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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.27.21 HRRC_Minutes_Approved Approved Minutes Approved Date: May 25, 2021 Minutes City of Edina, Minnesota Human Rights & Relations Commission Virtual Meeting, WebEx, April 27, 2021, 7 p.m. I. Call To Order Chair Epstein shared information for virtual meeting guidelines for Commissioners and those watching or listening in to the meeting. Chair Epstein called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. II. Roll Call Answering Roll Call: Chair Epstein, Commissioners Edwards, Felton, Ismail, Ross, Segall, Bennett, and Stringer Moore; Student Commissioners Lichtenberger and Mirza Staff Present: Heidi Lee, Race & Equity Coordinator; Risi Karim, City Management Fellow; and Dave Nelson, Chief of Police Absent: Student Commissioner Borene Late: Commissioner Guadarrama (7:20 pm) III. Approval of Meeting Agenda Request made by Commissioner Bennett to amend the original agenda to include a discussion topic regarding Advisory Communication to the City Council. Motion by Commissioner Felton to approve the amended April 27, 2021 meeting agenda, seconded by Commissioner Stringer Moore. Roll call vote. Motion carried. IV. Approval of Meeting Minutes Commissioners indicated the following changes to the draft minutes: • Change “Deb Halland” to “Deb Haaland” on pg. 3 of meeting minutes, under Chair and Member Comment • Change “Susan Bower” to “Susan Brower” on pg. 4 of meeting minutes, under Chair and Member Comment Motion by Commissioner Ross to approve the March 23, 2021 meeting minutes, seconded by Commissioner Bennett. Roll call vote. Motion carried. V. Special Recognitions & Presentations A. Board & Commission Member Review o Community Engagement Coordinator MJ Lamon was unable to attend tonight’s meeting and will reschedule the presentation for a future date. B. Bias Offense Update David Nelson, Edina Police Chief speaks with the Commission regarding bias events: Approved Minutes Approved Date: May 25, 2021 o Police Chief Nelson reported back to the Commission that the City of Edina had zero bias events reported to the city. o Chief Nelson shared with the Commission the changes that have been made within the Police Department to establish a clear procedure of whom to notify when a potential bias event has been reported. C. Advisory Communication to City Council. o Commissioner Bennett requests that the Commission send an Advisory Communication to the City Council regarding police accountability legislation. The Advisory Communication will display language for the City Council to “ Engage with the Minnesota state legislature in regard to police reform”. Motion by Commissioner Bennett to send and approve the language of the Advisory Communication to City Council, seconded by Commissioner Felton. Roll call vote. Motion carried. VI. Reports/Recommendations A. Human Rights & Relations Commission 2020 Work Plan • The Commission discussed the Work Plan with the following updates: o Initiative #6 – Bias Offense Review - In regards to Council Member Jackson suggestion the subcommittee affirms a change to the language and definition of “bias incidents” to “basis events”. Motion by Commissioner Ross to approve the definition change, seconded by Commissioner Felton. Roll call vote. Motion carried. B. 2021 Work Plan Development • The Commission discussed the 2021 Work Plan and reported back updates on initiatives. o Initiative #1 – Days of Remembrance - Commissioner Stringer Moore inquired with Staff Liaison Lee about the possibility and logistics of hosting the event through a hybrid method. o Initiative #2 – Tom Oye Award - Commissioner Stringer Moore requested that staff provide the committee with a timeline for updating this year’s Tom Oye Poster. - Staff will provide the timeline to subcommittee before the initiative commences. o Initiative #3 – Sharing Values Sharing Community Event - Commissioner Felton shared with the Commission that on April 12th, 2021 the subcommittee met to discuss details regarding initiatives 3 & 4. - The subcommittee presented ideas for initiative 3&4 and received feedback from the Commission on how to proceed moving forward. o Initiative #4 – Race, Justice, and Policing Community Awareness Plan & Implementation - Mentioned in information shared for Initiative #3 o Initiative #5 – Bias Offense Review - No update o Initiative #6 – Review and comment on a plan developed by P&R and R&E staff - No Update Approved Minutes Approved Date: May 25, 2021 VII. Chair and Member Comments • Commissioner Bennett shared with the group that on April 8th, 2021 Dr. Duchess Harris presented to the League of Women Voters on the topic of How Black Women are Changing Politics and Influencing Elections. The recording of the presentation can be viewed at https://lwvedina.org/event/morning-meeting-how-black-women-are-changing-politics-and- influencing-elections/ o Commissioner Bennett announced the U.S. Census results, highlighting that Minnesota was able to keep its 8th seat in Congress. The full results of the Census will not be available until the Fall, these results will provide community demographics that may be used for redistricting. o The Morning of Thursday, May 13th Hennepin County Commissioner Chris LaTondresse will be doing a virtual Coffee & Conversation with LWVEdina. o Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison will be the Keynote speaker at the Thursday, May 20th LWVE Annual Meeting. • Commissioner Guadarrama shared with the Commission that the Minnesota Advisory Committee to the US Commission on Civil Rights will be hosting a meeting on Apr 29 at 12 pm on Policing in Minnesota. • Commissioner Edwards announced that the City of Bloomington recently passed a Conversion Therapy Ban. • Student Commissioners Mirza and Litchtenber will be representing the HRRC in the Youth commissioner climate action plan group. • Commissioner Stringer Moore recently wrote a reflective article sharing her thoughts post the Dereck Chauvin trail, the article was published by Twin Cities Business Magazine. • Commissioner Segall shared that she would like a group discussion in the future about when and how the Commission discusses feeders for next years work plan. • Chair Epstein thanked everyone for their patience as the Commission works around technical difficulties. VIII. Staff Comments • Staff Liaison Lee thanked Commissioners Stringer Moore and Felton for attending the city facilitated community conversation. • Staff Liaison Lee announced that city is actively working on implementing the Just Deeds program, more information about the program will be announced soon. IX. Adjournment Motion by Commissioner Felton to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Commissioner Ross. Roll call vote. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:49 p.m.