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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 03-08 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 MARCH 8, 1995 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center human rights and resources commission was called to order at 7:08 PM. ROLL CALL Members Present: Chairperson Lerbs, Commissioners Brown, Nesseth, Yang and Eoloff. Also present were Mayor Kragness and Staff Liaison Gohman, recording secretary. Commissioner Maddox arrived at 7:15 PM and Commissioner Achtelik arrived at 7:40 PM. Member Absent and Unexcused: Commissioner Henry. INTRODUCTIONS New member Neng Yang was introduced to the members of the human rights and resources • commission. Returning member Julie Eoloff was also welcomed by the commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 11. 1995 There was general discussion about the January 11 minutes prior to approval. The commissioners discussed several corrections on the minutes: eliminate special in the heading, it was just a regular meeting; on page 3, last paragraph, change the statement, "Commissioner Brown be vice chairperson if to of the human rights and resources commission"; and under the heading of Flyer, the last sentence of the paragraph should read, "Chairperson Lerbs will take a roll-call vote of members, then give the authorization...". There was a motion by Commissioner Nesseth and seconded by Commissioner Brown to approve the minutes of the January 11, 1995, minutes as corrected. The motion carried. APPROVAL OF AGENDA - MARCH 8. 1995 There was discussion to add an update of the League of Minnesota Human Rights meetings to the agenda under Other Business; discussion to be conducted by Commissioner Eoloff. There was a motion by Commissioner Brown and seconded by Commissioner Eoloff to approve the March 8 agenda with the addition of discussion of League of Minnesota Human Rights business. The motion carried. JOINT MEETING There was discussion of the joint meeting. Chairperson Lerbs reported that the joint meeting was a great meeting and that attendance was good. Mayor Kragness stated that the commission 03/08/95 - 1 - did a good job and had good plans, allowing for success. Chairperson Lerbs wanted to extend his thanks and appreciation to Council Liaison Hilstrom for the success of the event. • Staff Liaison Gohman noted that the commission could discuss a couple of ideas for next year's meeting. One would be to move this into a council appreciation dinner for commissions and to have the council lead the program. Another would be to have each commissioner invite one guest to the meeting. The idea being that since commissioners are volunteers and their volunteer time takes them away from those important to them, commissioners could bring them to this yearly informational/appreciation meeting. Commissioner Yang noted it was his first time to attend the joint meeting; and since he was a new member and had not been to a HRRC meeting yet, he felt somewhat isolated. Maybe there is a need for some sort of exchange or an ice breaker so all members of all commissions are introduced to one another. Chairperson Lerbs felt it was a good idea to have an ice breaker and possibly have random seating to mix the members of the various commissions. Commissioner Maddox arrived at 7:15 PM. There was a general discussion of the involvement of department heads in the joint meeting. The question arose as to whether to continue with video-tapped presentations, should department heads make presentations, or could the city manager handle all department information. Commissioner Nesseth stated she liked the department head presentations and found there was a lot of information to learn from them. Mayor Kragness stated that maybe the department heads could be set up in a question and answer format so commissioners could ask them questions. Commissioner Maddox stated that this procedure was good for a one-time event per year; some of the things are interesting and very informative. Commissioner Eoloff stated that she finds out a lot at the joint meetings and likes the idea of council running the appreciation dinner or joint meeting. Commissioner Nesseth stated if that is the case, the commission should work with council on the joint meeting. Commissioner Brown thought it was a good idea for the council to host the 1996 joint/appreciation meeting. Mayor Kragness stated that it may be a good idea to bring this topic to the next meeting of the HRRC with Council Liaison Hilstrom. There was a motion by Commissioner Maddox and seconded by Commissioner Eoloff to table this item to the April HRRC meeting. The motion carried. FLYER Chairperson Lerbs wanted to record in the minutes at this time that a roll-call vote was needed regarding the HRRC flyer. By roll-call vote, those approved: Commissioners Maddox, Brown, Lerbs, and Nesseth. Commissioner Achtelik did not approve. By majority vote, the flyer was approved. WORKPLAN Chairperson Lerbs led the general discussion about moving forward with a workplan for the Brooklyn Center Human Rights and Resources Commission. Commissioner Nesseth stated she liked the idea of having a float in the Earle Brown Days Parade. There was a general discussion . about the list of 22 items and where they came from. Commissioner Eoloff stated she originally put the list together from information she had obtained from the League. Commissioner Yang 03/08/95 -2- stated that all ideas are good, but our commission needs to focus on determining what is good • and what activities we need to do. Commissioner Nesseth stated that we want people to come together, to take a lead on projects, and possibly to form subcommittees to get things done. Chairperson Lerbs stated that number nine on the list (Produce and distribute a brochure briefly outlining human rights laws in Minnesota, where to call for help...) and number 18 (Continue the LMHRC pledge campaign. This involves offering people an opportunity to commit themselves in supporting human rights by signing a pledge form and sending it in...) had already been done by the commission's creation of the flyer and the certificate. Commissioner Yang stated he would like to see numbers six and seven done. Commissioner Maddox stated she also liked numbers six and seven. Commissioner Yang stated he has Hmong and Laotian connections in the community who may come forward to assist with some programs we have designed. There was a general question about number six do we have to do it in a public facility since we would be serving food. Commissioner Brown stated that if we are serving food to the public, number six would have to be done in coordination with commercial kitchens. Commissioner Achtelik arrived at 7:40 PM. There was a general discussion on how to accomplish number six. Commissioner Eoloff asked if the commission still had money in the budget to accomplish different tasks. Staff Liaison Gohman stated that money had been set aside for cultural diversity training. Commissioner Achtelik stated that money was used for the Heritage Festival. There was a general discussion of funding. Chairperson Lerbs asked Staff Liaison Gohman to research available monies and • report her findings at the April meeting. Commissioner Nesseth stated she liked ideas numbers six, seven, three and eight. Commissioner Achtelik stated she liked number three and that it is currently being done in schools by youth mediation. It's done in the Brooklyn Center High School; they have worked as a peer group to learn how to be mediators. Commissioner Yang stated it's called conflict resolution. He also stated that as a teacher, he has been working mostly with urban children. The problem most often is the lack of support from the home. Maybe we have to work with adults to get them to buy in to being a positive influence and into the programs and into the youth. There was a general discussion on youth programs and work that needs to be done. Commissioner Achtelik stated she liked number 21 and to also involve youth. Commissioner Nesseth stated numbers 21 and three could work together and be one item. Commissioner Eoloff stated Roseville gives social studies credits to students involved in commissions. There was a general discussion of how students are involved with commissions. Commissioner Yang stated that being a new-comer to the country, but also having been here for 20 years, he wanted to see something happen in the neighborhoods to increase trust. There was a general discussion of the importance of neighborhoods. Commissioner Nesseth stated she liked number one and then asked if there are resources available to provide a trailer or hay wagon for a float. Commissioner Achtelik stated that maybe a flatbed would be needed or to check with Iten Chevrolet, but it would depend on what theme it would have. There was a general discussion of a float, logos, publicity, and youth involvement. Chairperson Lerbs stated we • want to get back to prioritizing things we can work on in the workplan. The following have come to the table as workplan priorities: numbers six, seven, three and 21 to work together, eight and one. 03/08/95 -3 - There was a motion by Commissioner Nesseth and seconded by Commissioner Eoloff to vote on prioritizing the items that have come up in our workplan data that have importance . to the commission. Those items were numbers one, three and 21, six, seven, and eight. The motion carried. Chairperson Lerbs stated it is good that we continue to prioritize. This list has been bouncing around now for quite awhile, and we need to focus and finalize our prioritization on this list. There was a motion by Commissioner Achtelik and seconded by Commissioner Maddox to merge list items numbers three and 21 together to be the same item. The motion carried. Chairperson Lerbs then asked each commissioner to take the five numbers known as one, three, eight, seven and six, and rank them from one to five. Commissioners rank orders were as follows: NUMBER . NY JE SA 1 3 7 8 8 _3: 6 3 1 4 : 8 7 7 3 6 6 SM SB CN VVI 3 8 1 8 6 3 3 3 7 7 6 8 7 8 7 6 6 Chairperson Lerbs analyzed and came up with the final prioritization ranking by commissioners to be one, three, eight, seven, and six (attached). He stated the commission will continue this discussion at the next meeting and he was happy with this forward movement on the workplan prioritization. LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE Commissioner Eoloff provided an update on what has been happening at the League of Minnesota Human Rights meetings. She reported there had been an election of officers and it is a mess. They are now in violation of their own bylaws. Commissioner Eoloff asked if the commission would like to write a letter and make a formal statement. Chairperson Lerbs said he wanted to see the bylaws and the background of what is happening in the internal election of officers' procedure. Commissioner Brown stated she felt the League should resolve their own conflicts, and our commission at this time should not get involved. They should be allowed to resolve their own problems; our stand is to keep informed of what's happening. Commissioner Maddox stated that the point of the whole League matter is that the law was broken. There was a general discussion regarding this matter. There was a motion by Commissioner Nesseth and seconded by Commissioner Yang to have Commissioner Eoloff send word to the League that this issue created a great discussion • within the Brooklyn Center Human Rights and Resources Commission, and we are now requesting copies of the League's HRC Bylaws. Furthermore, the Brooklyn Center 03/08/95 -4- Commission does not have enough information at this time to make a decision, and we • strongly encourage the League to work together on the resolution of this problem. The motion carried. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Eoloff stated she is glad to be back on the commission; she apologized for her lack of attendance in the past, and said she appreciates the commission members taking her back. Commissioner Achtelik stated she wants HRRC to start addressing handicapped and disabled issues. Chairperson Lerbs stated that at the April meeting, he would like to start working on the prioritized workplan and discussing a float and the process to go through to be included in this year's Earle Brown Days Parade. Commissioner Achtelik stated she is concerned about newspaper articles about special education and funding for handicapped and special ed programs. She also stated that we need to do something as a city on this issue. There was general discussion about this matter. It was the consensus of the commission that when we address the prioritized items, we need to avoid singling out any group and to be as all-inclusive as possible when we work on our projects to make sure all groups are included even when we have to deal with budget cuts. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Maddox and seconded by Commissioner Achtelik to • adjourn the meeting. The motion carried. • 03/08/95 -5- 1. 'Sponsor a -1oat in the Earle Brown Days parade. Co- sponsor with other groups. Get youth involved. 2. Sponsor a poster/essay contest with local schools • with a human rights theme. Give awards. 3. Assist with and promote development;: of human rights committees within junior and senior high schools. Incorporate peer mediation and guest speakers. BC HRC could be an advisory group and have their.* members attend our meetings also. (I know of a couple people on the League who work with youth and train in this area. Also North Henn. Mediation Project trains in the schools.) 4. City staff/police/fire department sensitivity training. "World of Difference" is one option. We could assist in reviewing policies. We could work on police-coy. unity relations. . 5. ?old open forums or discussion groups on race and diversity issues. Have a disability awareness seminar where we'd have people use wheelchairs or blind folds, then end with discussion. (I'have rdsources for holding discussions. Nat'l. Issues Forum speakers, ph. contacts, facilitators.) 6. Diversity dinners are popular in Bloomington. 'Names of participants are gathered, people choose the ethnic/cultural background they would like to 1`arn about or are from. Dinners a::d neiohborhocd discussion grou:)s lead up to 'Xartl.. Luther King Day in January with special events occuring that day. 7. Eden P_ai rLe. and Willmar have had "Celebrations o_ Color" crograms to promata harmony, u'nderstandi.^g; ~and, S ip . Music pros _nta tio:'ts . an address, cand_es, a~~. cou'le ^ue parz of a:? a- ve-i na ?arhaps jointly sponsored by churches . Initiating, or participating in a larger, bias response network. Have a contact in the police dept. to relay information on bias/hate crimes in the community and; have a response team set up to support victim and enlist responses by community, schools, businesses, church groups. 9. Produce and distribute a brochure briefly outlining human rights law in Minnesota, where to call for help (city attorney, State Human Rights Dept., mediation, etc.). These could be used to pass out at parades, in exhibits at local celebrations, churches, businesses, schools, civic groups, etc. (Work with Communications Director and Task Force.) 10. Produce a cable presentation of the above info. Maybe commercial length. Or do a whole show/shows on particular topics - sexual harrassment, !IDS, ::posing issues. 11. Tie in forums/events to special davs. • wx• - MT:Z Day, Cinco de Mayo, International Women's Day, United Nations Day 12. Give an annual human rights award. Spend several months gathering nominees who have made strides furthering awareness, acceptance, communications in human rights issues. (I have lists of Criter?.a for awards. must Qlfierentiate =root ru-man services work. Clearly spell out :gnat human ghts mnear•:s . 13. 0_ani ze and train. for No Fault Grievance Process. Cur. ens V the League of .iN HRC' s is tr ai ..~.n^ CoiuCi- _sc_ens. Or i= t1:.-Ls is .:ot an acceptable path de-_ermine where people c=n go Zzor s_:-11-_ serVi Ces. • Several other MN, cities h ave human rights crdina::Ces. JCS-. emu= %Ot c! Colnc:.Ce w;t1 t^= aVa.l_Dll_~.J O_ measure cz state law and get community involved in passage at local level. 15. Be, advocates in some way to persons with disabilities specifically in the area of ADA. Educate selves and community, grievance process for recieving complaints or requests, monitor accessibility and compliance. 16. Use the arts in some way to educate - theater, drama, music. 17. Have speakers to go out to civic groups, schools, churches, businesses to enlist for projects. They won't come to our meetings, but we can go out to theirs. Form contacts and encourage to support human rights activities in the community. 18. Continue the LZMEIRC Pledge Campaign. This involves offering people an opportunity to commit themselves to supporting human rights by signing the pledge form • and sending it in. They become part of a mai.li ng list of- League info. and ideas to combat racism. 19. We can seek out and offer educational materials to school districts. (This is a current League Project- A committee is S-ther:ng data on what is available and if it's efLective.) 20. Monitor employment practices, zoning - ?rojects are available to work with businesses, in housing, etc. (T Gong t have muC ; ;t7~C. on, this, buz some Commissions are involved in these areas the he°za.) ss_Cne: s t0 a~.._nd on a Ca; C eO_p tCi tv a:)0 Sew Of CLL'a= a 1G t0 .ass On sL?cDOrt pro jest- ideas to schools. Human Rights and Resources Commission 40 WORKPLAN P.RIORITY LIST (Approved March 8, 1995) 1. Sponsor float in Earle Brown Days Parade. Co-sponsor with other groups. Get youth involved. 2. a. Assist with and promote development of human rights committee for junior and senior high schools. Incorporate peer mediation and guest speakers. BCHRRC could be an advisory group and invite their members to attend our meetings also. (I know a couple of people on the League who work with youth and train in this area. Also, North Hennepin Mediation Project trains in the schools.) b. Enlist student commissioners to attend BCHRRC meetings on a regular basis to keep the City apprised of climate and to pass on support/project ideas to schools. 3. Initiate or participate in a larger bias response network. Have a contact in the police department to relay information on bias/hate crimes in the community; have a response team set up to support victims; and enlist responses by community, schools, businesses, and church groups. 4. Eden Prairie and Willmar have held "celebrations of color" Programs to promote harmony, understanding, and friendship. Music, presentations, an address, candles, etc. could be part of an evening. Perhaps jointly sponsored by churches. 5. Diversity dinners are popular in Bloomington. Names of participants are gathered; people choose the ethnic/cultural background they would like to learn about or are from. Dinners and neighborhood discussion groups lead up to Martin Luther King Day in January with sz)ecial events occurring on that day. 0