Member Requirements

Size: 11 members

Saint Paul Residency: Required

Term: Three years

Staff: Veronica Burt, veronica.burt@ci.stpaul.mn.us, 651-266-8516

Background 

Chapter 112.01 of the Administrative Code states: the Reparations Commission is to serve 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, home ownership, health care, education, employment and pay, and fairness with the criminal justice system among the American descendants of chattel slavery. 

Powers & Duties

Chapter 112.05 empowers the Commission to 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:

  1. 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; 
  2. Establish a work plan annually, which will serve to notify City officials of the Commission’s priorities and activities;
  3. Develop time-based evaluations of City expenditures using quality of life metrics as indicators of progress on reparations;
  4. Review and advise on city programming and budgeting related to reparations;
  5. Serve as an expert for reparations policies and actions within the city; and
  6. Conduct all business in such a manner as to encourage and utilize maximum citizen participation. 

Key Policy Enactments 

  • Resolution 21-77 (January 13, 2021) formed the Reparations Legislative Advisory Committee to create the framework for the permanent reparations commission, which came to be known as the Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission.
  • Ordinance 22-52 (January 4, 2023) established the Saint Paul Recovery Act Community Reparations Commission (aka Reparations Commission) to advise the City Council and Mayor in all policy and budget matters pertaining to reparations within the city. 

Description

Chapter 112.05 empowers the Commission to 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:

  1. 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; 
  2. Establish a work plan annually, which will serve to notify City officials of the Commission’s priorities and activities;
  3. Develop time-based evaluations of City expenditures using quality of life metrics as indicators of progress on reparations;
  4. Review and advise on city programming and budgeting related to reparations;
  5. Serve as an expert for reparations policies and actions within the city; and
  6. Conduct all business in such a manner as to encourage and utilize maximum citizen participation. 

Meeting

Every 4th Wednesday of the Month at 6 pm except November and December. For more information, check our website here. 

Vacancies

4 current Vacancies 

Size: 11 Members                        Term Length: 3 Years                 Term Limit: 3 Terms

Apply for the position