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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992 04-08 HRRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESOURCES COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION APRIL 8, 1992 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center human rights and resources commission met in regular session and was called to order by Vice-Chairperson Eckman at 7:05 p.m. ROLL CALL Vice-Chairperson Eckman, Commissioners Carmody, Eoloff, Achtelik and Windsor. Also present were City Councilmember Dave Rosene and Recording Secretary Geralyn Barone. Chairperson Stoderl and Commissioner Larsen were excused from this evening's meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 11, 1992 There was a motion by Commissioner Carmody and seconded by Commissioner Achtelik to approve the minutes of the March 11, 1992, meeting as submitted. The motion passed. UPDATE ON MINNESOTA LEAGUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS Commissioner Eoloff said the Minnesota League of Human Rights Commissions (MLHRC) will drop the City from the MLHRC if the City does not pay its 1992 dues. Vice-Chairperson Eckman said, in light of the City's budget cuts, she questioned whether or not the City should pay these dues. Commissioner Eoloff suggested the networking and ideas generated from the MLHRC are valuable, and Commissioner Carmody agreed. Commissioner Eoloff suggested the City could join the MLHRC and then decide if it does not want to belong next year. Commissioner Eoloff noted September 19 is the annual conference for the MLHRC in Crystal, and the theme will be "Leadership in Human Rights". There was a motion by Commissioner Carmody and seconded by Commissioner Windsor to recommend to the city council that the City pay 1992 membership dues for the Minnesota League of Human Rights Commissions. The motion passed. Councilmember Rosene suggested the city council should notify the financial task force of this request. Commissioner Eoloff said in the March 18, 1992, Brooklvn Center Sun Post newspaper and also in the Star Tribune and the St. Paul paper, articles appeared from the president of MLHRC encouraging 04-08-92 -1- involvement in fighting hate crimes. As a result of this article, some groups have come forward expressing a desire to work on civil rights activities with the MLHRC. Commissioner Eoloff said, with regard to the battle on the no- fault grievance process, the State Department of Human Rights is planning Level I training on the Human Rights Act. Level II training is about becoming a mediator, and this has not yet been set. Councilmember Rosene asked for clarification of what the no- fault grievance process is. Commissioner Eoloff said local human rights commissions were developed to serve as mediators in the community to prevent cases from being handled at the State level, which in turn saves the State money. Councilmember Rosene asked why the City of Brooklyn Center has not been involved in this process in the past, and commissioner Carmody said there is a concern regarding personal liability of the Commissioners. Commissioner Eoloff said MLHRC officials say there is no liability. Vice-Chairperson Eckman suggested if there is no chance of getting sued, she would have some interest in being involved in this process. Commissioner Carmody wondered if complaints typically handled by the no-fault grievance process could be handled by mediation (through the North Hennepin Mediation Project). Commissioner Eoloff said she could have a representative from the MLHRC come in and explain the process to the commission. The Recording Secretary said she could check with the city attorney on any legal liability there might be for commissioners. There was a motion by Commissioner Carmody and seconded by commissioner Eoloff to invite someone from the MLHRC to come to the nest commission meeting to speak about the no-fault grievance process. The motion passed. CHILDREN'S ISSUES Councilmember Phil Cohen arrived at the meeting and thanked the commission for inviting him. He asked for a background on the commission's concerns regarding children's issues. Vice- Chairperson Eckman said the commission would be looking at children's issues, but is not sure of in which areas Councilmember Cohen would like the commission to work. Councilmember Cohen proceeded to describe his interest in helping children. In relation to housing issues, he said in the 1970s there was quite a bias in housing against parents with children, especially single parents. He noted the problems with acquiring affordable housing. He said recent Success By Six studies have shown there are a lot of barriers, especially for single parents, to achieve independence. Councilmember Cohen said there is a need to address health care, transportation, day care, and other issues related to needs of families. He said it was evident that there is a lot of interest in addressing children's issues, but there are not a lot of people lobbying for children. Councilmember Cohen said those involved at the local level see the problems (usually first seen 04-08-92 -2- in schools). He stressed that there is a need for legislative action. Councilmember Cohen said the Head Start Program is governed by Parents in Community Action (PICA). He noted there is a chance to get a Head Start Program started in Brooklyn Park at the old city hall. There are some costs involved, but this program would be available to meet some of the needs in the area. He said once kids are through the Head Start Program, there becomes a question of what happens to latchkey children. Councilmember Cohen quoted from the book titled, "Within Our Reach", and expressed his concern about losing a whole generation. He said the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council (NWHHSC) has been the backbone of current efforts to address children's issues. He noted there is a collaborative effort of five cities with the purpose of encouraging a system that will discourage barriers. Councilmember Cohen said we need legislative action at the state and federal levels, and he feels this commission can be an effective instrument for looking at the issues in the upcoming legislative and congressional sessions. He suggested the commission could be strong advocates for women and children's issues. Councilmember Cohen noted the present baby boomers have the most spendable income, but when they age there will be a middle class squeezed trying to support senior citizens and the welfare system. He said the numbers are there, the need is there, and it is now time for action. Councilmember Cohen said he is not sure what action is needed, but there is a need to address problems. He suggested the commission should consider looking at legislative options, which might include requesting a legislative hearing on women's and children's issues out in the Northwest Hennepin area. Other human rights commissions could work together with ours to sponsor such a hearing. Commissioner Achtelik said she keeps calling to find out where one can be a children's advocate, and she has personally seen the needs of children. Councilmember Cohen noted there is an election coming up this fall, and commissioner Achtelik asked how you sort out the good from the bad. Councilmember Cohen noted legislators from this area are responsive. The NWHHSC could be used as a focal point, and meetings could be held for legislators to lay out the issues. He noted funding is always a roadblock for programs, and he noted the recently recommended tax on soft drinks is a way to fund some children's programs. He noted the better organized the group is, the more comfortable it feels in responding to needs. Commissioner Achtelik said she has seen that our children do not have many rights and parents have all the rights. She noted the state and counties have taken rights away from children. She added she was on the first parent committee in the state for planning Head Start. Councilmember Cohen pointed out that some of those who oppose change are those employed in the social service system. 04-08-92 -3- Commissioner Carmody asked how it is possible to find out what is current in the legislature. Councilmember Cohen noted the House and Senate have publications printed each week, and it is possible to get on their mailing lists. The Recording Secretary will insure that the commissioners are added to the mailing lists for the session weekly publications. Councilmember Cohen added chairs of the legislative committees can be contacted to get information on when hearings are scheduled. He noted the commission should make a decision to become involved in state and federal legislation. He said it is first important to understand what is going on in your own backyard, and, once this is known, determine the direction in which to move. Then issues can be picked and meetings set with local legislators to obtain input. He suggested involving congressmen, U.S. senators and local legislators. He suggested we should look at the five city area and determine what models could be created that are used elsewhere. Commission Carmody said last year at this time the commission brainstormed and looked at existing efforts where problems are already being addressed. She noted there is very little means of promoting what we do have, and asked if there is a way to publicize what is out there. Councilmember Cohen noted Anoka County has all of its services in one location in Blaine. He noted people have an apprehension saying, "I have problems", and we need ways to get people into the system that does not threaten their dignity. He acknowledged that the promotion issue is a tough question. He added schools could be the best gatekeeper of activities, and Councilmember Rosene responded that schools are doing a lot of this already. Commissioner Achtelik noted the Hennepin County welfare system can make people feel very intimidated. Councilmember Cohen suggested the commission should get a full grasp of where they think the City should go and then move forward. He suggested structuring around programs that would be around for the long haul. vice-Chairperson Eckman noted the apartments across from Brooklyn Center High School closed down, and she wondered how the use of these might fit in with a program mentioned by Councilmember Cohen. Councilmember Cohen said these apartments would not work because when children are involved, a play area is necessary. He noted that if larger complexes joined together, it might be possible to provide on-site human services programs. Commissioner Achtelik asked if, when multi-jurisdictional meetings are scheduled, whether or not they could be rotated between day and evening meetings. Councilmember Cohen said when staff members are involved in planning, the meetings are usually held during the day. However, once a structure is in place there would be more evening meetings scheduled. Commissioner Achtelik noted there are many programs funded by Hennepin County, but the City is cut off because of the geographic location of the programs. Councilmember 04-08-92 -4- w Cohen said there is an attitude that there are not problems in the suburbs, and he noted this has been part of the battle although inroads are being made. Councilmember Rosene asked what the higher priorities should be - becoming involved in the legislative process or determining what services are already offered in Brooklyn Center. Councilmember Cohen suggested this could be done on a dual tract, although the need is much greater than services available. Councilmember Cohen said he feels there are "Band-Aid" services being provided. He noted to expand programs that are underfunded, it is necessary to get a source of money. Councilmember Rosene asked if the commission should send out letters on its own authority or send requests through the city council. Councilmember Cohen noted the process has been for the commission to make recommendations to the city council and have the council pass a resolution. He added special interest of the commission will lend credibility to the recommendations. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Carmody said it would have been nice to have been notified of the joint meeting of the Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center city councils. She said she does not feel the city council is very approachable, and there is a distance between the council and citizens. Commissioner Eoloff suggested it might be worthwhile to have a joint meeting of all the commissioners and the city council to talk about upcoming issues for the year. Councilmember Cohen noted the joint city council meeting had been a discussion item on the city council agenda for several weeks before it was actually scheduled, and it was also on cable television. He suggested it could also have been put in the city newsletter. He noted the Osseo schools send mailings to "thought leaders", and he suggested advisory commissioners should get some information on what is going on in the City. Councilmember Cohen said at city council meetings, the configuration of the council chambers creates an automatic problem for being approachable. He suggested if the council is moved out of those chambers, a more user friendly system should be arranged. He added no one should feel they cannot call their elected officials. A discussion ensued on why people are moving out of Brooklyn Center. Commissioner Carmody suggested one reason people are moving out is because of the crime. Councilmember Cohen suggested what needs to be done is to promote what is good about the community. He added everyone remembers the negative. Commissioner Achtelik, who is a real estate agent, said since 1987 she has noticed in open houses that agents are getting feedback from prospective clients that there are concerns about crime and drugs in the city. Councilmember Cohen asked what realtors are saying, and Commissioner Achtelik said the negative perceptions are coming from the buyers. She noted there are nice houses in 04-08-92 -5- Brooklyn Center which are not selling for the same price as they were five years ago. She added there is a need for better PR in producing a better image of Brooklyn Center than what is being published in the newspapers. Commissioner Achtelik said there is a need to provide information to our own residents to make them feel good. She added the City of Brooklyn Park put together a packet that is available for listing agents. Councilmember Cohen noted it is a good idea to put some information together for realtors. Commissioner Achtelik said she has tried to meet with the city manager to suggest just that. Commissioner Achtelik also suggested that the City should ease up on enforcing the sign ordinance regarding real estate signs. Councilmember Cohen remembered this has come up in the past, and Commissioner Achtelik noted that a number of realtors once met with the city manager to discuss this concern. Councilmember Cohen suggested looking at this issue again. Commissioner Achtelik said she has seen changes in the City, and she does not feel it has always been for the better. Councilmember Cohen noted there will be more cultural diversity in the community, and the school districts are addressing this. He noted there are perceptions and truths, and the City needs to deal with these. Councilmember Cohen said he will talk to the city manager about the issue related to the sign ordinance. He suggested perhaps city officials could meet with realtors on an annual basis to communicate any concerns. Commissioner Achtelik pointed out the realtors work in the City and can be a good PR source for it. 0 Councilmember Cohen thanked the commission for its input and left the meeting at this time. Commissioner Achtelik said she read Councilmember Cohen's comments in response to the mayor's state of the city address. Councilmember Rosene said he would like to find out the commission's reaction to the address. Commissioner Achtelik said she agreed with Councilmember Cohen in that the city council should have seen comments from the speech in advance of it. Commissioner Carmody said there is a perception that elected officials are out of touch. Councilmember Rosene said any councilmember would welcome an opportunity to meet with residents. Commissioner Eoloff said she liked the idea of town meetings. Commissioner Carmody said the city council has its advisory commissions, and questioned why the commissions are not used more often. Councilmember Rosene said Commissioner Eoloff's idea to have a meeting of the advisory commissioners with the city council would be a good idea, and perhaps department heads could give overviews of what is happening in the city departments. He added all of the City's commissions would function better if they had a good idea of what the City is doing. There was a motion by Commissioner Windsor and seconded by commissioner Achtelik to propose a joint meeting of the city 04-08-92 -6- council and the advisory commissions, and forward this request on to the financial task force. The motion passed. The Recording Secretary noted the title of the evaluation and application forms for contributions to nonprofit human services programs has been changed to "Application and Evaluation for Contractual Services for Nonprofit Human Service Programs/Agencies". The next commission meeting is scheduled for May 13, 1992, at 7:00 p.m. It was requested that the issue of cultural diversity be added to the next agenda. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Carmody and seconded by Commissioner Eoloff to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center human rights and resources commission adjourned at 9:13 p.m. 0 Chairperson 0 04-08-92 -7-