Title
Creating Chapter 112 of the Administrative Code to establish the Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission.
Body
RESOLVED, THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAINT PAUL DOES ORDAIN
SECTION 1
Section 112.01. Purpose.
The Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission (hereinafter referred to as the "commission") serves as an advisory body to the mayor and city council on matters related to repairing the damage caused by public and private systemic racism in the City of Saint Paul which resulted in racial disparities in generational wealth, homeownership, health care, education, employment and pay, and fairness within the criminal justice system among the American descendants of chattel slavery.
Section 112.02. Establishment, terms, vacancies and qualifications.
(a) Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations commission established. There is hereby established a Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations commission consisting of eleven (11) at-large members appointed by the Saint Paul City Council.
(b) Terms. Of the members first appointed, three (3) shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year, four (4) for a term of two (2) years, and four (4) for a term of three (3) years. Thereafter, the term of each member shall be three (3) years. Members shall serve no more than 2 consecutive terms.
(c) Vacancies. Vacancies on the commission for whatever cause shall be filled by the City Council through the open appointment process for the unexpired term.
(d) Qualifications. All members shall be residents of the City of Saint Paul.
i. To the extent possible, members shall be representative of the city's diversity of neighborhoods, races, cultures, ages, abilities, incomes and sexual orientations consistent with city’s diversity and equity goals.
Preference shall be given to candidates who demonstrate lived experience as it pertains to the work of the commission, are engaged in the local community and understand the role of reparations in addressing the impacts of chattel slavery.
Section 112.03. Staff and budget.
(a) Staff. The commission shall be staffed by the Office of the City Council. The responsibilities of this department staff include:
i. Serving as staff and recording secretary to the commission;
ii. Reporting on departmental and/or citywide efforts on topics intersecting with or directly relating to the commission’s work;
iii. Advising the commission on matters pertaining to reparations when requested;
iv. Administering the commission's budget; and
v. Providing additional support service as needed.
(b) Budget. For the operations of the commission, including staff salaries and other related expenses, such as travel, training, per diem, postage, copying and supplies, an annual proposed budget shall be submitted to the appropriate officials for inclusion in the city's budget.
Section 112.04. Meetings.
(a) The commission shall establish a regular time and place of meeting and shall meet monthly unless determined otherwise by the commission. At its first meeting each year, the commission shall elect its chair and vice chair.
(b) The commission shall establish rules and procedures for the conduct of its business. Notice of all meetings shall be published in accordance with proper notice procedures. A majority of all qualified commissioners shall constitute a quorum, and all business may be transacted by a majority vote of such quorum. Unless otherwise provided, any action taken by the commission shall be by the affirmative vote of a majority of its members.
The commission shall keep a public record of its meetings. Copies of all minutes, motions, resolutions, findings and reports shall be available to the public.
Section 112.05. Powers and duties.
The commission shall act in an advisory capacity to the mayor and city council in all policy and budget matters pertaining to reparations within the city through the following activities:
(a) Shall be empowered to make short, medium and long-term policy, program and budget recommendations to specifically address the creation and sustainment of generational wealth for the American Descendants of Chattel Slavery and to boost economic mobility and opportunity in the American Descendants of Chattel Slavery community;
(b) Shall establish a work plan annually which will serve to notify city officials of the commission’s priorities and activities;
(c) Shall develop time-based evaluations of city expenditures using quality of life metrics as indicators of progress on reparations;
(d) Review and advise on city programming and budgeting related to reparations;
(e) Serve as an expert for reparations policies and actions within the city; and
(f) Conduct all business in such a manner as to encourage and utilize maximum citizen participation.
Section 112.06. Compensation. Stipends.
Each member of the Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission shall be offered a stipend for each meeting of the commission the members shall attend, not to exceed the amount set by City Council, to defray costs associated with participation in the meeting. The city shall from time to time evaluate the compensation provided to commission members.
SECTION 2
This Ordinance shall take force and be in effect thirty (30) days following its passage, approval, and publication