The meeting opened with an honorary resolution commemorating the one-year anniversary of the shooting at Annunciation School and Church on August 27, 2025. The council then received committee reports, approved a resolution rescinding delegated authority for non-disclosure agreements, discussed overdue legislative directives from the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), and received a quarterly update on the state of the MDHR settlement agreement.
Good afternoon. Before we convene our meeting, we will be presenting an honorary resolution dedicated to the anniversary of the tragic shooting that took place at Annunciation School and Church. We are pleased to welcome our guests to the space to share in this presentation before we take up the rest of our agenda. I will have Councilmember Palmasano and Councilmember Whiting give the presentation. And Councilmembers are certainly welcome to come down and join as well. Good afternoon, everybody. Thank you for being here. What we have to present today is a resolution honoring the victims, survivors, family, and community of Annunciation and commemorating one year of hope and healing. There he is. And then we'll hear from Principal Debor. So here is that resolution in language, and we will be doing it here at Committee of the Whole because on Thursday there are other things planned at Annunciation. Whereas Annunciation Parish in School is a vibrant Catholic community serving as a steadfast anchor in South Minneapolis since 1922, where people have come to pray to learn and to create community. And whereas on August 27th, 2025, the Annunciation Community experienced a tragic act of violence that forever changed the lives of students, families, faculty, staff, parishioners, first responders, and neighbors. And whereas the city of Minneapolis mourns the loss of Fletcher Merkel and Harper Moiskey, whose lives were taken that day and extends its deepest sympathy to their families, friends, classmates, teachers, and all those who knew and loved them. And whereas we remember Fletcher and Harper, not for the circumstances of their deaths, but for the lives they lived, the people they loved, and the lasting impact they made on their families, friends, school, and community. And whereas we recognize as well all those who were injured, traumatized, or otherwise impacted by the events on August 27th, and acknowledge the continuing journey of grief and healing experienced by the Annunciation community. And whereas healing from trauma is an ongoing journey, and every individual and family experiences that journey differently, deserving compassion, understanding, and continued support. And whereas throughout the past year, the Annunciation Community has demonstrated extraordinary resilience, courage, faith, and compassion by caring for one another, supporting those who are grieving and continuing to move forward together despite unimaginable loss. And whereas countless educators, counselors, clergy, health care professionals, first responders, volunteers, nonprofit organizations, and community members have offered their time, expertise, generosity, and kindness to help support the healing process. And whereas the city of Minneapolis recognizes the enduring power of communities to care for one another in times of need and honors the compassion, generosity, and resilience demonstrated by those who walk alongside others on the path towards healing. And whereas the one-year mark serves not only as a time to remember those whose lives were forever changed, but also as an opportunity to ref reaffirm our shared commitment to the compassion and a future grounded in the care for one another. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of Minneapolis that the mayor and city council do hereby recognize the resilience and strength demonstrated by the Annunciation community and all those impacted by this tragedy, and express its gratitude to the many individuals and organizations who've walked alongside the community throughout its healing journey. Further, the city of Minneapolis encourages residents to honor this one-year mark through acts of kindness, service, and volunteerism, recognizing that caring for one another is one of the most meaningful ways a community can demonstrate its support and strengthen the bonds that unite us and offers this resolution as an expression of remembrance, solidarity, and hope for the future. Thank you. Over this last year, I think we've seen not just the grief, but also this unity of action and compassion for this incredible community at Ennunciation. For those that are either linked directly or indirectly to this amazing school and church. Please know that you've shown the kind of fortitude and love and resilience that I think the rest of us aspire to achieve. Looking back to August 27th, people don't forget where they were on that day on that morning. As mayor, you see things you never want to see, you hear things that you never want to hear. You also uh have the opportunity to experience people at their very best. Um, and that's what I saw, not just on that day, but over the next several weeks, months, this whole year. How the family at Annunciation rallied around each other, and for Fletcher and Harper and their families, how they're tying ribbons around every single tree and lamppost in the entire city, how they're dropping off food for the families to make sure that at the very least they could have the sustenance needed. They're holding community vigils. Um they're stepping up to take action. They're doing all sorts of work that you do when you don't just have a city or a community, but where you're a unit, like a family. And that's what Annunciation has shown time and again. Um, and so I know the healing is not over. I know the grief is not finished. Uh, but what Annunciation has shown so consistently is that they're not just up for the challenge, uh, they're up to go way above and beyond to make sure that everybody feels the kind of nurturing that we aspire to see. And so I'm so grateful to all the families are here. Um, um, I'm grateful to the uh the whole crew and staff and principal. There you are. Uh remember, I mean, as these some of the thank you. That's all I'll say. I'm so grateful for your leadership and to everybody that's up here. Um, to our first responders. Um, you know, busting towards the through the door and running towards danger and getting every single kid and individual out in 10 minutes and on an ambulance, you saved lives. Um, to our emergency management director and our whole office of community safety that helped to uh coordinate the response. Uh the work and impact was felt not just on that day, but over the next several months. Um, and and again, just to these families.