HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015.10.27 HRRC MinutesDraft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: 11/17/2015
Minutes
City Of Edina, Minnesota
Human Rights and Relations Commission
City Hall, Community Room
October 27, 2015 at 7:00pm
I. Call To Order
Chair Arseneault called the October 27th, 2015 Human Rights and Relations Commission meeting to
order at 7:02 PM.
II. Roll Call
Answering roll call were Chair Arseneault, Commissioners Burza, Kennedy, Rinn, Seidman, Tian,
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 Seidman to approve the October 27, 2015 Human Rights and Relations
Commission meeting agenda. Motion seconded by Kennedy. Motion carried.
IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes
Motion by Kennedy to approve the September 29, 2015 minutes. Motion seconded by
Winnick. Motion carried.
V. Special Recognitions and Presentations
A. FBI Special Agent Timothy Wittman
FBI Special Agent Timothy Wittman gave a presentation about the work of the FBI’s Civil
Rights Program.
VI. Community Comment
None.
VII. Reports/Recommendations
A. 2015 Work Plan Updates
1. Community Outreach
Commissioner Burza shared that the Community Conversations listening sessions were
completed earlier this month, and they were a success, with about 65-75 attendees
overall. Both Student Commissioners Kearney and Ramesh participated in the listening
sessions as group facilitators / note takers. It is anticipated the working group will
report to the commission in November.
2. Human Rights City Designation
Draft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: 11/17/2015
Commissioner Kennedy advised that efforts to schedule presentations for the Human
Rights City Designation are ongoing.
3. Affordable Housing
Commissioner Winnick updated the Commission on the Edina City Council’s recent
approval of an affordable housing policy that will go into effect on November 1, 2015.
4. ADA Event Proposal
Commissioner Vecchio-Smith shared her draft blog post and noted she will work with
Commissioner Tian on the post.
5. Website Update
Commissioner Tian reported that our webpage has been updated as per the
commission’s final instructions and that he will work with Commissioner Seidman on
posting photos and videos of past HRRC events.
B. Letter of Support: Make MN Capitol Art More Welcoming
Chair Arseneault recapped the Minnesota Healing Stories Capitol Art initiative and
presented for HRRC review a letter of support drafted by the Eden Prairie Human Rights
Commission for joint submission by cities’ Human Rights Commissions.
Motion by Kennedy to approve the Letter of Support. Motion seconded by Vecchio-
Smith. Motion carried.
C. Tom Oye Award
Commissioner Rinn presented the changes to the Tom Oye Award on the HRRC website
and noted that advertising the award can begin.
D. Joint Work Session Plan
The HRRC will have a joint work session with City Council on Tuesday, November 17.
Chair Arseneault reminded the group that the work session is to provide a progress report
on the current work plan. Chair Arseneault will prepare the agenda outline for the work
session based on the commission’s discussion and preferences.
E. Edina Community Council HRRC Representative
Commissioner Winnick is stepping down from his seat as HRRC Representative of the
Edina Community Council. Commissioner Kennedy volunteered to take his place. The
recommended appointment will go to council for approval at their November 17 meeting.
Motion by Kennedy to be Commissioner Winnick’s replacement as the HRRC
Representative on the Edina Community Council. Motion seconded by Rinn. Motion
carried.
VIII. Correspondence and Petitions
Draft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: 11/17/2015
None.
IX. Chair and Member Comments
Commissioner Kennedy advised the commission of the upcoming meeting of the League of
Minnesota Cities Human Rights Commissions on November 7th.
Commissioner Ramesh thanked all those involved with the Community Conversations
events.
Commissioner Rinn updated the Commission on the current status of Human Services
funding.
Chair Arseneault shared that the Bias Offense Response team convened on October 22
about a graffiti incident in Pamela Park; that she attended an Arts and Culture Commission
meeting to provide information about the Capitol Arts Project as per the suggestion of the
HRRC, and that she participated in the Edina Boards and Commissions Chairs meeting and
the Boards and Commissions Work Session with City Council on draft 2016 work plans,
noting that both the Chairs meeting and the work session offered an opportunity to explore
options for boards and commissions to work jointly on future projects.
X. Staff Comments
None.
XI. Calendar of Events
XII. Adjournment
Motion by Seidman to adjourn the October 27th HRRC meeting at 9:43 PM. Motion
seconded by Kennedy. Motion carried.