HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.23.23 HRRC Minutes_ApprovedDraft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: 6/27/2023
Minutes
City of Edina, Minnesota
Human Rights & Relations Commission
Edina City Hall, Community Room
May 23, 2023, 7 p.m.
I. Call to Order
Vice Chair Bennett called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.
II. Roll Call
Answering Roll Call: Vice Chair Bennett, Commissioners Dawkins, Felton, Nelson, Rogers and Segall.
Staff Present: Heidi Lee, Race & Equity Manager, Gillian Straub, City Management Fellow
Absent: Chair Stringer Moore, Commissioners Ismail and Khalifa, Student Commissioners Ahluwalia and
Jain.
III. Approval of Meeting Agenda
Motion by Commissioner Felton to approve the May 23, 2023, meeting agenda, seconded by
Commissioner Nelson. Motion carried.
IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes
Motion by Commissioner Felton to approve the minutes from the April 25, 2023, meeting.
Seconded by Commissioner Dawkins. Motion carried.
V. Special Recognitions and Presentations
A. Introduction of New HRRC Member
• Commissioner Nelson introduced himself to the Commission.
Commissioner Ismail arrived at 7:09 p.m.
Commissioner Khalifa arrived at 7:10 p.m.
B. Introduction of the Joint Community Police Partnership
• Edina Community Engagement Officer Emily Jepson and JCPP staff Lulu Thompson
introduced the work of the Joint Community Police Partnership (JCPP) and Multicultural
Advisory Committee (MAC). Staff discussed the process of recruiting members for the
MAC, building an inclusive process, what success looks like, and the work the MAC will
perform.
Draft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: 6/27/2023
• Officer Jepson noted the opportunity for the HRRC to table at future Police Department
events, including the Police Department Open House on September 20, 2023.
VI. Reports/Recommendations
A. 2023 Human Rights & Relations Commission Work Plan Update
• Commissioners described each initiative and discussed the following updates:
o Initiative 1: Sharing Values, Sharing Communities Event
• Vice Chair Bennett presented four possible topics, which were previously
introduced by commissioners at previous meetings and provided to City
Council at the May 2, 2023 joint session. The topics include: Bending
Toward Justice, Preventing Hate Before It Starts, Mental Health, and
Reshaping Our Cultural Lens.
• Commissioners discussed the four potential topics and the possibility of
combining Preventing Hate Before It Starts and Reshaping Our Cultural
Lens. By consensus, commissioners agreed that the topic/theme this year
will be preventing hate/reshaping our cultural lens.
• Commissioner Dawkins, Ismail, Nelson will serve on the subcommittee
for this initiative.
o Initiative 2: Days of Remembrance Event
• Commissioner Felton provided a review of the event held on May 7, 2023.
• Commissioners discussed marketing changes for future years, including
utilizing a green print, beginning planning earlier, requesting an editorial
story in the Sun Current or Star Tribune, and outreach to social groups
and community members.
o Initiative 3: Bias and Discrimination Event Response
• The Police Department provided an update at the March 28, 2023,
meeting.
o Initiative 4: Tom Oye Award
• Commissioners plan to discuss the marketing plan, press release and
application at the June 2023 meeting.
o Initiative 5: Climate Action Plan HS 4-3
• Commissioner Segall provided an update on this initiative, including work
on reviewing the Climate Action Plan and on developing the
questionnaire.
• Commissioners discussed City Council response to this item from the
May 2, 2023, joint session.
o Initiative 6: Juneteenth Community Celebration
• Staff Liaison Lee provided an update on planning for Juneteenth, including
the programing, performers, community partners, food trucks and other
event details.
o Initiative 7: Bias and Discrimination Event Response Plan Review
• Commissioner Nelson will serve on the initiative.
Draft Minutes☐
Approved Minutes☒
Approved Date: 6/27/2023
B. Advisory Communications to City Council
• Vice Chair Bennett relayed City Council requests to resend advisory communications
from the HRRC. Commissioners discussed an advisory communication on the naming of
community events and one on response to social media posts.
Commissioner Segall moved to resubmit to the City Council, for their ease of reference, the
prior advisory communication on a community incident submitted on April 5, 2022, and the
prior advisory communication on the naming of community events submitted on February
7, 2023, and ask for their due consideration of the HRRC requests. Seconded by
Commissioner Rogers. Motion carried.
C. 2024 Work Plan Development Introduction
• Staff Liaison Lee provided an overview of the process for developing work plan items for
2024, including consideration of the deliverable and commission support.
VII. Chair and Member Comments
A. Tabling at AAPI Month Festival and Juneteenth Celebration
• Commissioners Bennett, Dawkins and Nelson noted they were available for the AAPI Month
Festival.
• Commissioners Bennett, Dawkins, Felton, Ismail, Khalifa, and Rogers noted they were
available for Juneteenth, with Commissioners Bennett, Felton, Ismail, and Rogers,
volunteering for the first half of the event, and Commissioners Bennett, Dawkins, and Khalifa
volunteering for the second half of the event.
VIII. Staff Comments
• Received.
IX. Adjournment
Motion by Commissioner Segall to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Khalifa.
Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.