Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.27.20 HRRC_Minutes_ApprovedDraft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 11/17/2020 Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Human Rights & Relations Commission Virtual Meeting, WebEx, Oct 27, 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 7:05 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call: Chair Beringer, Commissioners Edwards, Epstein, Felton, Ross, Stringer Moore, and Nelson Student Commissioners Mirza and Lichtenberger Staff Present: Heidi Lee, Race & Equity Coordinator and Risi Karim, City Management Fellow Late: Commissioner Ismail Absent: Student Commissioner Borene III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Motion by Commissioner Ross to approve the Oct 27, 2020 meeting agenda, seconded by Commissioner Felton. Roll call vote. Motion carried. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes Commissioners indicated the following changes to the draft minutes: • Page 1- Section V Student Commissioner should be plural (commissioners) Motion by Commissioner Ross to approve the Sep 22, 2020 meeting minutes, seconded by Commissioner Stringer-Moore. Roll call vote. Motion carried. V. Special Recognitions & Presentations • Racial Covenants & Housing Accessibility Presentation o Edina Resident Andy Lewis gave an informative presentation to the commission outlining the history of racial covenants in the City of Edina and how it has impacted the structure of the community today. Mr. Lewis also provided information on how homeowners can identify if they have a restrictive covenant on their deed and the resources are available to them to aid in the removal of the restrictions. o Staff Liaison Lee received approval from Mr. Lewis to share a copy of the presentation with commission members. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 11/17/2020 o The commission thanked Mr. Lewis for his time and dedication to informing Edina residents about racial covenants. Commissioner Ismail joined the meeting at 7:14pm 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 - Staff Liaison Lee informed the commission that to date there have been 5 nominations for the award. o Initiative #3 – Community Conversation - The event took place on October 21st, 2020. The event was streamed live on Facebook,Youtube,Grancius and cable tv. - Staff Liaison Lee shared that the event had over 1200 views on Facebook, 38 views on YouTube Live, 49 live views on Granicus. - Commissioner Felton thanked Staff Liaison Lee, City staff and Commissioner Stringer Moore for their contribution to making the event successful. - Chair Beringer thanked Commissioner Felton for all of his efforts in putting the event together. o Initiative #6 – Bias Offense Review - Members of the committee have finished making their edits to the Bias offense plan; Staff Liaison Lee will send those edits to Police Chief Nelson. o Initiative #8 — Review Housing Strategy Task Force report - Staff liaison Lee shared that both the Housing Strategy Task Force & Planning Commission will be attending the November 17th HRRC meeting to provide a formal presentation of the housing policy. Commissioner Stringer Moore left the meeting at 7:57pm B. 2021 Work Plan Development • Staff Liaison Lee informed commissioners that at the next HRRC meeting members should move forward with assigning themselves to initiatives. • Chair Beringer went over the proposed 2021 Work Plan o Initiative #1- Days of Remembrance - Staff Liaison Lee recommended that the commissioners consider in the planning of the event whether or not the event will be held virtually. VII. Chair and Member Comments • Chair Beringer announces that Commissioner Meeks has stepped down from the HRRC and acknowledges the work she has done on behalf of the commission. • Commissioners Felton thanked those who helped with the community conversation event. Draft Minutes☐ Approved Minutes☒ Approved Date: 11/17/2020 • Commissioner Ross congratulated Commissioner Felton on the success of the Community Conversation event. Commissioner Ross also shared that commissioner Stringer Moore was recognized in the Edina Magazine for her work in the community • Commissioner Edwards shared that she is still sadden over the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg • Commissioner Epstein thanked Commissioner Felton for his work on the Community Conversation event. • Commissioner Nelson thanked Commissioner Felton and Staff Liaison Lee for their work on the Community Conversation Event. Commissioner Nelson also shared with the commission that after serving as the HRRC representative to the Edina Community Council, he would like another commissioner to take his place next year. • Student Commissioner Lichtenberger let the Commission know that the new club she started at Benilde-St. Margaret’s is officially up and running. • Student Commissioner Mirza shared that he was able to use the Art Rubric from initiative #4 on the 2020 Workplan for school project. VIII. Staff Comments • Staff liaison Lee shared that the resignation of Commissioner Meeks will be featured in the City Managers Friday report. Due to the timing of the resignation Commissioner Meeks seat will remain vacant until March 2021, at that time a new member will be appointed to the seat. Staff Liaison Lee also thanked Commissioner Meeks for all of her work and dedication to the HRRC during her time on the commission. • Staff Liaisons Lee thanked various community and staff members for their help in the planning and Implementation of the Community Conversation event. IX. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Ross to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Felton. Roll call vote. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:19p.m.