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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 10-12 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 OCTOBER 12, 1994 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 Henry at 7:05 PM. ROLL CALL Members Present: Vice Chairperson Henry, Commissioners Brown, Lerbs, Nesseth, Achtelik, Council Liaison Dave Rosene, and Staff Liaison Nancy Gohman, recording secretary. Members Absent: Chairperson Eoloff, Commissioners Eckman, Reiva, and Maddox. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - SEPTEMBER 14.1994 There was a motion by Commissioner Lerbs and seconded by Commissioner Brown to • approve the minutes of the September 14, 1994, meeting as submitted. The motion carried. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The commission discussed the agenda for the October meeting. There was a motion by Commissioner Lerbs and seconded by Commissioner Achtelik to approve the agenda for the October meeting. The motion carried. PROCESS FOR REOUESTS FOR CONTRACTUAL SERVICES Vice Chairperson Henry led a discussion on the process regarding the interviews and presentations on the Requests for Contractual Services. He suggested that the commission give each presenter ten minutes to talk about their program and allow five minutes for questions and answers from the commission. The commission was in consensus on this process for the interviews. Commissioner Brown discussed the previous process used in reviewing the Requests for Contractual Service proposals and presentations in 1993. It was the consensus of the commission to proceed with the presentations allowing for questions and to make their ranking determinations at the next regular commission meeting. PRESENTATIONS BEGIN Project Coordinator Dave Greeman, Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council (NWHHSQ, made his presentation on their program at 7:15. Commissioner Brown asked about a bias response plan is it complete. Commissioner Achtelik asked about rides to surplus commodities why isn't there a location in Brooklyn Center. Presenter Greeman stated that there would be delivery of surplus if someone was homebound; they just need 10/12/94 - 1 - - 1 to call to line up delivery. Commissioner Achtelik asked if this information could be put on the flyer for surplus commodities. Commissioner Nesseth asked questions regarding employees of NWHHSC. Vice Chairperson Henry stated it was 7:30 and time to close the presentation and questions and answers from NWHHSC. Council Liaison Rosene asked about other funding sources. Commissioner Brown asked about the Co-op Northwest Program. Presenter Greeman discussed funding and the 5 Cities Project and that this project is for five specific cities and not all of the 15 cities served by NWHHSC. Rita DeBruyn, S Cities Senior Transportation Program, made her presentation on their program at 7:30. Commissioner Achtelik asked if people with disabilities could be included from the highrise in the program for transportation. Presenter DeBruyn said something has been done and that disabled individuals can be transported to the grocery stores on the same bus. Currently, there is an analysis going on in the northwest Hennepin area regarding older adults and transportation services. The results from this analysis and survey should be available in the future. Commissioner Achtelik asked about the average number of people per trip that the buses carry. Presenter DeBruyn stated it was seasonal, with riders in the fall and winter program (riders to grocery stores) numbering from 18 to 20 people with a bus capacity of 25. In the summer, ridership is down with numbers of ten to 15, and the community center programs run through Brooklyn Center recreation may have a ridership of eight to 15, it varies. Commissioner Achtelik expressed a concern that she had followed the buses and they don't seem full. Presenter DeBruyn stated that if any of the commissioners would like to ride along at any time to see exactly where the buses go or numbers of people on the buses, call her and she will line up the opportunity for the . commissioners to ride. She also commented they don't refuse callers who are not from the senior population who are disabled that call for rides. But they also don't advertise this. She stated the program is limited by the number of staff working to serve the program. Walter Hayes, North Hennepin Mediation Project, made his presentation on their program at 7:45. Council Liaison Rosene asked if Presenter Hayes' mediation skills have helped him personally at work. Presenter Hayes stated yes. Council Liaison Rosene asked what line of work the mediator is in, and Presenter Hayes stated accountant. Council Liaison Rosene asked how Presenter Hayes how mediation costs compare with other costs. Presenter Hayes stated that conciliation court does not cost much for the filing fee, but many of the things not solved in conciliation court can be solved in mediation. Ninety percent of the agreements are not right or wrong, there is no actual right or wrong, but it is up to those involved in the mediation to come up with a conclusion or a handshake-type agreement and a resolution to the problem. Commissioner Nesseth asked if the presenter went to conciliation court. Presenter Hayes stated that we have people there (mediators), many of there cases are taken out of the court setting and brought into mediation. Council Liaison Rosene stated that the council has made recommendations about mediation at council meetings. Commissioner Achtelik stated they have friends who have recommended mediation and it has seemed to work; it seems to be a good system. Commissioner Brown asked questions about the number served and the costs. Presenter Hayes talked about Operation DeNovo. He stated it is for first-time juvenile offenders who are given the option of court or mediation; the juvenile offender chooses the process to use. In this case, Operation DeNovo forces the juvenile to face the offender. Commissioner Achtelik asked about the charge for this services, and Presenter Hayes responded there is no charge as they 10/12/94 -2- have received a McKnight grant for post-divorce skills and training. There is a sliding fee scale on mediation in post-divorce cases. There was general discussion about the number of people served in Brooklyn Center. No one was available from Brooklyn Peacemaker Center to make a presentation this evening. Brooklyn Peacemaker Center was a no show. At 8:00, Executive Director Ed Eide of CEAP made his presentation on their program. Vice Chairperson Henry discussed that the City does not contribute funding and asked if the presenter had raised this issue before. Presenter Eide stated that most cities use CDBG funds. In the past, the city manager said that CDBG funds are for housing, but the Presenter stated that CEAP shovels, gives food and clothing, and help with housing. Commissioner Nesseth asked about the budget as there appears to be a 12 percent overhead - what is considered to be overhead. Presenter Eide stated that overhead is building, heat, food, and meals. Also that staff included director of administration, himself, director of communications, part-time staff, and all staffing in the agency. Commissioner Nesseth asked about the number of employees, and Presenter Eide stated there are ten full- time and nine part-time. Commissioner Nesseth asked the number of volunteers, and Presenter Eide stated there is over 900 volunteers with a large focus of the volunteers used at Christmas. He also stated the receptionist as well as those that pack and deliver food are all volunteers. Commissioner Achtelik stated to the Presenter that she wanted to thank CEAP from our community for being there. Council Liaison Rosene stated that part of the reason Brooklyn Center has not given donations is because of the donation at the inception . of CEAP. Presenter Eide stated the City donated the old city hall site and while it was being renovated, it burned down and the insurance money went to the city. The City then made a large donation to CEAP for services to run their operation. Council Liaison Rosene asked what the donation is from each community to CEAP. Presenter Eide stated it varies. Council Liaison Rosene stated he supports CEAP, but the donation given to CEAP several years ago by the City was a lot of cash in comparison to what other cities have given over the years. Commissioner Brown asked about the number of people served. Presenter Eide said individual counts are not kept, but counts and numbers are broken down by Zip codes which do overlap into other cities. There was general discussion when the presentation was done. There was a motion by Commissioner Lerbs and seconded by Commissioner Achtelik to take a five minute break. Motion carried. The commission reconvened at 8:35 PM. HERITAGE FESTIVAL - NOVEMBER 12. 1994. 11 AM TO 4 PM The commission discussed the Heritage Festival. Vice Chairperson Henry stated he has gotten a student's name to put together a backdrop on the booth, and the student is to contact the subcommittee for the Heritage Festival. HERITAGE FESTIVAL SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATE Commissioner Nesseth reported nothing is being done yet, but Brooklyn Center does in fact have a booth for the Heritage Festival. Staff Liaison Gohman stated that Chairperson 10/12/94 -3- -t Eoloff said she may be tied up over the next several weeks and that we may need to expand the subcommittee. Commissioner Nesseth stated she would need help since she and Chairperson Eoloff were the members of the subcommittee. Vice Chairperson Henry said he would try to help work on the Heritage Festival. Commissioner Nesseth asked if there was a commitment from the members to staff the booth at the Heritage Festival on November 12 from 11 AM to 4 PM. There was general discussion about staffing, and the commissioners agreed to work it into their schedules as much as possible. Vice Chairperson Henry and Commissioner Nesseth will need to organize a plan on the booth for the Heritage Festival and report to the commission on October 26. MISSION STATEMENT Staff Liaison Gohman handed out samples of the declaration of human rights she had put together for the Brooklyn Center Human Rights and Resources Commission. There was general discussion within the group and there was a consensus on the design to be used on the certificate. It was also the understanding that Staff Liaison Gohman will attach the design to the next agenda so the certificates could then be used. WORKPLAN - GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Vice Chairperson Henry briefly discussed the need to develop a workplan for the commission, to develop goals and objectives, and to prioritize projects. The questions was asked whether we should work on this. now or table this item for this meeting. There was a motion by Commissioner Lerbs and seconded Commissioner Nesseth to table this item until the next commission meeting. Motion carried. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Achtelik discussed the Success By Six committee, which is a grandparent support group conference involving ADA in regard to children. She also suggested to hold meetings in the northwest suburbs, and she will report to the commission on the progress of this committee. Council Liaison Rosene discussed the joint council meeting with 16 councils and that there are problems in the northwest suburbs - there are no meetings in the northwest, all of the meetings are focused in the southern metro area. Commissioner Achtelik asked why are there so many meetings in the south when we have programs and centers in the north that can be focused on. Vice Chairperson Henry asked if there was any other business. Commissioner Nesseth stated that she wanted to update the commission on the Minnesota Human Rights meeting and that the sessions were very interesting. Vice Chairperson Henry stated he wanted to bring up a concern about Park Nicollet Health Services and asked if this is the appropriate avenue and whether human rights and resources commission members should be involved. He received a complaint from someone who has problems with the billing of the medical services. Commissioner Achtelik stated that Park Nicollet has a patient representative for patient contact and that person at the clinic is the one to address patient problems. Vice Chairperson Henry said this problem with this individual has been going for two years and there is no resolution and he is asking for ideas. He also stated this was a former police officer (not of Brooklyn Center) who was injured 10/12/94 -4- • on duty, then fired and had no health care, back to work, reinjured, and refused health care. The commission in consensus stated it sounds like a workers' compensation issue and that it should also be forward to the state department of labor. Vice Chairperson Henry gave a report on the Target mentoring program. Ten students or vacancies are needed in 1994 for this program; 34 students applied, 27 applications were forward to Target, 24 were interviewed, and eight were offered positions. There are no Brooklyn Center students, and we are looking for students in this area. There remain two openings for this program. If anyone knows of any students, we should contact Vice Chairperson Henry. Council Liaison Rosene asked if he could get a paragraph describing the program to forward to council for their information. Council Liaison Rosene asked what the human rights and resources commission is going to do on a special recognition night or a program for kids. He wants to present something to the city manager. It had been on the agenda in the past. Commissioner Lerbs stated the HRRC had voted it down. Vice Chairperson Henry reminded the group that there were multiple reasons for voting it down and that it was the consensus of the commission that if Council Liaison Rosene wanted to carry it on his own, he can do so. He also stated if Chairperson Eoloff wants to discuss this issue again, we will wait and discuss it when she is present. • ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Lerbs and seconded by Commissioner Nesseth to adjourn the meeting at 9:16 PM. The motion carried. 0 1ib/12/94 -5-