csc-minutes-july-9-2020
SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 10:03 am by Commissioner Kumagai.
Roll Call
Commissioners present: Gloria Kumagai, Secretary
Andrew Wold
Commissioners absent: None
Council Member Present: Gillian Rosenquist
Staff present: Jason Sturgis, Chief of Police
Amanda Johnson, Administrative Assistant
Approval of Agenda
Commissioner Wold requested to strike item D under New Business from the agenda, stating the
proposed amendment is not permissible by statute. Motion by Commissioner Wold to approve the
revised agenda. Seconded by Commissioner Kumagai. Motion carried 2-0.
Approval of Minutes
Motion by Commissioner Wold to approve the May 5, 2020 meeting minutes. Seconded by
Commissioner Kumagai. Motion carried 2-0.
Agenda Item
Position Statement from Council Regarding Current Events
Commissioner Wold stated there was a misprint for this item and it should state a position statement
from the commission regarding current events.
Motion by Commissioner Wold to draft a position statement for the commission, to be released in the
coming weeks. Seconded by Commissioner Kumagai. Motion carried 2-0.
Voluntary Demographic Survey for All Police Officers
Commissioner Wold expressed interest in collecting voluntary demographic information for current
Golden Valley police officers. Chief Sturgis stated he would inquire whether Human Resources had
information available from a recent employee survey conducted throughout the city. Chief Sturgis
stated he would inform the commission of available data.
July 9, 2020 – 10:00 am
Public Safety Conference Room
Golden Valley Police Department
7700 Golden Valley Road
City of Golden Valley Civil Service Special Meeting Minutes
July 9, 2020– 10:00 am
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Commission Records in New GVPD Window
Commissioner Wold expressed desire for commission records listed in Article III (A) of the commission
bylaws to be added to the new GVPD Window posted on the city website so they are transparent and
more readily available to the public.
Motion by Commissioner Wold to request city staff add commission records, as described in the bylaws,
to the GVPD Window. Seconded by Commissioner Kumagai. Motion carried 2-0.
Addition of Equity Policy to Rules
A. Tie-break procedure for placement of new candidates on eligible register
Commissioner Wold recommended if candidates on the eligible register have a tied score and there
is a disparity between the demographic make-up of the police force/equity goals identified by the
Rising Tides Task Force and any protected class, the candidate in the protected class be assigned the
higher rank.
B. Incorporation of equity statement to rules
Commissioner Wold stated an equity statement is not included in the commission rules, but equity
should be considered in the promotion process. Commissioner Wold recommended the commission
reach out to the Rising Tides Task Force for language surrounding equity in the promotion process.
Commissioner Wold also recommended requesting the City Council to put into its legislative agenda
a request to the state legislature to amend Statute 419 to update the language surrounding
Affirmative Action to include equity goals of the City.
Council Member Rosenquist stated the City is currently recruiting to hire a new Diversity and Equity
Manager and expressed hesitance for the commission to draft its own equity policy, which may not
align with the ongoing work by the City as a whole. Council Member Rosenquist stated the equity
language in the statute appears to be optional and authorizes commissions to act as a check and
balance in regards to potential deviation from approved Affirmative Action goals, which the City does
not have. Council Member Rosenquist recommended the City move forward as a team under the
leadership of the Diversity and Equity Manager.
Commissioner Kumagai stated she is in favor of gathering information from the city attorney and
Rising Tides Task Force, but believes action steps should wait until the equity manager is in place and
can be part of the process.
Motion by Commissioner Wold to reach out to City Attorney Cisneros regarding the tentative legislative
agenda item and reach out to the Rising Tides Task Force regarding the possibility of adding equity
language to the promotion process. Seconded by Commissioner Kumagai. Motion carried 2-0.
City of Golden Valley Civil Service Special Meeting Minutes
July 9, 2020– 10:00 am
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Review Commission Role in Areas that Overlap or Conflict with Labor Agreements
Commissioner Wold reported commissioners have not participated in negotiations for police union
contracts and have not received copies of the union contracts. Commissioner Wold stated
commissioners should be included in contract negotiation discussions and discussions concerning areas
the commission is statutorily-prescribed authority over, including employment, promotion, discharge
and suspension. Commissioner Wold stated the commission should have approval authority over certain
components of the union contracts, including arbitration, which are within the scope of the commission.
Commissioner Wold expressed a desire for more transparency and outside perspective, influence and
approval for arbitration clauses that allow advantages to officers who are not performing well in light of
the scrutiny police unions are currently facing, particularly in the City of Minneapolis.
Chief Sturgis stated he would need to consult with other city staff members for clarification on what role
the commission has concerning contract negotiations.
Council Member Rosenquist stated the development of modern human resource departments and labor
laws have greatly changed processes since the enactment of the civil service commission statute 90
years ago. Council Member Rosenquist reported the few remaining civil service commissions have
almost entirely deferred labor contract issues to human resources professionals who are experienced
with labor laws.
Motion by Commissioner Wold for the commission to reach out to the city attorney to clarify the
commission’s relationship with regard to union contract negotiations. Seconded by Commissioner
Kumagai. Motion carried 2-0.
Commissioner Wold stated commissioners have been invited to the Council/Manager meeting on
Tuesday, July 14th, at 6:30pm to discuss the future of the Civil Service Commission. Council Member
Rosenquist advised the agenda for the meeting will be posted Friday afternoon and will reflect the order
for this item.
Commission Communications
Chief Sturgis provided an update on current police operations, stating three recruits are currently in field
training and one recruit just completed training. Patrol officers are working 4 shifts on/8 shifts off, which
is scheduled to continue through at least September 5th. Five officers are currently out due to injury.
Officers continue to wear PPE when interacting with the public and contact callers needing police
assistance prior to making contact in-person to minimize risk of COVID-19 exposure. The department is
currently fully-staffed with community service officers.
Commissioner Kumagai thanked Chief Sturgis for his leadership during this time.
City of Golden Valley Civil Service Special Meeting Minutes
July 9, 2020– 10:00 am
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Commissioner Schulz has resigned from the commission. An application link is posted on the
commission page of the city website for interested candidates to apply for this vacancy.
Adjourn
Motion by Commission Wold to adjourn the meeting at 11:05 am. Seconded by Commissioner Kumagai.
Motion carried 2-0.
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Gloria Kumagai, Secretary
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Amanda Johnson, Police Operations Supervisor