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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.22.22 HRRC Minutes_ApprovedDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 4/26/2022 Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Human Rights & Relations Commission Edina Public Works Building, Multi-Purpose Room March 22, 2022, 7 p.m. I. Call To Order Chair Epstein called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call: Chair Epstein, Commissioners Bennett, Felton, Guadarrama, Pastrana, Segall, Stringer Moore; Student Commissioners Lichtenberger and Mirza Staff Present: Heidi Lee, Race & Equity Manager Absent: Commissioner Missaghi Late: Commissioner Ismail III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion by Commissioner Segall to approve the March 22, 2022 meeting agenda, seconded by Commissioner Felton. Motion carried. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes Commissioners indicated the following changes to the draft minutes: • Commissioner Bennett noted in Section VI, bullet point under B should be under A. She suggested moving bullet point under B to A. And adding two new bullet points under B: one for Chair Epstein to be nominated as Chair, and a second for Commissioner Stringer Moore to be nominated as Vice Chair. • Commissioner Bennett suggested the minutes should reflect that when the Commission was noticed they were switching to in-person meetings, they decided to mask at meetings. o Commissioner Bennett suggested adding it under Section C, Return to In-Person Meetings. Motion by Commissioner Stringer Moore to approve the Feb. 22, 2022 meeting minutes as corrected, seconded by Commissioner Guadarrama. Motion carried. V. Special Recognitions and Presentations A. Introduction of New HRRC Commissioners o New Commissioner George Pastrana was introduced to the Commission. Commissioner Ismail arrived at 7:16 p.m. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 4/26/2022 VI. Reports & Recommendations A. 2022 Human Rights & Relations Commission Work Plan Update • The Commission discussed the Work Plan with the following updates: o Initiative #1: Coordinate Sharing Values, Sharing Communities Event  Commissioner Bennett shared they would like to do a follow-up to last year’s Stop the Hate event. She asked for input from members of the Commission. The group discussed framing the event as “How to Stop the Hate.”  Commissioners discussed recent incident at Edina High School and community and school response. o Initiative #2: Coordinate Days of Remembrance to be held in alignment with the United States 2022 commemoration date  Commissioner Stringer Moore gave an update on planning for this event, including possible speakers and dates being held for the event. Commission discussed topic and speaker options, as well as changing the date. Other Commissioners are encouraged to join this initiative. Motion by Commissioner Stringer Moore to change direction of 2022 Days of Remembrance Event to include panelists on historical context, student perspectives, restorative practices and opportunities to review and listen to stories of Holocaust survivors; and move the date to May 15 or 22, seconded by Commissioner Pastrana. Motion carried. o Initiative #3: Respond to bias events as described by the Bias Event Plan and receive updates from the Police Department quarterly  Commission discussed if a bias offense report had been filed in the recent Edina High School incident, and what would be the response if one was filed. o Initiative #4: Tom Oye Award  Other Commissioners are encouraged to join this initiative. o Initiative #5: Study and report on City facility naming policy/criteria.  Commissioner Bennett shared information about the background of this initiative and topics from the first meeting, which was held before the meeting tonight. o Initiative #6: Following completion of the staff development of internal process, assist staff with the promotion of City’s Form to Report Bias or Discrimination  Commissioner Felton encouraged Commissioner Pastrana to join this initiative. B. Response to Community Incident • Liaison Lee shared what she has heard from the community and HRRC members in response to the recent incident involving Edina High School students. She shared possibilities for a response by the HRRC as a commission and individual members as Edina residents. Commissioners discussed different options for a response, including an Advisory Communication to City Council condemning racist and antisemitic behavior. Commissioner Segall shared wording adapted from the petition by the Anti-Racism Collective to be used as the Advisory Communication, and the Commission discussed edits. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 4/26/2022 Motion by Commissioner Segall to adopt and send the Advisory Communication to the City Council, seconded by Commissioner Felton. Motion carried. VII. Chair and Member Comments • Received. VIII. Staff Comments • Received. IX. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Felton to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Pastrana. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m.