Title
Establishing the membership of the Reparations Harm Study RFP Review Committee (“Committee”) to review proposals received from the Reparations Harm Study RFP.
Body
WHEREAS, on December 11th, 2025 the City Council (“Council”) voted on the city budget which included Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) to support the work of the Saint Paul Reparations Commission through a Reparations Harm Study; and
WHEREAS, The City of Saint Paul invited proposals, through its RFP process, from qualified research organizations to produce a comprehensive Reparations Harm Report (“Report”); and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this Report is to document historic and ongoing harms against American Descendants of Chattel Slavery (ADoCS), caused by government policies and practices; and
WHEREAS, this Report will guide and inform future reparative initiatives by the City, as well as policy recommendations developed by the Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission (SPRCOR); and
WHEREAS, the Council recognizes that ensuring a transparent, community-driven process for selecting the contractor is essential to maintaining public trust; and
WHEREAS, the Council believes that the addition of community members to the Committee is essential to its goals for the Harm Study; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Saint Paul that:
1. Establishment of Selection Committee.
A Reparations Study RFP Selection Committee (“Committee”) is hereby established to review proposals and recommend a contractor to the Reparations Commission for referral to the City Council for award.
2. Composition.
The Committee shall consist of the five (5) community members who are not City staff, including at least one (2) descendant of the Rondo neighborhood selected by a majority vote of the Reparations Commission, Ward 7 Legislative Aide, Ward 1 Graduate Intern, City Council Director, Executive Assistant to the Reparations Commission, appointee of Commission Chair, and
3. Community Member Selection.
The Reparations Commission shall hold a special meeting within four (4) weeks of the effective date of this resolution to select the five community members.
5. Timeline for Completion.
The Selection Committee shall complete its review and make a contractor recommendation no later than December 31, 2025.
6. Administrative Support.
Reparations Commission staff shall provide administrative support, including meeting coordination and record keeping.
7. Council Authority.
Nothing in this resolution delegates contracting authority. The City Council retains final approval of any contract award.
8. Effective Date.
This resolution is effective upon passage and approval.