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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.28.22 HRRC Minutes_ApprovedDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 7/26/2022 Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Human Rights & Relations Commission Edina Public Works Building, Multi-Purpose Room June 28, 2022, 7 p.m. I. Call To Order Chair Epstein called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call: Chair Epstein, Commissioners Bennett, Guadarrama, Pastrana, Segall and Stringer Moore Staff Present: Heidi Lee, Race & Equity Manager Absent: Commissioners Felton, Ismail and Missaghi; Student Commissioners Lichtenberger and Mirza III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion by Segall to approve the June 28, 2022, meeting agenda, seconded by Commissioner Pastrana. Motion carried. Commissioner Missaghi arrived at 7:05 p.m. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes Motion by Commissioner Bennett to approve the May 24, 2022, meeting minutes, seconded by Commissioner Stringer Moore. Motion carried. V. Reports & Recommendations Commissioner Stringer Moore left at 7:13 p.m. 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 that the event will be focused on strategies for stopping racism and they are talking with a possible facilitator/MC who also offers assistance in event planning. o Initiative #2: Coordinate Days of Remembrance to be held in alignment with the United States 2022 commemoration date  Chair Epstein shared that this is complete, and the 2023 event will be discussed in the next agenda item. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 7/26/2022 o Initiative #3: Respond to bias events as described by the Bias Event Plan and receive updates from the Police Department quarterly  Chair Epstein reported that the Police Chief and the Community Engagement Officer will present at the August HRRC meeting. No new bias events have been reported to the HRRC. o Initiative #4: Tom Oye Award  Staff Liaison Lee shared information from the Communications Department about materials needed for the initiative, and what the subgroup will be responsible for, as well as the timeline. o Initiative #5: Study and report on City facility naming policy/criteria  Commissioner Bennett shared that the subgroup is ready to move to the writing phase, with a goal of having a draft report ready for review in September or October. 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  Staff Liaison Lee shared that staff is still researching technology options for residents and discussed timeline for sharing options with HRRC. B. 2023 HRRC Work Plan Development • The Commission discussed ideas for the 2023 HRRC Work Plan including annual events, items the carry over and new items. o Days of Remembrance, Tom Oye Award, Sharing Values, Sharing Communities, and bias event/Police Chief updates were all suggested to be included on the next work plan by the Commission.  Staff Liaison Lee shared that HRRC would need to have a revised resolution from the City Council if they wanted the Days of Remembrance event to move away from specifically Holocaust remembrance. This would need to go to Council around January 2023. o Chair Epstein shared Sustainability Manager Grace Hancock’s memo about including Climate Action Plan items on Commission Work Plans. Commission discussed collaborating with other Commissions on some of the items. Commission indicated they would like to focus on food insecurity/community gardens in a work plan item. o The Commission discussed adding affordable housing to the 2023 Work Plan. Staff Liaison Lee shared that the Planning Commission is working on items with Affordable Housing Development Manager Stephanie Hawkinson and Community Development Coordinator Addison Lewis. Commission discussed making the topic of the 2023 Sharing Values, Sharing Communities initiative affordable housing, or as an alternative, diversity in the community as revealed by the results of the 2020 Census. o The Commission discussed developing metrics and objectives on policing, and the need for more data to be collected and analyzed, as well as more oversight of and feedback to the Police Department from the community. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 7/26/2022 o The Commission suggested items that are on the 2022 HRRC Work Plan parking lot should be included on the 2023 Work Plan parking lot. o Chair Epstein and Staff Liaison Lee reminded the Commission that the number of work plan items is dependent on time and capacity of Commissioner members to work on each initiative. C. Request to Support Petition to Edina School Board • The Commission discussed action as individuals vs. as a Commission in supporting a petition the Commission was asked to sign regarding incidents at Edina High School. The group also discussed what action the City Council took after receiving the Advisory Communication from the HRRC asking the City to adopt a resolution to condemn xenophobia, antisemitism, anti-Asian bigotry, and racism in all forms in our community. The Commission discussed sending the Advisory Communication back to Council for consideration and attending the meeting where it may be discussed. Commission members also discussed contacting Council Members to encourage them to pass the resolution and Staff Liaison Lee shared what options for communication with Council are available, as a Commission and as residents. Tying this topic to the Stop the Hate event was also suggested. VI. Chair and Member Comments • Received. VII. Staff Comments • Received. VIII. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Segall to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Pastrana. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:03 p.m.