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