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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, May 13,2024 <br /> Page 6 <br /> Mayor Roe stated the Council wanted to make sure that the City is doing a better <br /> job of engaging the public in decision-making and in the government. <br /> Ms. Olson stated this could be the group that makes sure there is engagement with <br /> different groups within the city,makes sure the city is being accountable,and makes <br /> sure that happens while a review is going on. <br /> Councilmember Strahan thought the City needed to be clear about that focus. It is <br /> not that engagement or outward looking; this particular group is about being <br /> internal and making what they all produce. She indicated she relies on these <br /> Commissioners to be the experts. If there is some group that can take that <br /> perspective on, then she can too. <br /> Councilmember Schroeder thought a good point is that it is not the ambassador part <br /> so when this group is being built, the City is clear on what they want the group to <br /> do. She thought that was where there had been some issues. People were thinking <br /> that is what they were going to do once they got on the Commission and then that <br /> is not what they got to do, which frustrated them. She thought it was very smart to <br /> make it very clear not only what the City wants the group to do but what is not <br /> included at this time. <br /> Mayor Roe stated under the Scope and Duties, it might make sense to express the <br /> notion of providing feedback as to who the City should be engaging or who should <br /> be a part of the work that the City does on a particular policy or particular <br /> procedure. He noted it may be tricky wording to make sure that they do not make <br /> it sound like the Commissioners are going to be doing the engagement but will <br /> actually be providing feedback to the City about what is needed. <br /> Mr. Montez reviewed the role of the commission or group with the City Council. <br /> Councilmember Strahan indicated on the future agenda an item that has been on <br /> there for a long time and seems on its own right now,was interest in having a sister <br /> city relationship with an Indigenous Tribal Nation in Minnesota. The reason she <br /> presented that is because of the Keya Park naming and it comes back to what staff <br /> was talking about, building more authentic relationships. It was about not just <br /> finding a Native American expert. It seemed like a more authentic way to interact <br /> with their City, with some people who may have originally inhabited this land. It <br /> was more an idea of something that was authentic in creating that relationship and <br /> not just seeking knowledge. She did not know if that fit into something like this <br /> but originally she had thought it would live in this type of space because she wanted <br /> there to be more relationships around, not just using someone for their knowledge, <br /> but actually having something that is shared in that space. She did not know in this <br /> new format that would be the right direction so maybe this is not something that <br /> would ever come to fruition and sister cities are kind of a thing of the eighties. But, <br /> also she did not know in their world there could ever be enough connections to <br />