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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, September 23, 2019 <br /> Page 12 <br /> Ms. Gundlach explained the EDA action on Monday, September 16, 2019 result- <br /> ed in the redevelopment contract becoming effective. Nothing that has occurred <br /> since that authorization including the information reported during the KSTP story <br /> results in a default to the contract per the language that was approved on Monday, <br /> September 16, 2019. <br /> Ms. Gundlach indicated staff has reached out to Reuter Walton to express extreme <br /> disappointment with the content of the KSTP story. Reuter Walton advised the <br /> city the sub-contractor who employed Batres was terminated and that Ricardo Ba- <br /> tres was there using an alias. Reuter Walton keeps a written record of anyone <br /> who works on their job sites. Staff also contacted the Carpenters Union to express <br /> disappointment that the Union did not share the information that was provided to <br /> KSTP regarding Ricardo Batres working on a Reuter Walton job site in Richfield <br /> prior to the EDA taking action on Monday, September 16th. Staff has communi- <br /> cated to Reuter Walton that the job site in Roseville will be heavily scrutinized <br /> and Reuter Walton expects that now. <br /> Ms. Gundlach explained Reuter Walton has initiated a sub-contractor certification <br /> with everyone that is hired moving forward and this will hold their sub- <br /> contractors as well as their laborers to a high standard in regard to preventing <br /> wage theft and lawful trafficking. This certification also requires their subcon- <br /> tractors to conduct their activities in a manor that respects human rights as set out <br /> in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. <br /> Ms. Gundlach noted staff is looking into additional measures that could be im- <br /> plemented that could be proactive in ensuring work on Reuter Walton's job site is <br /> being conducted in accordance with all state and federal laws related to labor <br /> trafficking issues. She was not sure what could come of that, but staff has reached <br /> out to two resources and is waiting to hear back. <br /> Councilmember Groff thanked staff for the clarification. He asked, since the <br /> identity seems to be up in the air with using an alias, if Reuter Walton is furnish- <br /> ing names of who is working on these jobs sites, is there not a way to use an ID <br /> that is an official ID or something to verify rather than just having people sign in. <br /> Ms. Gundlach indicated staff has shared its concerns with the developer about this <br /> as Batres is a known character. Staff understands he was using an alias, but the <br /> developer needs to be posting photographs. Reuter Walton has taken steps within <br /> the company to make sure everyone knows who Ricardo Batres is regardless of <br /> the name he is using to prevent him from coming onto their sites. She did not <br /> know specifically about the ID process that is used in keeping the written record, <br /> but she would follow up with Reuter Walton to see if the company is doing that. <br />