Susan Segal Honorary Resolution
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By: Bender, Reich, Gordon, Fletcher, Cunningham, Ellison, Warsame, Goodman, Jenkins, Cano, Schroeder, Johnson, and Palmisano HONORING SUSAN SEGAL FOR HER SERVICE TO THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS Whereas: Susan Segal was first appointed City Attorney in February 2008, nominated by Mayor R.T. Rybak, and was reappointed to a total of six terms, serving under three Mayors, two Council Presidents and twenty-nine Council Members during her tenure; and Whereas: Ms. Segal takes great pride in the amazing, skilled staff of the Office of City Attorney, which she rightly states is the best public law and prosecution office anywhere; and Whereas: Ms. Segal has led numerous successful, high-profile and significant legal matters on behalf of the City of Minneapolis, including defending Ranked-Choice Voting System before the Minnesota Supreme Court, the successful litigation and merger of the Police and Fire Relief Associations into the State pension system, representing the City’s Elections & Voter Services Division during the Franken-Coleman election recount and defending the City’s Minimum Wage, Sick & Safe Time, and Section 8 ordinances, among many others; and Whereas: Ms. Segal has demonstrated her dedication to the prevention of domestic violence with the Minneapolis model for a coordinated response, placing a priority on this work in her office, with a talented and dedicated domestic violence team that increased conviction rates in domestic cases by fifty percent and shortened charging times and the number of gone-on-arrival cases that are charged; and Whereas: Ms. Segal instituted the outreach program which provided proactive follow-up by a family therapist and a specially trained police officer for families in violent crime hot spots to offer services where a 911 call coded for domestic violence had been made, but no criminal case resulted, and in 2020 a new program will be initiated to support community-based, culturally specific resources for families to help avoid the need for a call to law enforcement; and Whereas: Ms. Segal has been a catalyst for criminal justice reform, with innovative programs such as the pathways program in partnership with Urban Ventures for persons charged with carrying a weapon without a permit, providing trauma-informed, culturally specific programming in lieu of time in the workhouse, a program that is one of three initiatives from around the country currently being evaluated by the Smart Decarceration Program at the University of Chicago; and Whereas: Under Ms. Segal’s leadership, the Office of City Attorney has moved to pre-charge diversion, which allows individuals to avoid having a criminal record, increased the numbers and types of diversion programs including the addition of Interact, a diversion program for misdemeanor obstruction of legal process cases that involves a facilitated discussion between the individual and a police representative, and diversion programs for shoplifting and individuals who have lost their driver’s license for failure to pay fines; and Whereas: Ms. Segal has supported reform efforts related to cash bail, reducing the number of arrests and use of the jail; and Whereas: Ms. Segal has helped lead the City’s efforts to prevent juvenile sex trafficking and to use a victim-centered approach for adult victims of commercial sexual exploitation; and Whereas: Ms. Segal is known for her ability to create humor, often at her own expense; and Whereas: Ms. Segal’s legacy shows her enduring commitment to the public and employee good, moving policy and procedures forward to advance the needs of the City; and Whereas: Ms. Segal’s public service contributions to the staff and people of Minneapolis will be deeply missed; and Whereas: The Minnesota Court of Appeals is fortunate beyond compare to gain the sagacious and dedicated attributes of Ms. Segal— —Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved— That the Mayor and City Council do hereby commend Susan Segal for her dedication and exemplary service to the City of Minneapolis and present to her this honorary resolution as a token of their deep esteem and sincere gratitude for her outstanding contributions to the City enterprise and the many achievements for and on behalf of the people of the City of Minneapolis. That the Mayor and City Council extend their heartfelt congratulations to Susan Segal and offer their best wishes for much happiness and fulfillment in her new role as Appellate Court Judge. Passed this the Eighth Day of November 2019 ________________________________________ LISA BENDER, President of the Council ARPROVED: ________________________________________ JACOB FREY, Mayor ATTEST: ________________________________________ CASEY JOE CARL, City Clerk .