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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.23.20 HRRC_Minutes_Approved_ (2)Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 7/28/2020 Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Human Rights & Relations Commission Virtual Meeting, WebEx, June 23, 2020, 7:00 p.m. I. Call To Order Chair Beringer called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. and stated the meeting was being held remotely and shared the procedure for Community Comment. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call: Chair Beringer, Commissioners Edwards, Epstein, Felton, Ismail, Nelson, Ross, Stringer Moore and Student Commissioner Iyer. Staff Present: Scott Neal, City Manager; Assistant City Manager Lisa Schaefer; Heidi Lee, Race & Equity Coordinator; Ryan Browning, IT Director; Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director; Risi Karim, City Management Fellow; and Jennifer Garske, Executive Assistant Late: Commissioner Meek Absent: Student Commissioner Waldron III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion by Commissioner Epstein to approve the June 23, 2020 meeting agenda, seconded by Commissioner Ross. Roll call vote. Motion carried. Commissioner Meek joined the meeting. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes Motion by Commissioner Nelson to approve the Feb. 24, 2020 meeting minutes, seconded by Commissioner Ross. Roll call vote. Motion carried. V. Special Recognitions and Presentations A. Welcome to New Human Rights & Relations Commission Members and Staff • Staff Liaison Lee introduced new Commissioner Members Mark Felton and Fartun Ismail o Served on the Complete Count Committee for the City • Staff Liaison introduced Risi Karim, new City Management Fellow who will be working with the HRRC as staff support VI. Community Comment A. Carolyn Jackson B. David Frenkel C. Elizabeth Stevens D. Lori Grotz Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 7/28/2020 E. Kathy Christensen F. Felicia Franklin VII. Reports/Recommendations A. Community Conversation Around Race, Justice and Policing • City Manager Neal introduced item and wanted to formally let HRRC know about City Council’s charge as the lead convener for a community conversation around race, policing and justice in the community. o Broad parameters rather than prescribe what event(s) should look like. Council does not see this as a one-shot event. People should have opportunity to share thoughts on the initiative and should build on the Race & Equity Task Force work. o Will need to take Center for Disease Control and Minnesota Department of Health guidelines into account. o Look into what entities could partner with us on the event(s). • Commission thrilled to see more than 20 people interested enough to listen in to the meeting tonight, as the Commission will need input from citizens. o Concerns from Commission about everyone being volunteers, and would like help from Council or staff to help execute event(s), perhaps a consultant. Staff Liaison Lee can be involved in facilitation. o Commission suggested making this the Sharing Values, Sharing Community initiative that is already on the HRRC 2020 Work Plan. Suggested to change the topic for 2020 to this topic. o Commission asked how involved or onboard is the Police Department on this event(s). City Manager Neal said he is unsure, but they are aware of the event and conversation happening tonight. o Commission had questions about how to hold a community event for hundreds of people online if needed. Director Jennifer Bennerotte indicated the City has software that can accommodate this size group quickly. o Commission highlighted ongoing conversations with Police around bias offense response, but would like more check-in meetings with Police going forward. o Commission discussed next steps including a subcommittee that is formed for this event(s). Staff Liaison Lee indicated the Sharing Values, Sharing Community Subcommittee is Chair Beringer, Commissioners Meek, Nelson and Stringer Moore. Motion by Commissioner Stringer Moore for the Sharing Values, Sharing Communities subcommittee would come back to the HRRC with information about a series of community conversations about race, justice and policing, seconded by Commissioner Nelson. Roll call vote. Motion carried. B. My Brother’s Keeper Pledge for Mayors, City Councils and Police • Commission discussed My Brother’s Keeper Pledge on the Obama Foundation site and proposed the mayor sign. o City Manager Neal indicated he could take pledge and have it be part of the conversation. The Police Department reports directly to him. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 7/28/2020 C. Recap of the Joint Meeting with the HRRC and City Council • Chair Beringer introduces item and briefly recapped the joint meeting held at the City Council Work Session April 21. Covered initiatives on the HRRC’s 2020 Work Plan including the Sharing Values, Sharing Community event that was to be planned with the Energy & Environment Commission, bias offense updates and the postponed Days of Remembrance event. D. Human Rights & Relations Commission 2020 Work Plan • Initiatives discussed: o Initiative #1—Days of Remembrance Event • Commission discussed having a virtual event this year and that the planned speaker would be available next year. o Initiative #3—Sharing Values, Sharing Communities event with EEC • Commission has already voted to change this to the community conversation around race, policing and justice. Staff Liaison Lee will bring this to the Council to approve change to HRRC 2020 Work Plan. Subcommittee will meet to start discussing event(s). o Initiative #4—Assessment Rubric / Recommendation Process for City Facility Artwork and Décor to Reflect Diversity • Staff Liaison Lee has received names of Arts & Culture Commissioners on cross-commission. o Initiative #5—Identify Barriers for Participation in Programming  Commissioner Felton would like to join this initiative. Commission discussed challenges with the data collected and how do they know next steps. o Initiative #6—Bias Offense Plan  Commission discussed importance of ongoing communication with the Police Department on police policy, procedure and policing, and the value of separating this initiative from annual check-ins with Police Chief, or not, and how those could be structured and where they fit on the HRRC Work Plan. Staff Liaison Lee shared what the City is working on with bias offense plan and aligning it with the HRRC plan. Commission discussed bias offense incidents in the City and how they can be reported and tracked, including unconscious bias incidents. Staff Liaison Lee shared there is a form on the Better Together website for people to report bias incidents, and the challenges of incidents (particularly graffiti) on private property vs. public property. Motion by Commissioner Stringer Moore to implement City Manager Scott Neal’s recommendation that the Commission create a liaison position to meet with police, seconded by Commissioner Epstein. Roll call vote. Motion passes. • Commission asked about new members joining initiatives. Staff Liaison Lee shared that each initiative can have four commissioners, and new members can let the chair or staff liaison know what initiatives they might be interested in. E. HRRC 50th Anniversary Proclamation • Staff Liaison Lee shared proclamation with Commission, which centers around the work the Commission has done in the past 50 years and that Edina is an inclusive and welcoming community for all. Will need someone to accept the proclamation at the July 21 City Council meeting. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 7/28/2020 Motion by Commissioner Stringer Moore to approve the HRRC 50th Anniversary proclamation and send it to the City Council for the July 22 meeting, seconded by Commissioner Epstein. Roll call vote. Motion passes. VIII. Chair and Member Comments • Chair Beringer shared the City has great info about voting on the City website about August Primary and General Election in November. • Commissioner Edwards encouraged people to vote by mail and wished everyone a happy Gay Pride Month in June. • Commissioner Ismail shared that she was figuring out technology issues with her tablet and thanked everyone for all the information at her first meeting. • Commissioner Nelson indicated he was so glad to see so many people listening in to meeting today. IX. Staff Comments A. Feedback on the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Policy • Staff Liaison thanked Commissioners for their feedback on the policy. Next steps will be what does training look like for staff members on LEP. B. HRRC Calendar of Meetings and Events • The July 28 HRRC meeting will be held electronically. • Staff Liaison Lee asked for a volunteer to accept the 50th Anniversary Proclamation at the July 21 City Council meeting. Chair Beringer indicated she was not available. Motion by Commissioner Felton to nominate Vice Chair Michael Epstein to attend the July 21 City Council meeting to accept the HRRC 50th Anniversary Proclamation, seconded by Commissioner Ross. Roll call vote. Motion passes. X. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Epstein to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Felton. Roll call vote. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:14 p.m.