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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025.07.01 SCCM 07/01/25 -1- DRAFT BROOKLYN CENTER SISTER CITIES COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 1, 2025 BROOKLYN CENTER CITY HALL 1. OPEN MEETING Community Engagement Coordinator Armando Oster called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Commissioners: Nahid Khan, Jacob Saffert, Tashawna Williams, and Famatta Zeon (present). Erasmus Williams (absent). City Staff: Community Engagement Coordinator Armando Oster, Director LaToya Turk, Engagement Specialist Christina Jones, and Planning Commission Chair Alexander Koenig. Council Liaison: None Guests: None 3. LIVES AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Community Engagement Coordinator Oster presented the acknowledgement. 4. CHECK-IN Community Engagement Coordinator Oster presented an icebreaker for the group to participate in. If they were comfortable, they were to look at the last photograph they took or was sent to them and discuss its meaning to them. 5. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Commissioner Khan moved to adopt the agenda as presented, and Commissioner T. Williams seconded it. Motion unanimously adopted. 6. APPROVAL OF JUNE 3, 2025, MEETING MINUTES Community Engagement Coordinator Oster stated that Member Famatta Zeon’s absence from the meeting was excused. Commissioner Khan inquired about the approval of the agenda from the last meeting and whether it should also state that there was no quorum under item number four. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster noted that a line could be added to the agenda stating there was no quorum, but the Commissioners both agreed to proceed with the agenda presented. 07/01/25 -2- DRAFT Commissioner Khan moved to approve the minutes of June 3, 2025, with the amendments, and Commissioner Saffert seconded the motion. Members unanimously adopted the motion. 7. BOARD ELECTIONS Community Engagement Coordinator Oster called for nominations for the positions of Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. He explained that for those in person, they had the sheets to fill out and then give them to Director Turk; for those online, they have a digital copy of the same sheet, which they are to complete and then email to Director Turk. He added that she would be tallying during the break. Commissioner Saffert asked for a brief introduction from each Commissioner in order to get to know them a little better before the nominations. No one was opposed to doing this, so each person gave a brief introduction. Commissioner Khan asked about residency and how that works with the Sister Cities Commission. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster stated that under Article 3, it did not say anything about residency specific to this Commission. He added that every Member has a connection to Brooklyn Center, and that is what is important for this Commission. Director Turk noted that there is a priority for having residency in Brooklyn Center, but just being connected to the City is being looked at because of the many constraints to the City, and as a way to diversify commissions. Commissioner Khan noted that no person was hoping to accept leadership positions on this Commission; she felt this needed to be talked about. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster stated that Commissioner T. Williams served as the Chair before, and that would be the position that would require the most time. Director Turk asked if the Commission was meeting quarterly or monthly. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster stated that right now they are meeting monthly, but that could be adjusted depending on need. Director Turk stated that with the Members and the Liaison for this Commission, there is a great group of people already. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster noted that they already have work to jump into, and connections that are made, so that will not be as difficult to find. Commissioner T. Williams noted that there are four positions and four members, so they need to try to fill them, at least the Chair and Vice Chair. She added that she is willing to take the Chair if someone is willing to take the Vice Chair. Commissioner Saffert added that he would be willing to be Vice Chair. Commissioner Khan noted that she was going to be nominating Commissioner T. Williams and Commissioner Saffert for the sake of continuity, since they had served in these positions previously. 07/01/25 -3- DRAFT Commissioner Khan asked if Commissioner Zeon would be willing to take on the role of Secretary. Director Turk noted that she is the chair of a large organization, and she believes that the Staff Liaison could also be the Secretary. She asked about the description of the role for the Secretary. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster noted that in Article 5 of the bylaws, there was a description for each of the elected positions, which he read aloud to the Commission. Commissioner Khan asked if the Sister Cities Commission had received or dispersed money in the past. Commissioner T. Williams noted that they began the process of getting money, but they did not receive it in the past. Commissioner Khan stated that, due to the current lack of funding for the Commission, there may be no need to fill the Treasurer position. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster noted that right now, there would not be a need for it, but they would like to fill all the positions just in case something changes in the future. Director Turk noted that she thinks about the position as long-term versus immediate, because the Treasurer could be helping to be proactive and seeking out some corporate allotment funding to be able to host events in the City. Commissioner Khan noted that the description for the Treasurer position does not really reflect the fundraising that they are talking about. Commissioner Khan noted that City Staff is currently working on aligning all the commissions, so it could be good for it to be noted that there may need to be some revision of roles within the commissions. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster stated that it would be a great thing to be brought up in the meetings going forward. Commissioner Khan added that any commission that does not have a budget would like guidance or a framework for how to obtain money. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster asked Planning Commissioner Chair Koenig if the Rotary Club has sponsored any commissions in the past. Planning Commissioner Chair Koenig noted that he is the current president of the Rotary Club, and they have in the past provided substantial funds to certain things. He noted that he wrote a note to see if it would be possible to sponsor a small cultural event in the future. Commissioner Zeon moved to approve the self-nominations of the election of Tashawna Williams to the position of Chair for 2025, Jacob Saffert to the position of Vice Chair 2025, Famatta Zeon to the position of Secretary 2025, and Nahid Khan to the position of Treasurer 2025, and Member Saffert seconded the motion. Members unanimously adopted the motion. 8. UPDATES / NEW TOPICS a. Remaining Meeting Dates Community Engagement Coordinator Oster noted that there were a few dates that came 07/01/25 -4- DRAFT up that may have been a problem for meetings in the future, the first is the November meeting due to elections. He checked with the City and found that there are no elections this year unless the school initiates school board elections, so that meeting should be fine to go on as scheduled. The other date that could be an issue is August 5th, due to Night to Unite, he asked for a conversation on the topic of cancelling or postponing the meeting, but also it could be an opportunity for the Commission to get out into the community and explain who the Commission is and get some feedback from the community as well. Commissioner Khan asked if there was a way for the non-resident members of the Commission to participate in the City’s Night to Unite. Director LaToya Turk stated that, of course, they would be able to. She explained that there are many ways for the Commission to participate in Night to Unite, such as hosting an event. She added that there is a registration form to fill out to inform the City of what the Commission would like to do. Commissioner Zeon stated that she was in favor of making the August 5th meeting a working meeting to go out into the community and participate in the activities, engage with the community, and connect as well. Director LaToya Turk stated that it may be something as simple as creating lanyards that show what Commission one is a part of, and then on the back, there could be a QR code that leads people to the website for commissions, where they could get more information. Chair T. Williams asked about continuing the meetings monthly; she would like to see fewer meetings. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster stated that it is up to the Commission to make that decision if they want to go quarterly or something else. Director Turk noted that if they made the August meeting a working meeting, she would encourage the Commission to take October and November to start doing the planning. Commissioner Khan added that they could also go every other month. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster noted that the Commission can select when they would like to meet and what works for them. Commissioner Saffert noted that he likes the idea of every other month, so they could meet again in September, leaving August to engage in the community, and then in November again for elections and planning for 2026. Commissioner Khan moved to meet every other month for the rest of the year and next year, making the next meeting September 2025, on the first Tuesday of the month, and Chair T. Williams seconded the motion. Members unanimously adopted the motion. b. Liberian Independence Day Parade Saturday, July 26 Community Engagement Coordinator Oster presented the Librarian Independence Day 07/01/25 -5- DRAFT parade and the different events that are taking place over the whole weekend. The event organizer, Josh Port, extended an invitation to the Commission to join in the parade festivities, and that day, if the Commissioners are available. He added that more information would come via email shortly. Director LaToya Turk noted that Brooklyn Center has a robust history of events that have been curated by the elders, and those elders are no longer curating. She added that some of the younger generation is coming in and doing this, particularly, this group is very excited about the event and connecting with the elders in the community. Commissioner Khan asked about the Brooklyn Park Sister Cities Commission and making a connection with their commission. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster noted that he is working on making a connection and that this could be an agenda item at the next meeting, connecting with other Sister Cities Commissions. Commissioner Khan noted that it would be great if there were some way for both Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park to join forces since they both have sister cities in Liberia. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster asked Chair T. Williams if she knew if the Brooklyn Park Sister Cities Commission was currently meeting. Chair T. Williams noted that she was not sure if they were currently, but that she could reach out to Dr. Richardson and ask. Commissioner Khan noted that she would like to have a joint meeting with them to just talk about what they may be doing. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster stated that he would reach out to them and keep thinking about it and how they can work together. Chair T. Williams asked if they were expected to participate in only the Saturday event and what the Grand Marshall of the event would look like: walking, riding in a vehicle. Community Engagement Coordinator Oster noted that the event organizers had said in a vehicle, and the City has some trucks that could be used. He added that the ask is for Saturday in the parade, but they are free to be a part of anything. Commissioner Khan noted that the Arts Commission could be asked in their upcoming meeting on July 17th to collaborate in decorating the float for the parade. 9. CHECK-OUT Community Engagement Coordinator Oster asked if there were any questions about meeting dates or the upcoming event. 10. ADJOURN Chair T. Williams called for a motion to adjourn. 07/01/25 -6- DRAFT Chair T. Williams moved to adjourn the meeting, and Commissioner Khan seconded the motion. Members unanimously adopted the motion. Chair T. Williams declared the Commission meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.