Residents press council on community center plans, surveillance licensing and transparency

Several residents used the public-comment portion of the April 6 meeting to press the Common Council on a range of community issues, including a proposed community center project, county licensing agreements for surveillance vendors, and perceived lack of responsiveness from some councilmembers.

Wayne Scape questioned the mayor’s authority over a community council committee that is studying a proposed community center and said the city had been promised a replacement center years ago after the old facility was torn down. He urged that any new center preserve the cultural history of the former venue and asked the city attorney (Mr. Arnold) to review Resolution 1525 to clarify whether a committee member (or the mayor) can call or cancel meetings or remove members; council members said they would seek a written legal opinion for the record.

Rick Hanson (public commenter) said he had learned the county was signing a licensing agreement with a vendor called Squad and referenced the Flock surveillance platform, urging more oversight of who the city or county allows to use cameras and related data, and asking for clarity about data uses and protections.

Christopher Bilberry and other commenters criticized council responsiveness to constituent emails and said they have had trouble getting replies from certain councilmembers regarding sponsored ordinances. Commenters also raised concerns about a local welfare-check killing and asked the council to look into crisis-center issues.

Council members acknowledged the comments; President Green and other members said the council supports a community center and would work to preserve its cultural integrity. The city attorney was asked to provide a written opinion about committee authority and the council agreed to keep records and appointment spreadsheets shared and up to date.