to go help a family
[39:44] member and a community member who are
[39:46] legal here
[39:47] escape out of a Burger King because they
[39:49] have been surrounded all day long by
[39:52] these ICE agents. And the fear that they
[39:55] have
[39:57] it just it's heartbreaking. Um this
[39:59] should not be happening. So, I
[40:04] I had so much more I wanted to say, but
[40:06] I just ask for your help and ask you to
[40:08] do the right thing and protect our
[40:10] people and protect our community because
[40:13] we are all contributing here. We all
[40:14] came to find something better for to to
[40:16] support to be
[40:18] working hard-working members of our
[40:20] community. So, I that's all. Thank you
[40:23] so much. Thank you. Thank you, Monica.
[40:26] Um
[40:31] I think it's
[40:34] Nadia
[40:35] N I
[40:38] D A Benson, I think. Oh, Nick. N I C K.
[40:43] >> Oh, it's Nick.
[40:44] » Oh, it's Nick.
[40:44] >> That's okay. I'm sorry.
[40:46] » That's okay. I'm sorry.
[40:46] I've been called worse.
[40:50] So, forgive me.
[40:51] >> Yes, that's okay. I apologize for my
[40:53] » Yes, that's okay. I apologize for my
[40:53] sloppy handwriting. I appreciate your
[40:56] reminder on civility and respect here
[40:59] because what I have witnessed over the
[41:02] last few weeks here has filled me with
[41:04] so much rage and tension. And Nick,
[41:07] you're from Burnsville, right?
[41:08] >> I am from Burnsville, yes. 14 years here
[41:10] » I am from Burnsville, yes. 14 years here
[41:10] now.
[41:10] >> tonight I'm not even asking for your
[41:12] » tonight I'm not even asking for your
[41:12] address. It's just that it we all know
[41:14] that we're we're all one Burnsville.
[41:17] >> Indeed, Burnsville, I promise. Uh
[41:20] » Indeed, Burnsville, I promise. Uh
[41:20] anyway,
[41:21] uh I've been filled with rage and seen
[41:23] what's going on in my city. I've been
[41:25] doing observation work here as many
[41:27] people have. Um I have seen ICE agents
[41:31] sitting at Terrace Oaks Park next to the
[41:33] skating rink where there should have
[41:35] been kids skating. There were ICE agents
[41:36] waiting to
[41:38] uh harass and hassle someone else
[41:39] without any probable cause. I've been
[41:42] around when um
[41:44] we've been doing observation work and
[41:47] ICE calls in and says that
[41:50] our fellow observers have been causing
[41:52] traffic accidents and ramming into their
[41:54] vehicles and sending the Burnsville
[41:56] police after them to hassle them on
[41:59] ICE's behalf, which is disgusting. Uh I
[42:02] have also been on
[42:04] the scene of other situations where ICE
[42:07] has been doing enforcement action. And
[42:09] again, uh Burnsville police are there uh
[42:12] fist bumping and saying things like I'll
[42:13] call you later and things like that. And
[42:16] it fills me with such uh shame and rage
[42:20] that people with uh wearing the badge
[42:23] for the police in my town are helping
[42:25] enable all of this. And I have to go and
[42:28] drop my kids off at a school where
[42:29] there's a Burnsville police car sitting
[42:31] in front of school resource officer.
[42:33] And what are we supposed to tell our
[42:35] kids when I've seen Burnsville police
[42:38] out helping ICE do this work?
[42:42] How are we supposed to trust that
[42:44] they're here to keep any of us safe when
[42:47] they're also collaborating and doing
[42:48] this work? Um I would ask that you pass
[42:52] the separation ordinance and take it a
[42:54] step further so that no other city
[42:56] resources are devoted to uh enabling
[43:00] what ICE is doing. One more minute.
[43:04] They are everywhere. I was took a trip
[43:06] to Menards the other day. I drove
[43:08] through three apartment complexes uh
[43:10] that I knew had vulnerable communities
[43:12] in there and ICE was uh circling around
[43:14] looking for people in two of them
[43:15] already. Uh it's completely
[43:17] unacceptable.
[43:19] Uh the only words from any of our cops
[43:21] to DHS or ICE or any of these other
[43:23] alphabet soup of agencies involved in
[43:26] uh any of these enforcement activities
[43:27] should be get the hell out of
[43:28] Burnsville. Thank you. Thank you.
[43:31] Okay, Emma Gabbert.
[43:37] Let me move that down here. Yeah, just
[43:39] name your city. Uh Emma Gabbert and
[43:42] Burnsville, lifelong resident.
[43:44] Um greetings to everyone here. Uh my
[43:46] name is Emma Gabbert um and I wanted to
[43:48] share my experience of being an ICE
[43:50] observer this past Saturday. Um I was
[43:53] notified that ICE was stationed at the
[43:55] QuickTrip on Highway 5 in Burnsville
[43:57] Parkway.
[43:58] Um I pulled in, I saw a large SUV with
[44:01] out-of-state plates and looked in the
[44:03] driver's and passenger seat and soon
[44:06] enough saw that they were masked agents.
[44:09] Um
[44:10] There were other observers there, but um
[44:12] horns were not being honked and
[44:15] whistles were not being blown. And so, I
[44:17] decided to go up and talk to them and
[44:19] ask what they were doing there. Um which
[44:22] was pretty crazy, but I just wanted to
[44:24] see what they had to say for themselves.
[44:26] And so, I asked them what they were
[44:28] doing there. They said that they had
[44:30] been stationed there.
[44:32] Um and I said, "Okay, I'm going to honk
[44:35] my horn and blow my whistle, you know,
[44:37] as I'm dedicated to doing that." And um
[44:41] the ICE agent in the passenger seat
[44:42] said, "Oh, honk your horn. Blow your
[44:44] whistle. You do whatever you got to do,
[44:47] you know?" And I'm like,
[44:49] "This is an interesting response to me
[44:52] coming up and asking you like basically
[44:55] to get out of here." Um so, I did just
[44:58] that. I started blowing my whistle,
[44:59] honking my horn, and soon, you know, my
[45:02] other observers came by. Um and then at
[45:05] that point is when I saw three more
[45:07] vehicles surround us completely. Um
[45:10] which means that they were probably
[45:12] looking to justify bringing in more
[45:13] reinforcements.
[45:15] Um but we did not stop honking our
[45:17] horns, blowing our whistles. Um and they
[45:20] eventually left without um detaining
[45:22] anyone that I saw.
[45:24] So, I just wanted to share that
[45:25] experience because I know a lot of
[45:27] people have been threatened by ICE
[45:28] agents, but in this instance, it seemed
[45:31] like they were making a game of it. Um
[45:34] so, I just wanted to let people know
[45:36] that this is a response that you may
[45:38] encounter
[45:39] um with an ICE agent.
[45:41] So, today I ask the city of Burnsville
[45:43] to support the ordinance to limit the
[45:45] use of stewardship of city property for
[45:47] federal immigration enforcement staging
[45:50] operations.
[45:51] >> One more minute.
[45:51] » One more minute.
[45:51] Thank you.
[45:53] Um and I want to say too, we were
[45:54] talking about, you know, the importance
[45:56] of public service. I am running for the
[45:58] House of Representatives for District
[45:59] 55B. And I hope that my fellow public
[46:04] servants can uphold the values that we
[46:06] hold so dear to us here in Burnsville.
[46:09] Thank you so much and
[46:11] thank you for your work. Thanks.
[46:13] >> Okay, Chris John.
[46:29] Madam Mayor, City Council, sorry. I
[46:32] sitting in the back, so my name is Chris
[46:34] John. I live in Burnsville. And I just
[46:36] wanted to talk a little bit about a
[46:37] story and I spoke with uh a few people
[46:41] to try to get some pictures uh in front
[46:43] of you um this uh event that happened on
[46:46] Saturday this past Saturday about 4:30
[46:49] on 150th and County Road 5.
[46:52] Uh it was a vehicle that was uh
[46:55] rammed by ICE.
[46:58] And I don't know if they can get this
[46:59] picture in. They said if I point to the
[47:01] camera Yeah.
[47:03] And you can see that the damage. And the
[47:05] person right in front of there is a
[47:06] Burnsville police officer. Can you guys
[47:07] see that okay? Yeah, it's It's coming
[47:10] in. Yeah, and uh The control room has
[47:13] it. And you might be looking at that
[47:16] thinking, "Well, what happened to the
[47:17] people inside?" Well, I'm happy to say
[47:19] that they're fine.
[47:23] I got another picture if they want to
[47:24] show that as well.
[47:26] And you can see them sitting in the
[47:27] snow. They're being arrested. They were
[47:29] pulled out of that vehicle after all the
[47:31] damage. But don't worry, the kid in the
[47:33] back was cleared by the Burnsville
[47:35] paramedics.
[47:37] Now, physically cleared. Mentally, who
[47:40] knows.
[47:42] These are the kind of processes that are
[47:43] happening. I don't feel like
[47:45] this is a policing action as much as
[47:47] it's a military takeover of our city.
[47:50] I think it's ridiculous. I really hope
[47:53] that we can at least push back a little
[47:55] bit by
[47:56] by passing this ordinance. Thank you.
[47:59] Yeah, thank you.
[48:01] Uh Katerina Gomez.
[48:09] Just the city, your name and the city.
[48:16] Here we go. Hello everybody. Hello Mayor
[48:18] Kautz and City Council members. My name
[48:20] is Katerina Gomez, but you may call me
[48:22] Kathy. Uh I am the proud grandchild of
[48:25] Cliff and Shirley Jacobson, the original
[48:27] settlers in Burnsville.
[48:30] While I'm the second generation to be
[48:31] born and raised in Burnsville on my
[48:33] maternal side I'm also a first
[48:36] generation Honduran American. My
[48:38] father's from Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
[48:41] Nearly all of my family on my paternal
[48:43] side still lives there, including my
[48:44] brother and my nephew.
[48:46] Needless to say, before I could
[48:48] articulate public policy, I felt the
[48:50] impacts of federal immigration policy on
[48:52] my family.
[48:54] And an important lesson I learned early
[48:56] on that there were some things that are
[48:57] just beyond even my parents' control.
[49:01] And my parents raised me well. Every
[49:03] night before we went to bed, I prayed
[49:04] for my cousins in Honduras just as hard
[49:06] as I prayed for my cousins here in
[49:08] Minnesota.
[49:09] It was a childhood dream of mine to meet
[49:11] my family, laugh, um and eat together
[49:13] without any worries.
[49:15] And I don't know about you, City Council
[49:17] members, but I've made great progress in
[49:19] making my childhood dreams come true in
[49:20] the recent years.
[49:22] The Honduran cousins I had only prayed
[49:24] for and seen pictures of on social
[49:26] media, I finally got into know. This
[49:28] past month, my family hosted four of my
[49:30] cousins from Honduras here in
[49:31] Burnsville. And just this morning, they
[49:34] hopped on a plane at MSP heading back to
[49:36] Honduras.
[49:37] They were so excited to visit Minnesota
[49:39] for the first time. Um it's experience
[49:42] snow, to visit the Mall of America, all
[49:45] of the thing American things, eat sushi.
[49:49] But needless to say, our plans were
[49:51] drastically impacted by the recent surge
[49:53] of violent immigration enforcement
[49:55] actions in the visible presence of
[49:57] federal agents from the Department of
[49:58] Homeland Security.
[50:00] My cousins are tourists who did
[50:01] everything legally, yet were unable to
[50:04] safely visit the land of the free.
[50:06] Restaurants were closed, enforcement
[50:08] actions were being staged in public
[50:11] parks and parking lots.
[50:13] And these violent videos were being
[50:14] shared all over social media.
[50:17] How we support and care for each other
[50:18] is the only thing we have control of.
[50:21] We must think of how families and
[50:23] children are being impacted by the world
[50:25] we are creating for them to grow up in.
[50:29] One of my cousins that visited me from
[50:31] Honduras, she's only 10 years old. She's
[50:33] a beautiful reminder that children, just
[50:35] like all of us, are experiencing life
[50:37] for the first time.
[50:39] While me and so many other Americans
[50:40] have been losing sleep looking up
[50:42] immigration policies, delivering
[50:44] groceries to neighbors, bearing witness
[50:46] to the experience of others, and
[50:48] connecting families to our local much
[50:50] overextended community programs and
[50:52] organizations.
[50:54] My little cousin shared with me that she
[50:56] felt like her time in Minnesota was a
[50:58] beautiful dream that she didn't want to
[51:00] wake up in this month.
[51:03] And that was before she went to
[51:04] Build-A-Bear.
[51:07] How we react and respond to social
[51:09] disruption, tragedy, and violence will
[51:12] be observed by those around us,
[51:13] especially by the little ones in our
[51:15] community.
[51:16] Those who've studied immigration policy
[51:18] and enforcement trends in the United
[51:20] States can tell you that since DHS has
[51:22] been created in 2002, both Democratic
[51:25] and Republican administrations have
[51:26] removed millions of people through
[51:28] expedited processes.
[51:30] The difference is these recent
[51:31] immigration enforcement actions have
[51:33] been especially disruptive and
[51:35] intimidating and violent.
[51:37] This month my family wasn't able to
[51:39] explore the Twin Cities and we weren't
[51:40] comfortable traveling around the state
[51:42] even with all of our passport and our
[51:44] identification. So my cousins didn't
[51:46] quite have the Minnesota experience we
[51:48] envisioned, but we spent hours outside
[51:51] at our Burnsville parks, sledding and
[51:53] building snow creatures.
[51:55] But the entire time I was anxious and on
[51:57] high alert because I know that even
[51:59] though we live down the street and even
[52:01] though I brought my passport sledding, I
[52:03] was fearful of being questioned.
[52:06] We need to preserve these spaces and
[52:07] other city-owned properties as trusted
[52:10] locations for families to continue
[52:12] supporting the healthy growth and
[52:13] development of children.
[52:15] I know we can't bring immigration reform
[52:17] through city ordinances. I wish it was
[52:19] that easy.
[52:21] But I do know that we can mitigate harm
[52:22] to our most vulnerable community
[52:24] members.
[52:25] Thank you for checking in on your
[52:26] neighbors and your co-workers. Thank you
[52:28] for donating and delivering food for
[52:30] your neighbors. Extra shout-out for food
[52:32] donations, please.
[52:34] And thank you for supporting this
[52:35] ordinance.
[52:37] Thank you.
[52:38] Okay. Um
[52:41] Joy Marber.
[53:00] Okay.
[53:02] Just name and city, please. Good
[53:04] evening.
[53:05] My name is Joy Marber and I'm from
[53:07] Burnsville now.
[53:10] All right.
[53:13] Good evening, student city council
[53:14] members. My name is Joy. I'm a 20-year
[53:17] Army veteran, a former military police
[53:19] officer, and a logistics NCO, and a
[53:22] proud Minnesotan.
[53:23] I'm here tonight not just to speak as a
[53:25] veteran,
[53:27] but as a neighbor, a homeowner,
[53:29] and someone who has fought for peace
[53:32] both abroad and here at home.
[53:35] In 2020 I watched my community burn to
[53:38] the ground, third precinct, Minneapolis,
[53:41] on national television.
[53:43] I wasn't even home to process it.
[53:46] I was deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq,
[53:50] where I we are under constant threat and
[53:52] heavy attack. I suffered my second TBI.
[53:57] I was serving my country watching my
[53:58] neighborhood fall apart from thousands
[54:00] of miles away.
[54:02] When I returned, I couldn't shake the
[54:04] hypervigilance.
[54:05] The sounds, the tensions, the fear
[54:09] did not stay overseas.
[54:14] It followed me home.
[54:18] The VA mental health provider told me
[54:20] that if I wanted to manage my PTSD,
[54:22] maybe I need to find more peaceful place
[54:24] to live, be
[54:28] a place where I can breathe.
[54:30] So I sold my home.
[54:33] I left my neighborhood, the only
[54:35] neighborhood I'd known.
[54:37] I came to Burnsville because it offered
[54:39] something desperately needed, stillness.
[54:43] And while I found it,
[54:46] and for a while I I found it, but now
[54:48] that stillness is gone.
[54:50] I see masked men running around the
[54:52] streets chasing and threatening people.
[54:55] I hear the fear in my neighbors' voices.
[54:57] I feel the tension in my own body. My
[54:59] hypervigilance is back, worse than ever.
[55:02] The VA had to increase my medication
[55:04] again just so I can function.
[55:08] I didn't come to Burnsville to escape.
[55:11] I came here to heal. 1 minute.
[55:15] I'm asking you, imploring you,
[55:17] to help restore the peace and brought me
[55:19] here in the first place.
[55:21] I have done my part. I served. I'm
[55:24] retired.
[55:25] I sacrificed. I rebuilt.
[55:28] Now I need my city to do its part.
[55:32] To protect its residents and to preserve
[55:34] its peace and to ensure that people like
[55:37] me
[55:38] don't have to keep running from trauma
[55:39] that we didn't ask for.
[55:42] I just want stillness. I just want
[55:43] peace. Please help us find it again.
[55:46] Thank you.
[55:51] Kelsey Nordstrom.
[56:00] My story sounds kind of similar. Um
[56:04] I'm new to Burnsville. Um I'm
[56:08] uh I spent the last 9 years in Texas and
[56:11] I got out of an abusive marriage.
[56:13] And I came here for peace.
[56:15] And I chose
[56:17] Burnsville to
[56:20] be here with community and I live in an
[56:23] apartment where everyone is an immigrant
[56:25] and everyone is black or brown and
[56:27] they're all scared.
[56:30] I have a half-Mexican autistic nonverbal
[56:32] child. We left trauma
[56:35] in Texas and we came here
[56:37] for peace. I wanted peace for so long.
[56:41] I work in a restaurant in Burnsville.
[56:45] My entire kitchen staff is terrified and
[56:48] they are
[56:49] I've brought mattresses there so they
[56:51] can sleep in the restaurant. We're all
[56:52] bringing them to and from work. Our
[56:55] dishwasher is missing. His name is Galo
[56:58] Mauricio Otierra Carguas Carguas Condo.
[57:02] He's from Ecuador. I've called Menorca.
[57:04] I can't find him. He is uh
[57:07] a permanent resident and has a social
[57:09] security number and I still can't find
[57:11] him. Um
[57:13] I'm scared for my community. I'm I'm
[57:15] serving. I'm
[57:17] diligent.
[57:18] What I just lived through for the past 9
[57:20] years has made me very prepared for this
[57:22] and I'm going to tell you that violence
[57:25] you cannot appease it.
[57:27] We need to pass this ordinance and we
[57:29] need to unmask these men.
[57:32] There's a lot more that we need to do
[57:33] that I'm not going to say.
[57:35] Um
[57:37] but it needs to start with community and
[57:38] it needs to start here and if we truly
[57:40] say that we welcome all here, then we
[57:41] need to welcome all and this is fear.
[57:44] And we can't be brought down by fear and
[57:46] we can't be brought down by masked men
[57:48] and a paramilitary force in our streets.
[57:50] I stand with my community. I'm using my
[57:52] white privilege to speak for the black
[57:54] and brown community that cannot be here
[57:56] right now.
[57:58] I stand with them. I donate to them. I
[58:00] love them.
[58:02] I love my neighbors and
[58:05] yeah.
[58:05] Bye. Ordinance, yes, please. Thank you.
[58:10] Yeah.
[58:11] Okay. I think I think we can
[58:14] we all appreciate all of the great words
[58:17] that have been shared with us this
[58:19] evening. Uh the next speaker is Hunter
[58:21] Cantrell.
[58:44] Hello. Uh good evening, Madam Mayor and
[58:46] council. Hunter Cantrell, Savage. Uh I
[58:49] hope I'm not overdressed for the
[58:50] occasion. Uh you know, so
[58:54] folks have said a lot of very compelling
[58:56] narratives here
[58:58] a lot of very compelling experiences
[58:59] tonight.
[59:01] Um and you know, I I want to start off
[59:03] by saying our current time reminds me of
[59:07] Psalm 82:3.
[59:09] Defend the weak
[59:10] and the fatherless.
[59:12] Uphold the cause
[59:14] of the poor and the oppressed.
[59:18] I think it goes without saying that we
[59:20] are living in a time of great fear
[59:23] and great oppression.
[59:25] A time that we never thought would
[59:27] unfold in this country
[59:29] where agents of the government,
[59:31] specifically ICE agents,
[59:33] have been deployed in our communities
[59:36] to instill fear and intimidation
[59:40] among the most vulnerable people
[59:42] and community members
[59:44] that we have.
[59:46] People who have spent their entire lives
[59:49] contributing to our economies and our
[59:51] communities.
[59:53] People who fled countries where masked
[59:56] men would stop them on the streets
[59:58] while holding guns on the street corners
[1:00:00] saying, "Show me your papers." They fled
[1:00:02] countries like that for the United
[1:00:04] States.
[1:00:06] And yet here we are now.
[1:00:08] That is the reality that people in
[1:00:10] Burnsville, Savage, all throughout the
[1:00:11] Twin Cities and Twin Cities suburbs are
[1:00:14] facing.
[1:00:16] They're afraid that even though they
[1:00:19] might be a US citizen
[1:00:21] even though they might have
[1:00:24] a
[1:00:24] legal visa to be here and to work
[1:00:27] that when they leave their apartments or
[1:00:30] their homes in the morning or they show
[1:00:31] up to their places of work
[1:00:33] that they or their loved ones are going
[1:00:35] to be disappeared to God only knows
[1:00:37] where.
[1:00:40] And to me I I think this
[1:00:43] is so wrong
[1:00:45] and it's blatantly unconstitutional what
[1:00:47] is happening. Federal judges have
[1:00:49] asserted as much
[1:00:51] Thank you. Because of the magnitude of
[1:00:55] evidence of the violation of our civil
[1:00:58] rights, of our constitutional rights
[1:01:00] that these agents are committing. Not in
[1:01:02] the name of public safety
[1:01:03] but in the name of political
[1:01:05] retribution.
[1:01:07] Now normally I deal with sickness that
[1:01:10] affects organs. I deal with sickness
[1:01:12] that might affect a broken bone,
[1:01:14] sickness of
[1:01:16] the mind even
[1:01:18] in my day-to-day.
[1:01:19] But right now we have a sickness of the
[1:01:21] soul of this country.
[1:01:23] I think passing this ordinance is a step
[1:01:26] in the right direction to rectifying
[1:01:28] that sickness. I encourage you to
[1:01:30] support it. I encourage you to do what
[1:01:31] you can and for all citizens to do what
[1:01:34] they can peacefully
[1:01:35] to make sure that our civil rights are
[1:01:37] protected, our constitutional rights are
[1:01:38] protected and that everybody regardless
[1:01:41] of where they were born or their skin
[1:01:43] color is able to thrive and succeed and
[1:01:46] know that their basic humanity is going
[1:01:47] to be protected in our state.
[1:01:50] I thank you for your consideration.
[1:01:52] Thank you.
[1:01:53] And our last speaker is
[1:01:56] Representative Jess Hanson.
[1:02:22] Thank you, Madam Mayor.
[1:02:24] Madam Mayor, can I ask I was sent a
[1:02:26] story from somebody who's too afraid to
[1:02:28] be here tonight. Would you mind if I
[1:02:30] took two separate sections so that this
[1:02:32] family's story could be told tonight?
[1:02:35] Okay. Okay, is that okay? I have my own
[1:02:37] comments but I would like to also make
[1:02:39] sure that everybody out there wants to
[1:02:40] speak so I wanted to make sure that they
[1:02:42] got their chance too.
[1:02:44] Thank you, members of the council.
[1:02:46] I'm here to My name is Representative
[1:02:47] Jess Hanson. I live in Burnsville and I
[1:02:50] will first share a story with you from
[1:02:53] residents who were too afraid to speak.
[1:02:56] She says, "My husband and I witnessed a
[1:02:58] truck with doors wide open and a bunch
[1:03:00] of
[1:03:01] She is, yep.
[1:03:02] My husband and I witnessed a truck with
[1:03:04] doors wide open and a bunch of personal
[1:03:06] belongings in the snow.
[1:03:08] We asked a neighbor what happened and
[1:03:10] the neighbor said ICE had chased the
[1:03:12] truck there and then ransacked the car
[1:03:15] leaving all the belongings on the
[1:03:16] ground.
[1:03:17] I'm a constitutional observer so I took
[1:03:19] photos of what ICE had left behind
[1:03:22] and I returned to my car and we left. We
[1:03:25] didn't get far before a car pulled out
[1:03:26] in front of us and another very closely
[1:03:28] behind us.
[1:03:29] We felt like the cars were driving very
[1:03:31] erratically so we looked for a safe spot
[1:03:34] to park to let the vehicle behind us
[1:03:36] pass. There were other constitutional
[1:03:38] observers peacefully observing the ICE
[1:03:40] agents as we approached. We slowed down
[1:03:43] for their safety. Agents got out of
[1:03:45] their car and started telling me to open
[1:03:47] my window on the passenger side. That
[1:03:49] window does not open or work on my car
[1:03:52] but the agent repeatedly hit my window
[1:03:53] very hard demanding we open it even
[1:03:56] though we told her it doesn't work many
[1:03:58] times.
[1:03:59] My husband had the driver's side window
[1:04:01] open and another agent asked my husband
[1:04:02] for his ID. They took it immediately and
[1:04:05] said he was a criminal and that he had a
[1:04:06] felony record and he does not. They
[1:04:09] repeatedly said he was a felon and had
[1:04:11] committed aggravated robbery.
[1:04:14] They began telling to this to the other
[1:04:16] observers, "Look over here. We have a
[1:04:18] criminal in the streets."
[1:04:20] My husband said, "That's not true.
[1:04:21] That's not true." But they would not
[1:04:23] listen to him.
[1:04:24] We both called 911 from our phones
[1:04:26] because we were very scared. We're
[1:04:28] citizens but we are Hispanic and we are
[1:04:31] very afraid because we know that they
[1:04:34] have been taking citizens who have done
[1:04:35] nothing wrong just like us.
[1:04:38] The operator told me that she needed the
[1:04:39] exact address of where I was but I
[1:04:41] didn't know where I was. I didn't have
[1:04:43] the exact address. I kept telling her
[1:04:45] the name of the neighborhood and the
[1:04:46] landmarks and she said she needed the
[1:04:47] exact one. I asked her to ping my phone.
[1:04:50] She said she was sending help. My
[1:04:51] husband was also on the phone with 911
[1:04:53] on his phone and the operator
[1:04:55] that call did not go much different. The
[1:04:57] operator told my husband there was
[1:04:58] nothing they could do. When he asked for
[1:05:00] a report number they would be no report
[1:05:03] and that call would was the report.
[1:05:06] He told the operator that he they we are
[1:05:08] US citizens and asked why they wouldn't
[1:05:09] come and help us. The operator simply
[1:05:12] said there was nothing they could do.
[1:05:14] An agent then demanded to see my ID but
[1:05:16] I didn't want to hand it over. I held it
[1:05:17] up and said they could take a picture
[1:05:19] but I didn't want to lose it because I
[1:05:20] knew I could need it and I was not
[1:05:22] comfortable handing it over to them.
[1:05:24] We were recording the interaction as is
[1:05:26] our constitutional right to do so and
[1:05:28] the agents mocked us and made fun of us
[1:05:29] saying that we were just trying to get
[1:05:31] our 5 minutes of fame and to go ahead
[1:05:33] and post on social media so that
[1:05:34] everyone can see. They were preparing to
[1:05:36] arrest my husband but then they quickly
[1:05:38] returned my husband's ID and said that
[1:05:40] we were clear to go and then they said
[1:05:42] they'll be paying a visit to my home
[1:05:43] soon.
[1:05:45] We have felt in fear of our lives ever
[1:05:47] since. They were mean and threatening
[1:05:49] and they have our address. We fear that
[1:05:51] they will follow through on their threat
[1:05:53] to come visit us at home. We have so
[1:05:55] much fear and we are scared and if the
[1:05:56] police won't help us if we are
[1:05:58] threatened or harassed again or worse
[1:06:00] who will? What are we to do?
[1:06:03] Thank you.
[1:06:05] Thank you, Madam Mayor. I will continue
[1:06:06] with my own comments.
[1:06:08] Um
[1:06:10] Again, I'm Representative Jess Hanson. I
[1:06:12] live in Burnsville and I represent
[1:06:14] District 55A which is the entire city of
[1:06:16] Savage in the northwest part of
[1:06:18] Burnsville.
[1:06:19] Members and council, Mayor, we did
[1:06:22] yesterday we honored the legacy of Dr.
[1:06:24] MLK and that includes the reminder to
[1:06:27] not only remember history but to also
[1:06:29] live in its lessons. And that we can
[1:06:31] learn to live together as brothers or
[1:06:33] perish together as fools and I don't
[1:06:36] think any of us want to be those fools.
[1:06:38] I'm asking that leaders in our city and
[1:06:40] this state and country come together to
[1:06:42] do what we can before things get any
[1:06:44] worse.
[1:06:45] Immigration enforcement certainly has
[1:06:47] its place in society as a specific form
[1:06:49] of law enforcement and how it's done is
[1:06:51] extremely important because we all know
[1:06:54] that officers tend to pay the price for
[1:06:56] the sins and wrongs of others.
[1:06:58] Some might say that we are only speaking
[1:07:00] out because this is happening in our
[1:07:01] community and others will make the
[1:07:03] ridiculous leap to say that choosing to
[1:07:05] say what is being said is just an act of
[1:07:08] speaking against ICE and that's that
[1:07:10] that somehow means we don't care about
[1:07:12] apprehending criminals. I want to be
[1:07:14] very clear that neither of those things
[1:07:16] are true and I want to believe that no
[1:07:18] one believes that civil rights aren't
[1:07:20] important. We have to make sure that
[1:07:22] everyone's civil rights are intact.
[1:07:25] Law enforcement officers at all levels
[1:07:27] are expected to know what the
[1:07:28] Constitution says, to know right and
[1:07:30] wrong and to know when people are being
[1:07:32] targeted. And yet every single day
[1:07:34] Minnesotans' constitutional rights are
[1:07:37] being violated and are being Minnesotans
[1:07:39] are being targeted based on the color of
[1:07:41] their skin where they choose to worship,
[1:07:44] their name or for observing federal
[1:07:46] activities in our community.
[1:07:48] Law enforcement leaders in other cities
[1:07:49] and suburbs are calling for more
[1:07:51] supervision over Operation Matrix Surge
[1:07:53] agreeing that these types of civil
[1:07:55] rights violations have to stop.
[1:07:57] Even off-duty law enforcement officers
[1:07:59] of color are facing similar targeting
[1:08:01] and members of Minnesota law enforcement
[1:08:03] agencies are calling on everyone to find
[1:08:05] some common ground that respects
[1:08:06] everyone's constitutional rights.
[1:08:09] Everyone deserves to know that our
[1:08:10] community is safe, safe enough for their
[1:08:12] kids to go to school, safe enough for
[1:08:14] their
[1:08:15] to go to their place of worship, safe
[1:08:17] enough to go to the grocery store
[1:08:18] without being hunted and safe enough to
[1:08:21] operate their business and thrive off
[1:08:22] their own hard work. The time is always
[1:08:25] right to do the right thing and now is
[1:08:28] not the time for leaders to be quiet.
[1:08:30] When we have concrete examples and
[1:08:31] stories of people being profiled and
[1:08:33] targeted, we need to do the right thing.
[1:08:36] We cannot let people in our communities
[1:08:38] think that our local law enforcement and
[1:08:40] their leadership are okay with the
[1:08:42] actions that we know are not only wrong
[1:08:44] but are also illegal.
[1:08:47] Now members, having said all of that, I
[1:08:49] want to give credit where credit is due.
[1:08:51] Nearly everything I've already said to
[1:08:53] you here are not my words. What I have
[1:08:55] said so far this evening in this portion
[1:08:57] of my comments
[1:08:59] are directly quoted from Minnesota law
[1:09:01] enforcement officers and leaders who
[1:09:02] spoke out this morning against the
[1:09:04] atrocities of ICE happening across the
[1:09:06] state. So given the way that my words
[1:09:08] have been taken and my words have been
[1:09:10] ignored in some spaces, not this one,
[1:09:12] sometimes ridiculed and the ways that I
[1:09:15] have been threatened for saying what I'm
[1:09:16] saying and doing what I'm doing, I'm
[1:09:18] asking you to not take my word for it
[1:09:20] tonight. I'm asking you and Burnsville
[1:09:22] to follow the lead of the law
[1:09:23] enforcement officials who stood up today
[1:09:26] to call for common ground, to call for a
[1:09:28] return to constitutionality and common
[1:09:30] sense, to call for a return to a nation
[1:09:33] where civil rights are worth defending,
[1:09:35] and to call for the promotion of
[1:09:36] community where the trust between the
[1:09:39] public and law enforcement is restored.
[1:09:41] The reality is is that these agents are
[1:09:43] poorly trained and we should be
[1:09:45] humiliated by that. They are
[1:09:46] ill-equipped and they are not fit to be
[1:09:48] in the field. Their actions in our
[1:09:50] community is an embarrassment on law
[1:09:52] enforcement everywhere and it is no
[1:09:54] wonder why people in this city do not
[1:09:56] know if they can trust police because
[1:09:58] there are rogue thugs wearing
[1:10:00] cobbled-together gear that say police
[1:10:03] across the front the front of their
[1:10:05] outfits, but they're really just a bunch
[1:10:07] of racist incels bringing their Call of
[1:10:09] Duty skills out of their parents'
[1:10:11] basements into the real world and are
[1:10:13] calling real world prob- causing real
[1:10:15] world problems and real world trauma
[1:10:18] that children in our city will never
[1:10:20] ever forget. This is not a game and this
[1:10:24] is not a game for the people of this
[1:10:25] city. And when police have been asked to
[1:10:27] intervene, people don't haven't been
[1:10:29] getting so much as even a courteous
[1:10:30] conversation about what they can and
[1:10:32] cannot do and I ask that we improve on
[1:10:34] that.
[1:10:35] The general public does not understand
[1:10:37] why BPD cannot assist them when there
[1:10:40] are goons pointing guns at the heads of
[1:10:42] Burnsville residents, kidnapping
[1:10:44] children, leaving children abandoned
[1:10:46] without their parents or any known or
[1:10:48] trusted adult. And um
[1:10:51] the general public does not understand
[1:10:53] why these thugs are harassing and
[1:10:55] threatening them with not a single
[1:10:56] consequence. The general public deserves
[1:10:59] to know that your statement about not
[1:11:01] coordinating with ICE and what our law
[1:11:02] enforcement will do deserves to be
[1:11:04] respected. So again, please do not take
[1:11:07] my words for it. Please go back and
[1:11:08] watch the recording of this, listen to
[1:11:10] the first words and take the words of
[1:11:11] law enforcement themselves who are
[1:11:13] calling for common ground and a return
[1:11:15] to decency here in Burnsville. Thank
[1:11:17] you. Thank you.
[1:11:24] Thank you, everyone. Thank you for your
[1:11:27] testimony. Thank you for sharing your
[1:11:29] stories.
[1:11:31] I want you to know that we hear you
[1:11:34] and we are Burnsville
[1:11:37] and we are here together to make sure
[1:11:39] that we
[1:11:41] we create the community
[1:11:43] that we want to live in.
[1:11:45] That's what we have control over.
[1:11:48] And uh before we get to any of our
[1:11:51] remarks, I
[1:11:53] don't know if uh there are others who
[1:11:55] would like to speak from
[1:11:58] uh staff?
[1:11:59] >> We do have somebody online that would
[1:12:01] » We do have somebody online that would
[1:12:01] like to speak. Okay. Um if they can just
[1:12:04] give their
[1:12:05] um
[1:12:06] Andrea. name and city,
[1:12:10] please.
[1:12:11] Mrs. Andrea Groszini from Burnsville.
[1:12:15] It's nice to see you all. I'm sorry I
[1:12:16] couldn't be there
[1:12:18] in person.
[1:12:20] Two weeks ago, I asked you, City
[1:12:23] Council, to prohibit ICE
[1:12:25] from city property.
[1:12:26] I appreciate taking this up for a vote
[1:12:29] and I absolutely
[1:12:31] anticipate and hope that you will all
[1:12:33] again unanimously vote yes on behalf of
[1:12:35] all of our citizens.
[1:12:38] I also asked a number of other items
[1:12:41] and I'd like to hear back on those. I
[1:12:43] haven't heard anything and I'm still
[1:12:44] waiting for responses on them.
[1:12:49] As you heard today,
[1:12:51] many of the things that I said two weeks
[1:12:53] ago were going on in this city have
[1:12:55] gotten much worse.
[1:12:58] The people that you heard come tonight,
[1:12:59] by and large, are people that are doing
[1:13:01] all they can
[1:13:03] to make our community a caring
[1:13:07] place to
[1:13:09] and it's hard to do that without the
[1:13:11] support and visible support of our city.
[1:13:15] Certainly we appreciate the new
[1:13:17] ordinance and we hope it passes.
[1:13:21] When I spoke two weeks ago, I went
[1:13:23] further and asked that our city staff
[1:13:25] and police provide patience, comfort,
[1:13:27] and extra special support for our
[1:13:30] immigrant community.
[1:13:33] I'm not sure that we can do that.
[1:13:36] Between then and now, among several
[1:13:37] instances,
[1:13:39] too many for me to go over tonight,
[1:13:43] there seem to be
[1:13:45] less rather than more
[1:13:47] of compassion
[1:13:49] from our staff and police.
[1:13:52] Some of the following
[1:13:53] seem to indicate that.
[1:13:58] One evening, I called our police about
[1:14:00] 5:00 in the evening.
[1:14:03] There's a child that was abandoned when
[1:14:05] his father was abducted and detained by
[1:14:08] ICE.
[1:14:10] I called the police because this was an
[1:14:13] an abandoned child
[1:14:15] and asked if they could help figure out
[1:14:18] what to do with this child.
[1:14:20] I was immediately That's 1 minute.
[1:14:22] that it was too late to call the manager
[1:14:25] and get to the place that the child was
[1:14:26] at
[1:14:27] and it was out of the question to go to
[1:14:29] the site unless they had the exact
[1:14:31] apartment number where the child was at.
[1:14:34] I went back and forth with this officer
[1:14:36] until 9:00 p.m.
[1:14:38] and they never did respond to a child
[1:14:40] who was abandoned.
[1:14:42] This was an elementary school-age child.
[1:14:45] Another case
[1:14:47] what happened when a US citizen would
[1:14:50] experience ICE
[1:14:52] placing a gun to his head.
[1:14:54] The responding officer said they
[1:14:56] couldn't do anything because it was ICE.
[1:14:58] The citizen who witnessed was only told
[1:15:00] to come in to make a station at the
[1:15:02] police station to make a report. Imagine
[1:15:04] that.
[1:15:05] You've just had a gun placed to your
[1:15:07] head by a law enforcement
[1:15:09] agent and another law enforcement agent
[1:15:12] is telling you to go to law enforcement
[1:15:14] office
[1:15:15] to tell them all about it. Could that
[1:15:16] report not have been taken then and
[1:15:18] there?
[1:15:19] There's more.
[1:15:23] I'm going to if I can have 1
[1:15:25] half a minute 10 seconds. I want to
[1:15:27] quote Martin Luther King in the in the
[1:15:30] in the spirit of his day yesterday.
[1:15:33] This is Martin Luther King in his letter
[1:15:35] to from a Birmingham jail. I must
[1:15:37] confess that over the past few years
[1:15:39] I've been gravely disappointed with the
[1:15:40] white moderate.
[1:15:42] I've almost reached the incredible
[1:15:43] conclusion that the Negro's great
[1:15:44] stumbling block in his stride toward
[1:15:47] freedom isn't the white citizens'
[1:15:48] council or the Ku Klux Klan, but the
[1:15:50] white moderate who's more devoted to
[1:15:52] order than to justice. Who prefers a
[1:15:54] negative peace, which is the absence of
[1:15:57] any tension, to a positive peace, which
[1:15:59] is the presence of justice.
[1:16:01] Come on, Burnsville. Come together.
[1:16:03] Okay. Thank you.
[1:16:05] Thank you, everyone.
[1:16:06] And now that we have heard from all of
[1:16:09] you,
[1:16:10] I think it's time for you to hear from
[1:16:12] us.
[1:16:13] Council member Schultz, would you like
[1:16:15] to go first?
[1:16:20] Uh sure.
[1:16:25] So I want people to be clear
[1:16:29] when we're looking at this ordinance
[1:16:32] what it means.
[1:16:33] This ordinance will be an administrative
[1:16:36] ordinance.
[1:16:38] Um
[1:16:40] so
[1:16:43] the feds are going to do
[1:16:45] whatever the feds are going to do.
[1:16:48] And I want to be clear on that.
[1:16:51] And that's not
[1:16:53] something that is easy to say and it's
[1:16:56] not something that anyone wants to hear.
[1:17:00] But I do want to say
[1:17:03] that
[1:17:05] there's a lot of pressure
[1:17:08] to make us at odds with one another,
[1:17:12] to purposefully pit us against each
[1:17:15] other,
[1:17:16] to rip our community apart,
[1:17:18] and destabilize us for years or decades
[1:17:21] to come.
[1:17:24] And to give you a quote from Heartbreak
[1:17:26] Ridge,
[1:17:27] don't give the bastard the satisfaction.
[1:17:33] I want residents to stand together.
[1:17:37] We are in this together.
[1:17:39] And I do mean we are.
[1:17:42] We all need to step up
[1:17:45] and many of you in the audience are, but
[1:17:47] many of you at home,
[1:17:49] it is time to step up. Time to help your
[1:17:52] neighbors.
[1:17:55] If you aren't volunteering, get out
[1:17:57] there and volunteer.
[1:17:59] Make this community stronger
[1:18:03] because sooner or later the feds are
[1:18:06] going to leave.
[1:18:08] And you and I are going to be what's
[1:18:09] left.
[1:18:11] So we can either build a stronger
[1:18:13] community
[1:18:15] or we can let them
[1:18:18] force us us to rip it apart and I'm not
[1:18:21] going to do that.
[1:18:22] So I do encourage our residents to
[1:18:25] continue with the Herculean effort
[1:18:29] that I am already seeing you do
[1:18:33] of caring for your neighbors and
[1:18:35] volunteering and getting groceries and
[1:18:37] walking kids to school.
[1:18:42] Keep it up because we can do that
[1:18:45] longer than they can do whatever they're
[1:18:46] doing.
[1:18:49] So stand strong.
[1:18:50] Okay. Thank you.
[1:18:53] Council member Keeler.
[1:19:07] No comment. No comment.
[1:19:09] Council member Gustafson.
[1:19:12] I hear what everyone has to say. I will
[1:19:14] tell you um
[1:19:16] the last month and a half, I go out and
[1:19:18] patrol myself.
[1:19:20] I'm in apartments. I'm in businesses.
[1:19:22] I've talked to our residents and there's
[1:19:24] a great deal of fear in our community.
[1:19:26] I I talk to when I go to restaurants, I
[1:19:29] talk to staff in the restaurants and
[1:19:31] they're in tears because two of their
[1:19:33] cooks just got taken today.
[1:19:35] They're in tears because they're about
[1:19:36] to close. They have They have people
[1:19:38] that won't come to work because they're
[1:19:39] afraid, not because they're
[1:19:42] undocumented. They're just afraid to
[1:19:43] come into into our city right now and do
[1:19:45] things. I've talked to people in parking
[1:19:47] lots. There was a woman from I think
[1:19:49] Puerto Rico that I talked to. She was
[1:19:51] afraid. She's a US citizen. She's afraid
[1:19:54] to just to be here. It's What's
[1:19:56] happening is
[1:19:58] unbelievable. It's
[1:20:00] I I see ICE on our streets. I see them
[1:20:03] box cars in
[1:20:04] and I see them
[1:20:06] let them go after 15 minutes. So, they
[1:20:08] pull someone over, they box them in,
[1:20:09] almost cause an accident, talk to them
[1:20:11] for a few minutes and then they walk
[1:20:13] away and just let them go. You know, how
[1:20:15] can that happen? It does It does make no
[1:20:17] sense in this country. That that kind of
[1:20:18] thing should happen here.
[1:20:20] I have not talked to anyone that has a
[1:20:22] problem picking up actual violent
[1:20:25] criminals and deporting them.
[1:20:27] Let's find them and and go after them,
[1:20:29] but the way they're doing it is just
[1:20:31] wrong. It terrorizes our community. It's
[1:20:33] It's uh closing our businesses and it's
[1:20:35] not just the immigrant businesses that
[1:20:37] are having problems. A lot of businesses
[1:20:39] are having problems right now. I will
[1:20:41] tell you now I I will be supporting this
[1:20:42] if we could do more legally and I've
[1:20:44] talked to our legal counsel about what
[1:20:46] we can do. There's not a whole heck of a
[1:20:48] lot unfortunately at our level,
[1:20:50] but this we can do and I and
[1:20:53] I think it's important to know that uh I
[1:20:55] I know some people have some problems
[1:20:57] with what they think our police may or
[1:20:59] may not be doing, but I also know that
[1:21:01] they're out to protect you guys when
[1:21:03] you're out there. That's That's part of
[1:21:04] their job is to make you safe when
[1:21:06] you're out observing, when you're out
[1:21:08] protesting. The ones that make you
[1:21:10] unsafe are are the agents that I have
[1:21:12] seen surround cars and go up and
[1:21:14] threaten the observers and tell them
[1:21:16] they're going to have them arrested or
[1:21:17] they're going to follow them home and
[1:21:18] I've seen them do it. So, I I hear what
[1:21:20] you're saying. I I believe what you're
[1:21:22] saying because I've seen it myself. So,
[1:21:24] I will be supporting this.
[1:21:26] Okay. Council Member Workman.
[1:21:29] No comment. Okay.
[1:21:31] Thank you.
[1:21:33] Members of our community, we have been
[1:21:35] through a lot these past weeks.
[1:21:39] And um
[1:21:40] you have shared your experiences and we
[1:21:43] also have experiences.
[1:21:47] I have met with people in our community
[1:21:50] who have been impacted or businesses who
[1:21:52] have impacted when I am notified.
[1:21:55] And so,
[1:21:57] I know that our community
[1:22:01] is now in a lot of fear.
[1:22:04] And I want to begin by acknowledging
[1:22:07] the fear, the confusion,
[1:22:11] and uncertainty
[1:22:13] many of you are feeling when something
[1:22:16] affects our neighbors,
[1:22:18] our families,
[1:22:20] our workplace,
[1:22:24] and our
[1:22:25] sense of safety,
[1:22:28] it affects all of us.
[1:22:32] And as your mayor,
[1:22:34] it is my responsibility
[1:22:36] to speak clearly,
[1:22:38] to lead with compassion,
[1:22:40] and to ensure that every person in
[1:22:43] Burnsville knows that they are seen,
[1:22:46] valued, and supported.
[1:22:50] I want to address directly
[1:22:53] what so many of you
[1:22:55] have been asking about.
[1:22:58] The recent federal immigration
[1:23:01] enforcement actions taking place in our
[1:23:05] region.
[1:23:06] First,
[1:23:08] it is important to understand that
[1:23:11] federal immigration enforcement is not
[1:23:14] new.
[1:23:15] For decades,
[1:23:17] across multiple administrations,
[1:23:21] Republicans and Democratic alike,
[1:23:25] the federal government has carried out
[1:23:28] removals.
[1:23:30] The authority to do so is long-standing
[1:23:34] and the legal framework is rooted in our
[1:23:37] Constitution.
[1:23:39] Historically,
[1:23:41] these processes happened largely
[1:23:46] out of public view.
[1:23:48] Most people never saw them.
[1:23:52] They were carried out through
[1:23:54] established legal channels
[1:23:58] with court review,
[1:24:00] due process,
[1:24:02] and procedures that while not perfect,
[1:24:05] were familiar and predictable.
[1:24:09] What is new
[1:24:11] is the way these actions are being
[1:24:14] carried out today
[1:24:17] that we are all experiencing.
[1:24:20] Residents,
[1:24:22] all of you,
[1:24:23] are witnessing encounters in public
[1:24:26] spaces.
[1:24:28] Families are being questioned without
[1:24:31] understanding why and you have spoken to
[1:24:34] that this evening.
[1:24:36] Workers with legal status are being
[1:24:39] stopped or profiled.
[1:24:42] Businesses are losing employees
[1:24:45] because people are afraid
[1:24:48] to leave their homes.
[1:24:50] The fear we are seeing is not coming
[1:24:54] from existence of federal law.
[1:24:58] It is coming from the manner in which
[1:25:01] these operations are unfolding.
[1:25:06] And that is why our community is feeling
[1:25:09] shaken.
[1:25:11] So, let me be absolutely clear.
[1:25:15] The city of Burnsville does not direct,
[1:25:19] control, or participate
[1:25:22] in federal immigration enforcement.
[1:25:25] We do not receive advance notice of
[1:25:28] federal operations.
[1:25:30] We do not coordinate with them and we do
[1:25:33] not have the authority to stop or alter
[1:25:37] their actions.
[1:25:40] But we do have the authority and the
[1:25:42] responsibility
[1:25:44] to care for our people.
[1:25:48] So, let me talk about what we can
[1:25:50] control and how we show up for one
[1:25:52] another because that's one of the
[1:25:55] biggest things about who we are in
[1:25:57] Burnsville. It's who we are together.
[1:26:00] Together, not separate.
[1:26:04] And that's how we show up.
[1:26:06] We control whether we allow fear to
[1:26:09] divide us or whether we stand together
[1:26:12] in compassion,
[1:26:13] kindness, and care.
[1:26:16] We control
[1:26:18] whether our neighbors feel alone
[1:26:21] or supported. We control
[1:26:24] whether Burnsville remains a place where
[1:26:26] every person, regardless of where they
[1:26:30] were born,
[1:26:31] feels safe to go to work, to school, to
[1:26:36] the grocery store,
[1:26:38] or to church.
[1:26:40] Our local police department will
[1:26:42] continue to focus on local public
[1:26:44] safety.
[1:26:46] They are conducting They are not
[1:26:50] conducting immigration enforcement.
[1:26:53] They are not checking immigration
[1:26:55] status.
[1:26:57] Their role is to protect the safety of
[1:27:00] everyone who lives, works, and visits
[1:27:04] Burnsville.
[1:27:06] That does not change.
[1:27:09] I also want to speak
[1:27:12] to our immigrant families directly.
[1:27:17] You are a part of the fabric of our
[1:27:20] city.
[1:27:22] You contribute to our schools,
[1:27:26] our businesses,
[1:27:28] our faith communities.
[1:27:31] You pay taxes
[1:27:34] and you contribute to our shared future.
[1:27:38] You deserve dignity.
[1:27:41] You deserve clarity.
[1:27:43] And you deserve to feel safe
[1:27:47] seeking help,
[1:27:49] reporting a crime,
[1:27:51] or simply living your daily life.
[1:27:56] To our business owners,
[1:27:58] I know many of you are struggling.
[1:28:02] We have talked.
[1:28:05] Losing staff,
[1:28:07] losing customers, and trying to navigate
[1:28:11] uncertainty.
[1:28:13] We will continue working with you to
[1:28:16] provide information,
[1:28:18] resources, and support.
[1:28:23] And to our entire community,
[1:28:26] moments like this test who we are.
[1:28:30] They test our values.
[1:28:33] They test our resolve.
[1:28:36] But Burnsville
[1:28:38] has always been a city
[1:28:40] that leads with heart.
[1:28:43] A city that chooses unity
[1:28:46] over division.
[1:28:48] A city that believes in the worth and
[1:28:51] dignity of every person.
[1:28:56] We will get through this together.
[1:29:00] We will stand together
[1:29:03] by caring
[1:29:05] for one another
[1:29:07] and by refusing to let fear define us.
[1:29:13] You see, together we are stronger.
[1:29:16] And I thank you all for your strength,
[1:29:20] for your compassion for your neighbor,
[1:29:23] for each other,
[1:29:24] and your commitment to each other.
[1:29:27] We will continue to communicate openly
[1:29:32] as we learn more
[1:29:34] and as we continue to work through this
[1:29:36] together.
[1:29:38] We find ourselves in a time that we have
[1:29:40] never experienced before and it is
[1:29:43] testing us.
[1:29:45] So I call upon all of us that
[1:29:48] we work together
[1:29:51] and that we stand together
[1:29:53] because we are Burnsville strong and we
[1:29:56] lead with compassion and kindness
[1:29:59] in taking care of one another because
[1:30:02] that's who we are and that's what we
[1:30:04] will continue to do.
[1:30:06] And so with that, I thank you
[1:30:10] for your strength and for being out
[1:30:13] there
[1:30:14] and observing.
[1:30:16] But be safe and do it within the law
[1:30:20] because that's what I want for you. It
[1:30:23] is your constitutional right
[1:30:26] to observe
[1:30:29] and to witness
[1:30:31] and to record.
[1:30:34] That is your constitutional right, but I
[1:30:37] ask that you do it safely and within the
[1:30:39] law so that
[1:30:42] you stay safe out there.
[1:30:45] I don't want anything to happen to you
[1:30:46] and you're very brave to do what you
[1:30:49] did, but something that you did
[1:30:52] de-escalated something.
[1:30:55] So let's remember and learn from some of
[1:30:57] the stories
[1:30:59] that we heard tonight.
[1:31:02] Let's de-escalate
[1:31:04] rather than escalate.
[1:31:07] But record and stand witness
[1:31:11] and be safe.
[1:31:13] Be safe out there. But together we will
[1:31:17] get through this.
[1:31:19] And it is
[1:31:20] us who defines our community
[1:31:24] not anybody else.
[1:31:26] Thank you for being here.
[1:31:28] Uh
[1:31:29] and our police chief will have
[1:31:32] I would like to take time to speak.
[1:31:35] Um
[1:31:36] Chief Tanya Schwartz.
[1:31:42] Madam Mayor, members of the council,
[1:31:43] community, thank you. I appreciate the
[1:31:46] conversation this evening.
[1:31:48] I'm going to try to keep my comments
[1:31:50] brief. I
[1:31:53] really appreciate the opportunity to
[1:31:54] share my perspective
[1:31:56] as the chief. First, I want to thank our
[1:31:59] police officers
[1:32:00] at every level in our department
[1:32:03] who serve with courage and integrity and
[1:32:05] excellence every single day.
[1:32:08] They often respond to unpredictable
[1:32:10] high-stress situations.
[1:32:12] They maintain law and order while
[1:32:14] building trusted relationships.
[1:32:16] They take that responsibility very
[1:32:18] seriously.
[1:32:21] While amazing at managing uncertain
[1:32:23] circumstances, police officers are human
[1:32:25] beings. They're daughters, mothers,
[1:32:29] sons, fathers, friends, imperfect, but
[1:32:32] doing their job as best as they possibly
[1:32:33] can.
[1:32:35] We have a shared trust with our
[1:32:36] community built over decades because of
[1:32:38] the very human connection and
[1:32:40] relationships that we have with the
[1:32:42] people who live here.
[1:32:45] Mayor, city attorney, our council
[1:32:46] members shared uh several challenges our
[1:32:49] community did as well um talking about
[1:32:52] this proposed ordinance as well.
[1:32:55] There is some clarity I think that needs
[1:32:58] to be shared about the limits of our
[1:32:59] local authority and some of that was
[1:33:02] talked about tonight and I appreciate
[1:33:03] that.
[1:33:05] I think we need to make it clear. I want
[1:33:07] people to understand that our police
[1:33:09] officers cannot interfere with law
[1:33:11] enforcement agents carrying out their
[1:33:13] duties to arrest individuals who are
[1:33:15] here unlawfully or who pose public
[1:33:17] safety risks to the point of council
[1:33:19] member, I think we can all find common
[1:33:21] ground that we want people who pose a
[1:33:23] public safety risk in Burnsville
[1:33:25] uh to not be in Burnsville anymore.
[1:33:29] This does not mean that we don't care.
[1:33:32] Doesn't mean that we're indifferent to
[1:33:34] the community concerns. I just want us
[1:33:37] to be very honest. I want us to always
[1:33:39] have those hard and difficult honest
[1:33:41] conversations and be clear about we what
[1:33:43] we can do and what we cannot do so that
[1:33:46] there are realistic expectations here.
[1:33:50] Uh we will continue to respond to calls
[1:33:52] to try to reduce tension, to tone down
[1:33:55] rhetoric, to keep situations as safe as
[1:33:58] we possibly can for everyone on scene.
[1:34:01] Uh we are committed to that. We do that.
[1:34:03] Every day our officers are doing that.
[1:34:05] They're in a no-win situation here. So
[1:34:07] they are doing the very best that they
[1:34:08] can.
[1:34:10] They care about this community very
[1:34:12] much. I hear about the stories every
[1:34:14] day.
[1:34:15] We know that seeing federal immigration
[1:34:17] activity and enforcement action is
[1:34:19] distressing, especially for families
[1:34:22] worried about how it may personally
[1:34:24] affect them.
[1:34:26] Our Burnsville police tactics, our
[1:34:28] operations, how we carry our mission
[1:34:32] how we do public safety, it looks very
[1:34:34] different than federal law enforcement
[1:34:36] operations.
[1:34:37] We understand how that difference
[1:34:39] creates stress across the community. I'm
[1:34:42] familiar with the comments uh from the
[1:34:45] Minnesota Chiefs uh or some of the
[1:34:47] chiefs that spoke today uh at the
[1:34:49] capital. All of us chiefs are trying to
[1:34:52] again, how do we find common ground? How
[1:34:55] do we open lines of communication? I
[1:34:57] understand a lot of community doesn't
[1:35:00] want us to have communication with
[1:35:02] federal agents, but when we don't have
[1:35:04] communication, then we have a lot of
[1:35:06] chaos. So for us to understand uh what
[1:35:10] is going on, try to again, share the
[1:35:12] concerns that we have about some of the
[1:35:14] tactics that we are seeing by some
[1:35:16] agents. Uh if you look at that whole uh
[1:35:20] press conference from earlier, I don't
[1:35:22] want to take that out of context. So I
[1:35:23] would just encourage everyone to watch
[1:35:25] the full um conference so that you
[1:35:27] understand what was being said.
[1:35:31] And and I'm glad to stay and talk
[1:35:32] afterwards with anyone to talk about uh
[1:35:35] the work that we are doing at the
[1:35:37] Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association.
[1:35:39] I sit on that board and again, what our
[1:35:41] goals are is to how do we uh tone down
[1:35:44] tension, how do we uh tone down
[1:35:47] rhetoric, and how do we find
[1:35:49] communication with local with uh with
[1:35:52] federal agents, supervisors, people in
[1:35:55] leadership who are in charge of the
[1:35:57] operations that are going on so that we
[1:35:59] can understand and share with them the
[1:36:01] concerns that we have like was what was
[1:36:03] shared today.
[1:36:05] So we are all doing that work as well.
[1:36:09] And I know all of this raises just
[1:36:11] questions. People are concerned, what
[1:36:13] can I do? What should I do? What should
[1:36:15] I not do? And I appreciate that we get
[1:36:17] those questions and some of the comments
[1:36:20] came tonight as well as, you know, when
[1:36:22] when you're exercising first amendment
[1:36:24] rights, we want people to do that. We
[1:36:26] want people to do that safely, to be
[1:36:28] recording, but we want you to do that in
[1:36:31] a way that you're not so close as to
[1:36:33] prevent or to
[1:36:35] to basically be a public safety hazard
[1:36:38] to whatever law enforcement action is
[1:36:40] going on there. So
[1:36:42] do that, but just maintain a safe
[1:36:44] distance in that regard.
[1:36:47] Don't impede federal law enforcement
[1:36:50] physically or otherwise and and don't
[1:36:52] use your vehicles to impede. Don't set
[1:36:55] off illegal fireworks. And I know none
[1:36:57] of this is happening in our community,
[1:36:58] but we see these things happening across
[1:37:00] the state. And so as a police chief, I
[1:37:02] am very concerned as as the amount of
[1:37:05] rhetoric and the tension increases that
[1:37:07] these things spill over across
[1:37:09] communities and I don't want to see that
[1:37:10] happen.
[1:37:12] Boxing in agents, blocking them, I I
[1:37:15] understand
[1:37:16] everyone's tensions are high, but that
[1:37:19] actually just
[1:37:21] it's unlawful and it also is extremely
[1:37:24] dangerous. It really increases the risk
[1:37:27] of injury to you, to um
[1:37:30] others around. It increases the chance
[1:37:33] of being arrested. And and really when
[1:37:35] we're doing that, it can diminish the
[1:37:37] safety of everyone around us. So I just
[1:37:40] I want to thank people for
[1:37:44] being vigilant and not doing that. And I
[1:37:47] can see that our community is not doing
[1:37:49] that, but I just know as tensions
[1:37:51] continue to rise, things can happen. I
[1:37:53] want people to channel their energy into
[1:37:56] actions that strengthen rather than than
[1:37:58] divide like we've been talking about
[1:38:00] here.
[1:38:01] Think about reasonable communication,
[1:38:04] avoiding misinformation, and being
[1:38:05] inflammatory or assuming things. A lot
[1:38:08] of things are taken out of context and
[1:38:10] again, I'm not here to say that I agree
[1:38:12] with all of the tactics that are being
[1:38:14] used. I do not and
[1:38:18] we are doing what we can to establish
[1:38:20] communication to understand uh what is
[1:38:22] going on with the federal leadership
[1:38:25] here.
[1:38:27] So just
[1:38:29] I just wanted to share that because I
[1:38:30] care very much about this community.
[1:38:32] I've been here for over 30 years. We've
[1:38:35] all been through a lot together. The
[1:38:37] council and I have been through a lot
[1:38:38] together and we're going to be here to
[1:38:41] council member Schultz's uh response is
[1:38:44] we're going to be here together when
[1:38:46] this is done. And so we need to not
[1:38:50] erode trust and I just want people to
[1:38:53] understand that we're doing the very
[1:38:54] best we can in a a really challenging
[1:38:56] situation and our
[1:38:59] local authority is limited. What we can
[1:39:02] do with an ordinance like this is
[1:39:04] limited for police. So I just I want
[1:39:08] people to understand that, to manage the
[1:39:10] expectations.
[1:39:12] Um so
[1:39:13] with that I would stand for any
[1:39:15] questions from
[1:39:16] council.
[1:39:17] Um any questions for the chief?
[1:39:20] Thank you, chief, and thank you for your
[1:39:22] words because that you're absolutely
[1:39:24] right. It's managing expectations. And
[1:39:27] one thing that we all agree on and is
[1:39:31] that when someone commits a serious
[1:39:34] uh violent crime, they should be held
[1:39:36] accountable.
[1:39:39] That is true whether they are were born
[1:39:41] here
[1:39:42] or arrived here.
[1:39:44] And we want our community to be safe
[1:39:47] and we want dangerous individuals of any
[1:39:49] background off our streets.
[1:39:52] So,
[1:39:54] that's something I think we all agree on
[1:39:55] and we all agree that we want to be safe
[1:39:58] in our community. So, what we have
[1:40:00] control over is what we do together.
[1:40:03] Councilmember Schultz, your hand is up.
[1:40:09] Thank you.
[1:40:12] I want to say that our police are
[1:40:15] worried
[1:40:17] for our residents.
[1:40:20] Um I know that our chief is worried for
[1:40:24] our our residents.
[1:40:26] And many of you
[1:40:29] have seen me out and about
[1:40:32] um because I am most certainly
[1:40:34] volunteering.
[1:40:37] I and I think many of you know that um
[1:40:40] I'm probably not the most moderate
[1:40:43] person on this council.
[1:40:45] But I will also say that our police
[1:40:48] chief and our fire chief and our police
[1:40:51] have my full
[1:40:54] and utter support.
[1:40:57] And not everything that
[1:41:00] the city is doing
[1:41:03] to help is visible.
[1:41:06] So, thank you. I just wanted to be very
[1:41:08] clear about that. Okay, very good.
[1:41:11] Anything else?
[1:41:13] All right, members of the council.
[1:41:16] Before us is the adoption of the
[1:41:18] ordinance amending title one
[1:41:21] chapter 13 stewardship of the city
[1:41:23] resources and resolution affirming
[1:41:25] community values and stewardship of
[1:41:27] community resources amidst immigration
[1:41:31] operations.
[1:41:34] May I have a motion, please?
[1:41:38] Move to approve.
[1:41:41] There's a motion to approve. Are you
[1:41:43] seconding that? Councilmember Schultz,
[1:41:45] is that
[1:41:46] Yes, I am seconding. Okay, there's a
[1:41:48] motion and a second. All in favor,
[1:41:50] please say I. Oh, I
[1:41:53] Pardon me? Do you want to do roll call?
[1:41:54] I will go and do the roll call. Yes, I I
[1:41:57] was just getting there. I was going to
[1:41:58] go for it, but I remembered that uh
[1:42:00] Councilmember Schultz is
[1:42:02] uh
[1:42:04] is uh
[1:42:06] uh
[1:42:08] on on online. Okay, Councilmember
[1:42:10] Schultz.
[1:42:11] Madam Mayor, Yeah.
[1:42:12] >> let me do the roll call, please. Madam
[1:42:13] » let me do the roll call, please. Madam
[1:42:14] Mayor, You can do it. You can do the
[1:42:15] roll call.
[1:42:18] Councilmember Keely. I.
[1:42:21] Councilmember Gustafson. I.
[1:42:23] Councilmember Schultz.
[1:42:26] Yes. Councilmember Workman. I. Mayor
[1:42:29] Kauth. Yes.
[1:42:31] Okay, and we have an adopted ordinance.
[1:42:34] So, thank you so much, everyone, FOR
[1:42:36] BEING HERE.
[1:42:41] AND REMEMBER, together we are strong.
[1:42:44] Take care of one another.
[1:42:46] Make sure that we
[1:42:49] check on your neighbors.
[1:42:51] Find out if they're okay and if you need
[1:42:53] to do any grocery shopping for them.
[1:42:57] Because that's something that we can all
[1:42:59] do together. So,
[1:43:02] thank you so much.
[1:43:07] And now we will move on to the regular
[1:43:10] agenda.
[1:43:12] The first item on the regular agenda is
[1:43:14] a public hearing.
[1:43:17] And this is uh a resolution approving
[1:43:19] the drainage and utility easement
[1:43:21] vacation
[1:43:23] for 14001
[1:43:25] Burnhaven Drive
[1:43:27] and 911 140th Street West.
[1:43:32] And presenting this evening
[1:43:35] is our city engineer
[1:43:37] Logan Blasity. Mr. Blasity, the floor is
[1:43:40] yours. Madam Mayor and members of the
[1:43:42] council, thank you very much for having
[1:43:44] me.
[1:43:45] Uh yes, as you said, tonight we have a
[1:43:47] vacation of drainage and utility
[1:43:49] easements and with that we are required
[1:43:51] to hold a public hearing.
[1:43:54] So, the
[1:43:55] the two properties with the easements
[1:43:57] being vacated are uh 14001 Burnhaven
[1:44:01] Drive and 911 140th 140th Street West.
[1:44:07] So, here is 911 140th Street West. It's
[1:44:10] the the former site of fire station one.
[1:44:14] Um I'd like to point out sort of the uh
[1:44:17] unconventional property line there under
[1:44:19] 140th Street.
[1:44:21] Yeah.
[1:44:22] >> And then immediately adjacent to that is
[1:44:24] » And then immediately adjacent to that is
[1:44:24] the former pumpkin patch daycare site
[1:44:27] at 14001
[1:44:29] Burnhaven Drive. Uh what's unique about
[1:44:31] this site is that it was actually the
[1:44:34] parcel is a
[1:44:36] creation from three different plats. So,
[1:44:39] you will see uh we actually have to
[1:44:41] vacate easements from three uh separate
[1:44:44] plats with this one.
[1:44:46] So, the first is being uh
[1:44:50] the highlighted area of Burnhaven Mall
[1:44:53] plat. Uh that easement shown currently
[1:44:56] covers a city water main that is
[1:44:59] proposed to be relocated with the
[1:45:02] uh Costco gas station project.
[1:45:06] Second section of drainage and utility
[1:45:09] easements to be vacated is per High
[1:45:12] Highridge Second Edition.
[1:45:14] This is immediately adjacent to 140th
[1:45:17] Street West and this will be replatted
[1:45:19] as drainage and utility easement with
[1:45:21] the proposed Costco Second Edition plat.
[1:45:25] And then we have perimeter easements
[1:45:27] around all of uh Burnhaven Fire Station
[1:45:30] number one plat.
[1:45:32] Um the
[1:45:35] areas under or encumbering the proposed
[1:45:38] right-of-way for 140th Street will be
[1:45:40] replatted as
[1:45:41] public right-of-way.
[1:45:43] And then the necessary perimeter
[1:45:45] easements
[1:45:46] for the Costco Second Edition plat will
[1:45:49] uh be replatted with drainage and
[1:45:51] utility easements.
[1:45:54] So,
[1:45:55] uh with that, there's a lot of easements
[1:45:58] shown there and easement vacations.
[1:46:01] Simply put, the
[1:46:02] areas where private utilities and city
[1:46:05] utilities currently exist within
[1:46:07] easement are either being dedicated as
[1:46:09] right-of-way,
[1:46:10] uh replatted as drainage and utility
[1:46:13] easements, or the city utilities within
[1:46:16] the easement are being relocated um to
[1:46:20] a future easement, so.
[1:46:22] With that, there was no public need for
[1:46:25] the drainage and utility easements um
[1:46:28] and then I'm showing here the
[1:46:30] the Costco Second Edition final plat,
[1:46:32] which shows the
[1:46:33] uh 140th Street future right-of-way to
[1:46:35] be dedicated.
[1:46:39] Staff recommends approval of the
[1:46:41] easement vacations with the condition
[1:46:43] that
[1:46:45] uh the easement vacations are granted
[1:46:47] subject to approval of the Costco Second
[1:46:50] Edition final plat.
[1:46:53] And I will stand.
[1:46:54] Okay, questions?
[1:46:55] >> with all due respect to Logan,
[1:46:57] » with all due respect to Logan,
[1:46:57] I don't remember a time when we had
[1:47:01] uh an item such as what we just
[1:47:03] completed
[1:47:05] and vacating
[1:47:07] uh an easement.
[1:47:09] The gap between those in many ways is
[1:47:12] pretty big.
[1:47:15] But you did a great job.
[1:47:16] >> Thank you. I'm used to it. But you also
[1:47:18] » Thank you. I'm used to it. But you also
[1:47:18] know how to clear a room. Yeah.
[1:47:23] Logan should have went first.
[1:47:30] Okay, all kidding aside, this is a
[1:47:32] public hearing.
[1:47:35] I will now open the public hearing. Is
[1:47:36] there anyone who wishes to speak to this
[1:47:38] item?
[1:47:40] Anyone who wishes to speak to this item?
[1:47:44] Mrs. Henderson, anyone online? No, there
[1:47:46] is not. Okay, um
[1:47:48] we will now um
[1:47:51] close the public hearing. Members of the
[1:47:53] council,
[1:47:54] your pleasure.
[1:47:56] Wait, you move to approve. Second.
[1:47:59] Second. There's a motion and a second
[1:48:01] and the clerk can please take the roll
[1:48:04] call.
[1:48:05] Councilmember Keely. I. Councilmember
[1:48:08] Gustafson. I. Councilmember Schultz.
[1:48:12] Yes.
[1:48:13] Councilmember Workman. Yes. Mayor Kauth.
[1:48:15] Yes.
[1:48:16] Okay.
[1:48:18] And
[1:48:19] you have your vacation. Thank you very
[1:48:22] much, Madam Mayor and members of the
[1:48:23] council for your vacation. Appreciate
[1:48:24] it. Are you clearing the room now, too?
[1:48:30] Uh the next item is also a public
[1:48:32] hearing and this is to approve the
[1:48:33] off-sale intoxicating liquor license for
[1:48:36] Jai Krishna Radha
[1:48:39] uh doing business uh as Perrier Wine and
[1:48:42] Liquor at 13720 County Road 11.
[1:48:46] Presenting is our deputy city clerk,
[1:48:49] Erica Henderson.
[1:48:50] Ms. Henderson, the floor is yours.
[1:48:52] >> Great, thank you. So, the new owners,
[1:48:55] » Great, thank you. So, the new owners,
[1:48:55] Jai Krishna Radha LLC, um they had
[1:48:59] recently purchased purchased the Perrier
[1:49:01] Wines and Liquor located at 13720 County
[1:49:05] Road 11 and they have submitted an
[1:49:07] application for an off-sale liquor
[1:49:09] license. They've also
[1:49:11] successfully passed the background check
[1:49:14] by the Burnsville Police Department, and
[1:49:16] city code does require a public hearing
[1:49:18] for all new liquor licenses. Okay.
[1:49:21] Uh any questions for Ms. Henderson?
[1:49:24] Uh with that, I will open the public
[1:49:25] hearing. Is there anyone who wishes to
[1:49:27] speak to this item?
[1:49:29] Anyone who wishes to speak to this item?
[1:49:32] Ms. Henderson, anyone online? No,
[1:49:34] there's not. Okay. I will now close the
[1:49:37] public hearing. Members of the council,
[1:49:39] your pleasure.
[1:49:42] Move to approve.
[1:49:43] Second. There is a motion and a second.
[1:49:46] And uh
[1:49:49] Deputy uh City Clerk Henderson, will you
[1:49:51] take the roll, please?
[1:49:53] >> Sure.
[1:49:53] » Sure.
[1:49:53] Council Member Keely.
[1:49:55] Aye.
[1:49:56] Council Member Gustafson. Aye. Council
[1:49:59] Member Schultz.
[1:50:01] Yes. Council Member Workman. Aye. Mayor
[1:50:04] Coutts. Yes.
[1:50:06] Okay. And um
[1:50:10] we now move on to uh the uh Economic
[1:50:13] Development Authority meeting, and I
[1:50:15] will recess the Burnsville City Council
[1:50:17] meeting,
[1:50:19] so the Economic Development um meeting
[1:50:21] can proceed. President um
[1:50:25] Gustafson, the floor is yours. Uh good
[1:50:27] evening. I call the Economic Development
[1:50:29] Authority meeting to order. The local
[1:50:31] clerk clerk will note all commissioners
[1:50:33] are present. Commissioner Schultz is
[1:50:35] joining us remotely.
[1:50:37] Item number one, are there any additions
[1:50:39] to the final agenda?
[1:50:43] Seeing none, I will move on. Item number
[1:50:44] two is ex election of officers.
[1:50:48] Do we have nominations for a slate of
[1:50:50] officers this year?
[1:50:52] Um
[1:50:55] members of the um
[1:50:57] authority,
[1:50:59] I would just
[1:51:01] resubmit the uh
[1:51:03] the slate that we have presently.
[1:51:08] I am comfortable with that as well. I
[1:51:10] was going to nominate you for president.
[1:51:11] Your turn, you should do it. Dan's doing
[1:51:13] a great job. Thanks.
[1:51:16] Keeping the meetings quick. Okay.
[1:51:18] Okay. So, there is a a motion
[1:51:20] >> Nomination to uh and a a second to
[1:51:22] » Nomination to uh and a a second to
[1:51:22] keep the slate. Okay.
[1:51:24] >> May I have a motion motion to adopt the
[1:51:26] » May I have a motion motion to adopt the
[1:51:26] resolution with the slate of officers?
[1:51:29] Did you make the motion? Yeah, I think
[1:51:31] um
[1:51:32] He seconded. Oh. Yeah. He made the
[1:51:34] motion. Actually, we already have the
[1:51:35] motion. So, we did have the vote.
[1:51:37] Hey. You can call the roll.
[1:51:40] Council Member Keely.
[1:51:42] Yes. Council Member Gustafson. Aye.
[1:51:45] Council Member Schultz.
[1:51:47] Yes. Council Member Workman. Aye. Mayor
[1:51:50] Coutts. Yes.
[1:51:52] Okay, we move on to item number three,
[1:51:53] the consent agenda, and it's the
[1:51:55] approval of the minutes. Is there anyone
[1:51:56] who wishes an item to be removed from
[1:51:58] the consent agenda for a separate
[1:52:00] discussion and vote?
[1:52:03] Seeing none, may I have a motion to
[1:52:05] adopt the consent agenda? Move to adopt.
[1:52:08] Motion by Commissioner Workman.
[1:52:11] Second. Second by Commissioner Keely.
[1:52:13] All in favor? Aye. Aye. I need a I need
[1:52:16] a roll call. No, no, roll call. Roll
[1:52:18] call. Council Member Keely.
[1:52:20] Aye. Council Member Gustafson. Aye.
[1:52:23] Council Member Schultz.
[1:52:25] Yes. Council Member Workman. Aye. Mayor
[1:52:28] Coutts. Yes. And it passes.
[1:52:31] We move on to item number four A is the
[1:52:32] adoption of the 2025 annual report.
[1:52:36] Travis Vistedt, do is that how that's
[1:52:38] pronounced? Can you make it Vistedt.
[1:52:40] Vistedt, okay. Vistedt.
[1:52:41] >> Deputy Community Development Director is
[1:52:43] » Deputy Community Development Director is
[1:52:43] presenting.
[1:52:44] We've got biz to do. We have biz to do.
[1:52:46] I like that. Biz to do. Biz to do.
[1:52:51] You're welcome. Uh good evening, Mr.
[1:52:52] President. Uh commissioners, I'm Travis
[1:52:54] Vistedt, Deputy Community Development
[1:52:56] Director for the City of Burnsville, and
[1:52:58] I'm here to present the uh 2025 Economic
[1:53:01] Development Authority annual report.
[1:53:04] Uh just as a quick refresher, the EDA's
[1:53:06] mission focuses on business attraction,
[1:53:08] job creation, both development and
[1:53:11] redevelopment projects across the city.
[1:53:13] Uh the EDA advises the City Council on
[1:53:16] economic development policies, ensuring
[1:53:18] our investments align with Burnsville's
[1:53:20] long-term economic goals.
[1:53:24] Uh quickly on to our accomplishments for
[1:53:26] 2025,
[1:53:28] um
[1:53:29] in September, we renewed our contract
[1:53:31] with the Center for Energy and
[1:53:32] Environment, and relaunched our
[1:53:34] EDA-funded housing rehabilitation loan
[1:53:36] program. Since then, uh we've had one
[1:53:39] home improvement loan uh
[1:53:41] approved, as well as two more under
[1:53:44] review.
[1:53:45] And in terms of our senior deferred
[1:53:47] loans, we have uh approved two projects,
[1:53:50] fully expending our 2025 budget, which
[1:53:54] uh is a strong indicator of demand for
[1:53:55] these uh programs and loans going
[1:53:58] forward.
[1:54:01] Uh
[1:54:02] similarly, our initial local affordable
[1:54:05] housing aid or LAHA programs also
[1:54:07] launched in September and mirror our EDA
[1:54:10] offerings, but target households at a
[1:54:12] lower uh area median income, 80% AMI or
[1:54:16] less, if you recall.
[1:54:18] Uh so far, we have one home improvement
[1:54:20] loan uh that's been approved, and three
[1:54:22] are currently under review. And we have
[1:54:24] one senior deferred loan uh currently
[1:54:27] under review, as well.
[1:54:29] Um while the loans themselves are funded
[1:54:32] with uh LAHA dollars, the EDA EDA does
[1:54:35] fund uh a minor origination fee for each
[1:54:39] loan uh in alignment with state
[1:54:41] guidelines.
[1:54:45] Uh although not funded with EDA dollars,
[1:54:47] uh the city's CDBG-funded homeowner uh
[1:54:50] rehab loans
[1:54:51] uh also continues to move forward. In
[1:54:53] 2025, there were three loans completed,
[1:54:56] and there currently eight more uh
[1:54:58] underway, as we speak.
[1:55:02] On the economic development front, uh we
[1:55:05] completed a housing and commercial needs
[1:55:07] assessment, uh which uh we utilized that
[1:55:10] needs assessment to help us shape an
[1:55:12] economic development strategic
[1:55:14] framework, which will serve to focus our
[1:55:16] economic development efforts uh across
[1:55:19] the city
[1:55:20] uh for the next three to five years. So,
[1:55:22] it's been a it's been a powerful tool
[1:55:24] for us,
[1:55:25] uh kind of framing up what our economic
[1:55:26] development programs uh will look like.
[1:55:30] And then, in other accomplishments, we
[1:55:33] made amendments to the city-owned land
[1:55:34] sale policy, providing improved guidance
[1:55:37] on future strategic dis disposition and
[1:55:40] redevelopment activities for city-owned
[1:55:42] lands. Uh we continued to uh support our
[1:55:45] business and retention expansion
[1:55:47] program, partnering with the chamber and
[1:55:49] meeting with local uh employers to
[1:55:51] identify needs and connect them with uh
[1:55:54] area resources.
[1:55:55] Our partnership with uh Open to Business
[1:55:58] continues, and we uh continue to support
[1:56:01] offering one-on-one technical assistance
[1:56:03] to entrepreneurs and small businesses uh
[1:56:06] throughout the city.
[1:56:07] And then, lastly, we continue to support
[1:56:10] uh our legacy events, including the
[1:56:12] Burnsville uh Festival and Fire Muster,
[1:56:14] as well as the International Festival,
[1:56:16] which helps showcase Burnsville and help
[1:56:19] drive uh foot traffic to our local
[1:56:21] establishments.
[1:56:23] So, in summary, 2025 was uh
[1:56:26] uh a good year of targeted investments
[1:56:28] and strong partnerships, expanding our
[1:56:30] housing support programs, clarifying
[1:56:33] uh at least one policy, and
[1:56:35] strengthening our economic development
[1:56:37] uh road map.
[1:56:38] And that's it. I'd be happy to take any
[1:56:40] comments or questions.
[1:56:41] >> Any questions? Oh, congratulations.
[1:56:44] » Any questions? Oh, congratulations.
[1:56:44] Great work. Yes. Nice job last year. You
[1:56:46] as well. Thank you.
[1:56:48] Okay, no questions. May I have a motion
[1:56:50] to adopt the report?
[1:56:51] >> So moved.
[1:56:52] » So moved.
[1:56:52] Second.
[1:56:53] First and a second.
[1:56:55] Got that? Yep. Roll call.
[1:56:57] Council Member Keely.
[1:56:59] Yes, aye.
[1:57:00] Council Member Gustafson. Aye.
[1:57:02] Council Member Schultz.
[1:57:05] Yes. Council Member Workman. Aye. Mayor
[1:57:08] Coutts. Aye.
[1:57:10] Okay, there is no other business, so I
[1:57:12] may have may I have a motion to adjourn?
[1:57:14] >> So moved.
[1:57:15] » So moved.
[1:57:15] Second.
[1:57:16] Roll call, please. Council Member Keely.
[1:57:19] Aye. Council Member Gustafson. Aye.
[1:57:22] Council Member Schultz.
[1:57:23] Yes. Council Member Workman. Aye. Mayor
[1:57:26] Coutts. Aye. Aye. We are now adjourned.
[1:57:28] I turn it back to you, Madam Mayor.
[1:57:30] Thank you. And I will now reconvene the
[1:57:32] Burnsville City Council meeting, and
[1:57:34] members uh of the council and uh of our
[1:57:37] community, there are no other items to
[1:57:39] come before us this evening, and a
[1:57:41] motion to adjourn is in order.
[1:57:43] >> Motion to adjourn. Second. There's a
[1:57:44] » Motion to adjourn. Second. There's a
[1:57:44] motion and a second. Roll call, please.
[1:57:47] Council Member Keely.
[1:57:49] You know, Council Member Schultz, you're
[1:57:51] the one that caused all these roll
[1:57:52] calls.
[1:57:54] Aye.
[1:57:55] Council Member Gustafson. Aye. Council
[1:57:57] Member Schultz.
[1:57:59] Yes.
[1:58:00] Council Member Workman. Aye. Mayor
[1:58:01] Coutts. Aye. She did do it, didn't she?
[1:58:04] And we stand adjourned. Thank you for
[1:58:06] being with us, and have a good night.