Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.27.23 HRRC Minutes_ApprovedDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 7/25/2023 Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Human Rights & Relations Commission Edina City Hall, Community Room June 27, 2023, 7 p.m. I. Call to Order Chair Stringer Moore called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call: Chair Stringer Moore, Vice Chair Bennett, Commissioners Dawkins, Ismail, Nelson, and Rogers. Staff Present: Heidi Lee, Race & Equity Manager, Gillian Straub, City Management Fellow. Absent: Commissioners Felton, Khalifa, Segall. III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion by Vice Chair Bennett to approve the June 27, 2023, meeting agenda, seconded by Commissioner Nelson. Motion carried. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes Vice Chair Bennett noted an addition to the minutes from the May 23, 2023, meeting, on item VI. Reports/Recommendations, A. 2023 Human Rights & Relations Commission Work Plan Update, Initiative 1: Sharing Values, Sharing Communities Event, at the end of the second bullet point. The text to be added is: By consensus, commissioners agreed that the topic/theme this year will be preventing hate/reshaping our cultural lens. Motion by Commissioner Nelson to amend the minutes from the May 23, 2023, meeting with Vice Chair Bennett’s edits. Seconded by Commissioner Ismail. Motion carried. V. 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 shared the proposed date, time, location, previously approved topics and speakers. a. Date: Sunday, November 12 b. Time: 3-5 p.m. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 7/25/2023 c. Location: Edina City Hall Council Chambers. d. Topic: Preventing Hate and Bias and Cultural Competency. e. Speakers: Bill Svrluga, Executive Director of Before Racism; Tru Pettigrew, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer of Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx.; and a representative of Edina Public Schools. • Vice Chair Bennett noted each speaker would have 30 minutes total for a presentation and questions and that the program would include a JCPP presentation. • Commissioners discussed titles which represent the topic in a positive light, including phrases such as embracing diversity, thriving in a diverse world, and one community, many cultures, among others. Vice Chair Bennett moved to hold the event on November 12, 2023, from 3-5 p.m., at Edina City Hall Council Chambers. Seconded by Commissioner Nelson. Motion carried. Vice Chair Bennett moved to affirm the topics reached through consensus at May meeting, and to propose Embracing Diversity and Preventing Bias as the working title, with the committee to finalize the title at a future committee meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Nelson. The motion received two votes in favor and four votes not in favor. Motion not carried. Commissioner Nelson resigned from the committee on Initiative 1 at 7:55 p.m. Vice Chair Bennett resigned from the committee on Initiative 1 at 7:55 p.m. o Initiative 2: Days of Remembrance Event • Chair Stringer Moore noted the resolution associated with Days of Remembrance may need to be changed in 2024, and this could be included in the 2024 work plan development. o Initiative 3: Bias and Discrimination Event Response • The Police Department provided an update at the March 28, 2023, meeting. • Officer Jepson and Lulu Thompson of the JCPP presented at the May meeting. o Initiative 4: Tom Oye Award • Chair Stringer Moore noted that the committee plans to meet next month. o Initiative 5: Climate Action Plan HS 4-3 • Vice Chair Bennett noted that the May update to the work plan should reflect that the committee connected with the sustainability manager and identified 14 organizations, excluding faith-based organizations, for evaluation. o Initiative 6: Juneteenth Community Celebration Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 7/25/2023 • Commissioners provided feedback on the event. • Staff Liaison Lee provided a short review of the event. o Initiative 7: Bias and Discrimination Event Response Plan Review • Commissioners discussed the history of bias event reporting in Edina and how recent legislation may affect this initiative. Motion by Chair Stringer Moore to amend the agenda to allow Commissioner Ismail to make member comments during this time. Seconded by Vice Chair Bennett. The commission received member comments. • Received. Commissioner Ismail left at 8:26 p.m. B. 2024 Work Plan Development Introduction • Chair Stringer Moore introduced the work plan development. • Vice Chair Bennett noted that work plan items: Sharing Values, Sharing Communities Event; Days of Remembrance Event; Bias and Discrimination Event Response; the Tom Oye Award; and the Bias and Discrimination Event Response Plan Review; should be included on the work plan at this time due to their ongoing or annual nature. • Staff Liaison Lee introduced the parking lot topics for discussion. o Ageism: helping community understand, how to mitigate it, educate and assess. o With a focus on equity, study and report on location and features of, and access to, City facilities. o Research and report potential models for Edina residents to review, comment on, and make recommendations for changes to the policies and procedures of local law enforcement. o Study & report what other cities are doing to provide reparations. • Other work plan items discussed by the Commission include: o A community roundtable connecting organizations and boards and commissions o Connection and education with the JCPP to reach new audiences o Affordable housing topic o Quarterly meetings with a representative of Edina Public Schools. o Mental health topic, with potential connections to ageism and homelessness o Climate Action Plan items Commissioner Dawkins left at 8:59 p.m. VI. Chair and Member Comments VII. Staff Comments Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 7/25/2023 VIII. Adjournment Meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m.