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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.23.19 HRRC_Minutes_ApprovedDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 5/28/2019 Minutes City Of Edina, Minnesota Human Rights & Relations Commission Edina City Hall, Community Room, April 23, 2019, 7 p.m. I. Call To Order Chair Nelson called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call: Chair Nelson, Commissioners Meek, Epstein, Arseneault, Edwards, Beringer, Kennedy and Student Commissioner Waldron Staff Present: MJ Lamon, Community Engagement Coordinator; Heidi Lee, Race & Equity Coordinator; and Jennifer Garske, Executive Assistant Absent: Commissioner Jones and Student Commissioner Moss-Keys Arrived late: Stringer Moore III. Approval Of Meeting Agenda Motion by Commissioner Arseneault to approve the April 23, 2019 meeting agenda, seconded by Commissioner Kennedy. Motion carried. IV. Approval Of Meeting Minutes Motion by Commissioner Arseneault to approve the March 26, 2019 meeting minutes, seconded by Commissioner Meek. Motion carried. V. Special Recognitions and Presentations A. Presentation by Jewish Community Relations Council a. Commissioner Epstein introduced Dan Plekkenpol, Director of Community Security for the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Minnesota and the Dakotas. Plekkenpol shared that he is a former Plymouth Police Officer, and was last Deputy Chief. b. Plekkenpol gave an overview of what the JCRC does, including speaking at schools, grant assistance, connecting with other communities, holding trainings on planning in the Jewish community for intruders, etc. They also do interfaith-based planning, to outreach to other faith-based communities. c. He also talked about bias-motivated crime and the work JCRC does with police departments and groups on what is a bias-motivated crime and the process. He helps make sure the reports get done and advocates to the police department. Stringer Moore arrived at 7:08 p.m. VI. Community Comment—None Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 5/28/2019 VII. Reports/Recommendations A. 2019 Commission Work Plan a. The Commission discussed the Work Plan. b. Chair Nelson gave an update on the No. 2 item on the Work Plan, a cross commission working on naming a city building after BC and Ellen Yancey. The commission had a lot of questions after their first meeting. They will continue looking at options and whether a working group needs to be formed to include Heritage Preservation Commission members in the work. c. Commissioner Meek gave an update on the No. 3 Work Plan initiative, cross commission working on ensuring artwork and décor at city facilities reflect diversity of race and culture. The cross commission met and needs clarification on scope of the initiative. Questions will be sent to the staff liaison for help seeking answers. d. Commissioner Kennedy suggested the Commission invite guest speaker Michael Melcher, a special agent with the FBI in the Twin Cities, to present. Kennedy indicated the FBI office wants to have connections to cities so people who have bias offense incidents reach out to the FBI. Motion by Commissioner Kennedy to invite FBI Agent Michael Melcher to speak, seconded by Commissioner Edwards. Motion carried. e. Commissioner Arseneault shared information on the Days of Remembrance event scheduled for April 28, 2019. f. Topics still being considered for Sharing Values, Sharing Community event set for Oct. 6, 2019. B. Attendance Count for Arts & Culture Commission Visioning Session a. Chair Nelson asked who would be able to attend the meeting about public art. Commissioners Epstein, Meek, Stringer Moore and Waldron will all try to attend. VIII. Chair and Member Comments A. Commissioner Arseneault thanked Staff Liaison Lamon for her service to the Commission, as it was Lamon’s last meeting as Commission liaison. IX. Staff Comments—None X. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Kennedy to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Arseneault. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:18 p.m.