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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.28.20 HRRC_Minutes_Approved_Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 8/25/2020 Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Human Rights & Relations Commission Virtual Meeting, WebEx, July 28, 2020, 7 p.m. I. Call To Order Chair Beringer shared information for virtual meeting guidelines for Commissioners and those watching or listening in to the meeting. Chair Beringer called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call: Chair Beringer, Commissioners Edwards, Epstein, Ismail, Meek, Nelson, Ross, Stringer Moore and Student Commissioner Waldron Staff Present: Heidi Lee, Race & Equity Coordinator; Ryan Browning, IT Director; Risi Karim, City Management Fellow; and Jennifer Garske, Executive Assistant Absent: Student Commissioner Iyer Late: Commissioner Felton III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion by Commissioner Epstein to approve the July 28, 2020 meeting agenda, seconded by Commissioner Nelson. Roll call vote. Motion carried. Commissioner Felton joined the meeting at 7:06 p.m. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes Commissioners indicated the following changes to the draft minutes: • Correct spelling of Commissioner Beringer in Item VII • Correct wording in Item VII, Section B, to read “…reports directly to him” • Correct extra word in Item VII, Section D, delete extra “to” • Suggested in the wording of the motion in Item VII, Section D, that “annually” be deleted Motion by Commissioner Nelson to approve the June 23, 2020 meeting minutes with changes, seconded by Commissioner Ross. Roll call vote. Motion carried. V. Reports/Recommendations A. My Brother’s Keeper Pledge for Mayor’s, City Council and Police • Update from Staff Liaison Lee that City Manager Neal indicated he would take the pledge and would contact Police Chief Nelson to make this process part of the public engagement. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 8/25/2020 B. Community Conversation About Race, Justice and Policing • Subcommittee members gave update on discussions held at meetings since last HRRC meeting in June. They have discussed types of events; possible speakers; community forum with stakeholders such as the Police Chief, school superintendent and especially students; and a podcast centered around race in Edina in partnership with the Arts & Culture Commission. • The Commission discussed partnering with the group working on affordable housing issues in the City. Commissioner Felton will attend one of their meetings and share information. • The group talked about who could join the subcommittee, and if the subcommittee should be a task force or working group instead. Staff Liaison Lee shared the differences between the groups. • A timeline for the event(s) was discussed. Staff Liaison Lee shared that the HRRC Work Plan change approved by Council is for one event for 2020, which takes the place of Sharing Values, Sharing Communities. And that event will lay the foundation for more events in 2021. The Commission discussed if they could have two events in 2020. Staff Liaison Lee made suggestions about combining events, and keeping the Commission’s workload in mind. • Members of the subcommittee discussed the need to prioritize this initiative, and what resources they need from the City and staff. • The group also discussed making sure it was an event that everyone could attend and barriers around language, as well as concerns around having only a virtual event. They also talked about having multiple ways to participate to keep COVID-19 guidelines in mind and asked what resources the City has to host a virtual event or outdoor event. • The Commission emphasized wanting the community to help plan the event but realize the timeline for making a working group is difficult. Staff Liaison Lee shared that the event should be completed by the end of October. • The group decided they did not need to take a vote on the ideas brought forward, as this revised initiative is now part of the Work Plan. C. Human Rights & Relations Commission 2020 Work Plan • The Commission discussed the Work Plan with the following updates: o Initiative #2 Tom Oye Award—the subcommittee should start meeting. Let Commissioner Epstein know if any other Commissioners would like to join this initiative. o Initiative #4 Assessment Rubric for City facility artwork and décor—the Commission reviewed the rubric that was shared in the meeting packet, and will be presented to Council this month with HRRC’s approval. Motion by Commissioner Stringer Moore to approve the rubric as presented, seconded by Commissioner Ross. Roll call vote. Motion carried. o Initiative #5 Identify barriers to participation in programming—the subcommittee had no update as they have not heard from anyone from the Parks & Recreation Commission, who is part of this cross-commission. Staff Liaison Lee said they could talk about it for the 2021 Work Plan. o Initiative #6 Bias Offense review—subcommittee wondered what the next steps are for this initiative. Staff Liaison Lee said the Commission could include quarterly meetings with the Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 8/25/2020 Police Department as part of this initiative. And this needs to be reviewed by the Police Chief before it would go to Council for approval. Staff Liaison Lee will help facilitate a meeting with the subcommittee and the Police Chief. The Commission shared ways that the bias offense form on Better Together Edina could be more easily found by residents, including adding search terms. The Commission also gave Staff Liaison Lee updates to the members of this subcommittee to update the Work Plan document. o Initiative #7 50th Anniversary Proclamation—Commissioner Epstein shared his experience accepting the proclamation at the July 21, 2020 Council meeting. The Commission asked if the City was publicizing the proclamation, and Staff Liaison Lee indicated she would talk with the Communications Department. o Initiative #8 Review and comment on Housing Task Force comprehensive housing policy— Commission Felton volunteered to join this subcommittee. o Initiative #9 Feedback on Parks & Recreation Commission’s initiative to develop criteria for sustainability and equity in prioritizing capital improvements for park infrastructure needs— Subcommittee shared there has been no progress, and two spots are open on this initiative for others to join. • The Commission asked if there was an update from the Parks & Recreation Commission on HRRC’s recommendations for renaming a City park for the Yancey family. Staff Liaison Lee shared that PARC has received HRRC’s recommendation and will be deciding on the location and providing their recommendation to Council. D. 2021 Work Plan Development • The Commission discussed the 2021 Work Plan and what would be completed, continued or added from this year’s Work Plan. The group discussed how to approach Initiative #3 for 2021, knowing the timeline for Work Plan approval means they need to complete the draft to present to Council at the September HRRC meeting. • The Commission wondered if they should add an initiative on affordable housing. Staff Liaison Lee shared there is already a Task Force around that topic. • The Commission asked where the initiative from 2018 about becoming an AARP-designated City went for 2019. Staff Liaison Lee shared that it was taken off work plans for 2019 because the Community Health Commission was concerned the designation would be too much work for the Commissions and staff. • Staff Liaison Lee recapped the discussion and went over what would be included in a draft 2021 Work Plan that would be part of the meeting agenda for the August HRRC meeting. The Commission suggested rolling the PARC cross-commission initiatives (#5 and #9) into one initiative. Staff Liaison Lee will reach out to the PARC liaison and gather their feedback on this change. The Commission also discussed what happens if the Council approves the art rubric (Initiative #4), and what is HRRC’s role going forward with this initiative. The subcommittee shared that the rubric would be applied to City Hall and eventually other City buildings. Staff Liaison Lee said the next step is applying the rubric, but this initiative could be completed for HRRC in 2020. • Staff Liaison Lee will have a draft 2021 Work Plan at the August meeting so the Commission can approve the 2021 Work Plan at the September meeting and go to Council for feedback in October. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 8/25/2020 The Commission also discussed what to include in the 2021 Work Plan for Initiative #3 from the suggestions from the subcommittee. • The Commission asked who is responsible for holding the City accountable for the initiatives in the Race & Equity Work Plan. The Commission is concerned there is a perception in the public that the City is taking too much time with R&E Work Plan items. Staff Liaison Lee shared that she is responsible and updates the Council quarterly on progress. The Commission asked to receive those updates as well. VI. Chair and Member Comments • Chair Beringer encouraged everyone to vote in the Primary Election. VII. Staff Comments • Staff Liaison Lee shared that HRRC were grand marshals for the virtual Fourth of July Parade in Edin in honor of the 50th Anniversary and current and past HRRC members were included in the video produced for the event. VIII. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Nelson to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Ross. Roll call vote. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:39 p.m.