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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION — NOVEMBER 13, 2023 6 Mayor Grant felt paper handouts could be provided during the meeting as long as they were approaching the City Clerk and each councilmember could get a copy. He thought what would be considered offensive was a judgement call. Regarding no objects other then paper, he said they've had all kinds of building materials presented to them and handed down the dais. He didn't think they needed to specify that it could only be paper. He agreed that printed handouts shouldn't be in an envelope. Councilmeber Holden expressed her thoughts on handouts being in an envelope; they would accept something in the mail in an envelope, but not at a meeting? Did they expect the City Clerk to take things out of an envelope? Councilmember Monson said the problem is when people approach the dais to give an object to a councilmember, particularly one they don't agree with. Something like building materials could be given to the City Clerk and she could distribute, and that would be OK. She felt the needed to provide some type of protection around receiving things from the public and approaching a councilmember. Mayor Grant felt if something was in an envelope it was OK. He felt providing a warning wasn't necessary. Councilmember Monson said she was fine with rewording the document to make it more friendly. Councilmember Holden wanted to take law enforcement out. If they can't run a meeting without law enforcement you don't deserve to be at the bench; the Mayor can ask them to leave or sit down. Mayor Grant agreed they didn't need that. He can declare a recess if needed. There was a meeting once where a Councilmember was concerned for her physical safety. But he didn't see the need to be escorted by law enforcement. Councilmember Monson thought they could strike the last two bullets. Councilmember Fabel said the overriding concern is one of safety. He felt it was a legitimate concern. He recommended that Councilmember Monson meet with the City Attorney to work on language and bring it back to Council. Mayor Grant stated that if they want people to act in a particular way they need to inform people of that specific way and that should come from him, rather than some policy in a book that nobody will see or read. He noted the dais itself is fully bulletproof. Councilmember Holden asked wasn't the policy just to bring your items to the City Clerk? Councilmember Monson said if that was how it happened and they started making people bring things to the Clerk that would be sufficient for her. The key is that it's either run that way or it's enforced that way. Mayor Grant said he would work with the City Attorney to bring something back.