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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015.09.29 HRRC MinutesDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 10/27/2015 Minutes City Of Edina, Minnesota Human Rights and Relations Commission City Hall, Community Room September 29, 2015 at 7:00pm I. Call To Order Chair Arseneault called the September 29th, 2015 Human Rights and Relations Commission meeting to order at 7:03 PM. II. Roll Call Answering roll call were Chair Arseneault, Commissioners Burza, Kennedy, Rinn, Seidman, Vecchio- Smith, Winnick, and Student Commissioners Kearney and Ramesh. Staff present: HRRC Staff Liaison MJ Lamon and City Management Fellow, Devin Massopust. III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda Motion by Kennedy to approve the agenda with the addition of V. B., Welcome New Student Members. Motion seconded by Seidman. Motion carried. IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes Motion made by Winnick to approve the August 25, 2015 minutes with an amendment to remove an individual name from paragraph 3 of Section VIII. Motion seconded by Kennedy. Motion carried. V. Special Recognitions and Presentations A. Lisa Schaefer, Assistant City Manager  Assistant City Manager, Lisa Schaefer, addressed the Commission with regard to concerns about the use of the term “welfare check”.  The Edina Police Department is not able to change the terminology since it is standard language from a dispatch and coding perspective both regionally and across law enforcement agencies nationwide.  Schaefer noted the press release referring to “welfare check” was written by Hennepin County.  In future communications about welfare checks it can be clarified that the intent of the welfare check is to check on a person’s welfare. Commissioner Tian arrived at 7:18 PM. B. Welcome New Student Commissioners  Sid Ramesh and Caitlin Kearney, newly appointed Student Commissioners to the HRRC, introduced themselves to the Commission. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 10/27/2015  They each gave a brief background on themselves and expressed their excitement and gratitude to be able to serve on the Commission. VI. Community Comment  Several students from the University of Minnesota introduced themselves and stated that they were observing the meeting for a project related to coursework. VII. Reports/Recommendations A. Novus Board View Training  Staff Liaison Lamon made a presentation regarding the new agenda management software program that the City is now using for all City Council, boards and commissions meetings. B. 2015 Work Plan Updates 1. Community Outreach  Commissioner Burza shared that the Community Conversation dates are quickly approaching on October 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 10th.  The Commission discussed how issues regarding diversity and human rights have been being addressed in local media including Edina Magazine, Edina Channel 16, Edina Public Schools publications and some City of Edina publications and how these resources should be reached out to in the future regarding HRRC related projects.  The Commission discussed the issue of compiling data from the Community Conversation events and the final report. Commissioner Vecchio-Smith offered assistance with the data compilation issues. 2. Human Rights City Designation Commissioner Kennedy advised that the working group will be contacting Edina organizations and reiterated the request for other Commissioners to forward contact information for civic and other organizations in Edina. 3. Affordable Housing Commissioner Winnick gave a brief history of the affordable housing policy to the newest HRRC members. He encouraged all Commissioners to attend the City Council meeting on October 6th when the policy will be considered. 4. ADA Event Proposal Commissioner Vecchio-Smith noted that the anniversary date of the ADA approval has passed, but it is still the anniversary year so inquired whether or not she should continue working on the project. The Commission encouraged her to complete the blog post. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 10/27/2015 Commissioner Seidman made a motion to amend the meeting agenda for the sake of time and discuss item VII C next and return to 2015 Work Plan Updates if time permits. Commissioner Winnick seconded the motion. Motion carried. C. 2016 Proposed Work Plan  The Commission discussed and finalized their proposed 2016 Work Plan. Commissioner Kennedy moved to approve the proposed 2016 Work Plan. Commissioner Seidman seconded. Motion carried. B. Work Plan Updates The Commission continued discussing 2015 Work Plan updates. 5. Website Update  Commissioner Tian presented his changes to the introductory paragraph section on the HRRC website. Commissioner Tian made a motion to finalize and approve the text as amended. Commissioner Burza seconded. Motion carried. 6. Bias Offense and Prevention Plan  Chair Arseneault noted that the Bias Offense Plan committee (Arseneault and Seidman) met and reviewed the plan. A change in wording is being proposed to the Bias Offense and Prevention Plan that would change the word “will” to “may” in #10 of the process. Commissioner Winnick motioned to approve the recommended change. Commissioner Seidman seconded. Motion carried. VIII. Chair and Member Comments  Commissioner Kennedy passed out materials about an event regarding the Nuremberg Nazi War Crimes trial.  Commissioners Ramesh and Kearney thanked the members present for the opportunity to participate on the HRRC.  Commissioner Rinn inquired about updates to the Tom Oye Award page on the HRRC website. Staff noted that it had been updated earlier in the afternoon.  Commissioner Seidman let the Commission know that their work is being noticed in the community, especially as it relates to the Days of Remembrance Event and that there are people happy to see Edina putting on events about genocide and diversity.  Chair Arseneault reminded the Commission to review the draft minutes on the Thursday before meeting dates and if possible, propose changes in advance of the next meeting. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 10/27/2015 IX. Staff Comments There were no staff comments. X. Adjournment Commissioner Kennedy moved to adjourn the September 29th, 2015 Human Rights and Relations Commission meeting. Commissioner Seidman seconded. Motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 PM.