HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-02-25 HRRC MinutesMINUTES
OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
HUMAN RIGHTS & RELATIONS COMMISSION
February 25, 2014
7:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Bigbee called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM.
II. ROLL CALL
Answering roll call were Commissioners Arsenault, Bigbee, Cashmore, Davis, Haeg, Lagerstrom,
Seidman, Winnick. Staff present: MJ Lamon, Staff Liaison and Annie Johnson, City Management
Fellow.
Commissioner Davis arrived to the meeting at 7:06pm.
III. APPROVAL OF MEETING AGENDA
Motion was made by Commissioner Seidman to move agenda item XII to VII following the
Special Guest and to approve the meeting agenda of the February 25, 2014. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Arsenault.
Motion carried.
Motion was made by Commissioner Cashmore to revise the meeting agenda of the February 25,
2014 meeting to remove the Conflict Free Materials item, add Cashmore to the Days of
Remembrance item, and remove Cashmore from the Bias/Hate Crime item. The motion was
seconded by Commissioner Winnick.
Motion carried.
IV. ADOPTION OF MEETING MINUTES
Corrections were made to the spelling of ‘Statute’ and ‘Gene Sylvestre’, and to the title of the
‘District Equity Advisory Council’.
Motion was made by Commissioner Winnick to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of
November 26, 2013; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Seidman.
Motion carried. Commissioners Kingston and Stanton abstained.
V. COMMUNITY COMMENT
None.
VI. SPECIAL GUEST: Kristin Aarsvold, Parks and Rec Department
Kristin Aarsvold presented information about the Edina Parks Department and current
programming. Edina Parks and Recreation Department is committed to ensuring access to
all recreation programs and services. Aarsvold reviewed the grant-in-aid program that is
funded by the Edina Community Foundation and a report of financial support for families
and individuals. Aarsvold shared information on the Edina Challenge whose mission is to
make access to youth programs easier for families.
Commissioner Stanton arrived to the meeting at 7:12pm.
VII. THANK YOU TO DEPARTING MEMBERS
Thank you to Commissioner Stanton, Commissioner Kingston, and Commissioner Lagerstrom
for their service to the HRRC.
Commissioner Kingston left the meeting.
VIII. REPORTS/RECOMMENDATIONS
A. Anti-bullying Event and Education – Edina Reads
Commissioner Lagerstrom provided a one page summary of Edina Reads Anti Bullying
event that was held on February 8th at the Edina Senior Center. Lagerstrom will make a
list of local schools to donate the left over Henry the Bully books and send to staff.
B. Bias Offense Response Plan
Commissioner Winnick provided a recap of Bias Offense Response Plan meetings and an
update on the proposed changes to the Bias Offense Response Plan in partnership with
the Police Department.
C. Tom Oye Award – VOTE
Five individuals were nominated for the 2014 Tom Oye Award. The 2014 nominations
included:
Andrea Knoll
Gail Shore
Kristin Aarsvold & Tom McKenzie
Mamie Segall
Jessi Kingston
Commissioners completed a straw poll and Kristin Aarsvold and Tom McKenzie held the
majority of votes.
Commissioner Winnick moved that Kristin Aarsvold and Tom McKenzie be awarded the
2014 Tom Oye Award. The motion was second by Commissioner Lagerstrom. Motion
carried.
D. General Workplan Updates
i. Monitoring Domestic Partner Legislation and City Ordinance
Commissioner Arseneault will request that this item be added to future agendas
only when there is new information to report.
ii. Community Outreach Working Group
Chair Bigbee reported that they will be holding a listening session in March.
Invitations to attend and potential dates will be sent via doodle calendar.
iii. Days of Remembrance 2014
Commissioner Seidman reported that the press release on the three Days of
Remembrance events was completed by the Communications Department.
iv. Consider Black History Month
Chair Bigbee reminded the commission that February is Black History Month.
E. HRRC Resource File
Chair Bigbee shared that there is a resource file at City Hall for the HRRC.
Documents are available for check out. A list of new materials was included in
the packet.
IX. CORRESPONDENCE AND PETITIONS
Included in the packet.
X. CHAIR AND COMMISSION MEMBER COMMENTS
i. Chair Bigbee was invited by the Superintendent to participate in trainings and
workshops hosted by the School District. He was invited to serve on the School
District Equity Advisory Council as the Chair of the HRRC.
ii. Chair Bigbee reported that new appointments to the HRRC will be made at the
next City Council Meeting. He participated in candidate interviews with City
Council members
iii. Commissioner Cashmore asked for clarification on the HRRC google group. Staff
Liaison Lamon shared that google groups is an information sharing forum and
that keeps a record/history of the shared posts. City Staff agreed to do a
demonstration at the March meeting.
XI. STAFF COMMENTS
i. The HRRC April meeting will be held in conjunction with April 29th Volunteer
Recognition Event at Braemar.
ii. The HRRC has the opportunity to participate in a shared Board and Commission
blog with all of Edina’s advisory Board and Commissions.
XII. ELECT 2014 CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR
Commissioner Winnick moved to elect Commissioner Jan Seidman as 2014 HRRC
Chairperson and Commissioner Pat Arseneault as the Vice Chairperson; seconded by
Commissioner Davis. Motion carried.
XIII. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Bigbee declared the meeting adjourned at 8:59 PM.
Respectfully submitted, ____________________________________
MJ Lamon, HRRC Staff Liaison
Minutes approved by HRRC March 25, 2014 ____________________________________
Jan Seidman, HRRC Chair