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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.22.20 HRRC_Minutes_ApprovedDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Human Rights & Relations Commission Virtual Meeting, WebEx, Sept. 22, 2020, 7 p.m. I. Call To Order Chair Beringer shared information for virtual meeting guidelines for Commissioners and those watching or listening in to the meeting. Chair Beringer called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call: Chair Beringer, Commissioners Edwards, Epstein, Nelson and Ross Student Commissioners Lichtenberger and Mirza Staff Present: Heidi Lee, Race & Equity Coordinator; Ryan Browning, IT Director; and Jennifer Garske, Executive Assistant Absent: Commissioner Meek Late: Commissioners Felton, Ismail and Stringer Moore and Student Commissioner Borene III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion by Commissioner Nelson to approve the Sept. 22, 2020 meeting agenda, seconded by Commissioner Ross. Roll call vote. Motion carried. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes Commissioners indicated the following changes to the draft minutes: • Indicate Commissioner Ross was late due to technical difficulties • Page 2—Initiative #6 spokeb should be spoke Motion by Commissioner Ross to approve the Aug. 25, 2020 meeting minutes with changes, seconded by Commissioner Nelson. Roll call vote. Motion carried. Student Commissioner Borene joined the meeting at 7:10 p.m. (had technical difficulties). V. Special Recognition and Presentations A. Introduction of new Student Commissioners • Chair Beringer asked the new Student Commissioners to introduce themselves at their first HRRC meeting. • Student Commissioner Lichtenberger introduced herself and shared she is a student at Benilde-St. Margaret’s. • Student Commissioner Mirza introduced himself and shared he is a student at Edina High School. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: • Student Commissioner Borene introduced himself and shared he is also a student at Edina High School Commissioner Felton joined the meeting again at 7:15 p.m. (had technical difficulties). VI. Reports/Recommendations A. Human Rights & Relations Commission 2020 Work Plan • The Commission discussed the Work Plan with the following updates: o Initiative #2—Tom Oye Award • Items submitted to Communications—application, posters and press release • The Commission discussed how many printed posters were needed, especially since people are not grabbing flyers like they would before COVID-19. Also discussed where the posters should be placed, including asking the Student Commissioners where at Edina High School they could be shared. • The Commission decided money was better spent this year on social media posts, vs. too many printed posters. • Initiative #3—Community Conversations o Commissioner Felton shared details about the subcommittee’s meeting about the event. The subcommittee includes Commissioners Felton, Meek and Stringer Moore, as well as Colleen Feige, President of the League of Women Voters Edina; Carolyn Jackson, member of the Energy & Environment Commission and Vice Chair of the Edina Community Fund; and Hope Melton, coordinator with Edina Neighbors for Affordable Housing. o The Commission discussed the logistics of the event, as well as how to best involve the community. o Commissioner Felton asked questions about the information from the Police Department available on the website, and compared it to Bloomington’s website. Staff Liaison Lee shared the challenges of those particular Race & Equity Task Force recommendations. o Commissioner Felton indicated he would send Staff Liaison Lee the proposed Community Conversations plan to distribute to all HRRC members. • Initiative #4--Art Rubric o Staff Liaison Lee shared an update about using the rubric at City Hall and other City buildings. o Staff Liaison Lee will share links to stories in the Edina Sun-Current and the Star Tribune about the Art Rubric. • Initiative #5—Barriers to Park & Recreation program participation o Staff Liaison Lee said this would be discussed during the 2021 Work Plan agenda item. o The initiative will be two-fold for 2021. • Initiative #6—Bias Offense o Commissioner Epstein shared the subcommittee has a meeting with Police Chief Nelson on Sept. 30. They will talk with the Chief about getting quarterly meetings with the subcommittee on his schedule. If Commissioners have specific questions for the Police Chief, they should send them to Commissioner Epstein to share at the meeting. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: • Initiative #7—Proclamation for 50th Anniversary o Agenda: Edina had episode with segment on the history of the HRRC. Staff Liaison Lee will send the link to the episode to the Commission. • Initiative #8—Review Housing Strategy Task Force report o Staff Liaison Lee shared she has talked with the Affordable Housing Development Manager Hawkins and the Task Force hope to have the final policy to HRRC for review in November. The Task Force will likely plan a joint meeting with Planning Commission, HRRC and the Task Force as well. • Initiative #9—Parks & Rec review o Staff Liaison Lee sent out information to the subcommittee for review. She will send to the rest of the Commission. Commissioner Ismail joined at 7:28 p.m. Chair Beringer left the meeting at 7:50 p.m. B. 2021 Work Plan Development • Staff Liaison Lee reminded the Commission that they need to vote on the Work Plan tonight so it can go to the joint Work Session with the City Council next month. • Vice Chair Epstein went over the proposed 2021 Work Plan and the Commission discussed the five initiatives included. Staff Liaison Lee reminded the Commission of which initiatives are ongoing each year, and what had been added for 2021. Motion by Commissioner Epstein to adopt the 2021 Human Rights & Relations Commission Work Plan, seconded by Commissioner Felton. Roll call vote. Motion carried. Commissioner Stringer Moore joined the meeting at 8:02 p.m. C. Racial Covenants and Housing Accessibility • Resident Andy Lewis would like to present to the Commission about the history of racial covenants in the City, and help residents that might still have covenants on their deed. The Commission and Staff Liaison Lee discussed the presentation topic, and the Commission agreed he should present at the Oct. 27 HRRC meeting. VII. Chair and Member Comments • Chair Nelson welcomed the three new Student Commissioners. He also shared the book he is reading, “How to be an Antiracist,” and that his Rotary Club is hosting Gail Rosenblum from the Star Tribune at an upcoming meeting. • Commissioner Stringer Moore also welcomed the Student Commissioners, She shared information about the organizations she helped found, #SharetheMicMN, and that the group will be featured in the next Edina Magazine. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: • Commissioner Edwards applauded the Minnesota Lynx making it to the WNBA playoffs, her thoughts on the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and encouraged everyone to get their ballots early and vote. • Commissioner Felton also welcomed the Student Commissioners and thanked his fellow Commissioners and shared how much he was looking forward to working with all them. • Student Commissioner Lichtenberger let the Commission know she is helping start a new club at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Red Knights for Human Rights. • Student Commissioner Mirza thanked Commissioners for the welcome. • Student Commissioner Borene thanked the Commission for information provided during the Police information discussion, as well as the warm welcome to the Commission. VIII. Staff Comments • Staff Liaison Lee went over next steps for Commission to know how her Race & Equity Work Plan intersects with the HRRC Work Plan. She shared info about the City’s Budget Work Plan, Department Work Plans, the Race & Equity Work Plan and the HRRC Work Plan. • Staff Liaison Lee shared information about her different roles with the City as the Race & Equity Coordinator. • She will provide an update to City Council in November on the Race & Equity Work Plan, then will provide to that update to the HRRC at the next meeting, Nov. 17. She will also provide updates on items that intersect with the HRRC Work Plan. • Commissioner Edwards asked about “The Stories We Share” videos produced by The Race & Equity Advancement Team (REAT), and now posted on the Better Together Edina website. Staff Liaison Lee said she would send out the link to the videos. The Commission discussed REAT and HRRC could partner together in the future. IX. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Ross to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Nelson. Roll call vote. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.