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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 09-14 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 SEPTEMBER 14, 1994 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center human rights and resources commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairperson Eoloff at 6:35 p.m.. WELCOME Chairperson Eoloff extended a welcome to two new members to the commission, Wayde Lerbs and Charlotte Nesseth. ROLL CALL Chairperson Eoloff, Commissioners Brown, Henry, Lerbs, Nesseth, and Staff Liaison Nancy Gohman, recording secretary. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JULY 1.3. 1994 • There was a motion by Commissioner Brown and seconded by Commissioner Henry to approve the minutes of the July 13, 1994, meeting as submitted. The motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JUNE 22. 1994 The commission discussed the details of the June 22, 1994, meeting. There was a consensus of the commission to amend the minutes under Children's Issues to read, "Chairperson Eoloff presented a resolution of recognition of scouting achievement. She felt it appropriate to ask the city council to have a proclamation done to honor all boy scouts and girl scouts who achieve the highest level. . There was a motion by Commissioner Eclunan and seconded by Commissioner Olsen to recommend to the city council to honor this achievement." There was also a discussion about the motion regarding the park and recreation commission to present the recommendation to the city council. The discussion focused that two members voted yes, one member voted no, and three members abstained on this item. Also to be amended was the section under Earle Brown Days/Heritage Festival to read, "The commission discussed the recommendation that was made to council to approve on the consent agenda the appropriation of $1,000 to the Heritage Day Festival." • Finally, to correct under Vice Chair, Commissioner Olsen should be changed to Commissioner Brown. 09/14/94 - 1 - There was a motion by Commissioner Henry and seconded by Commissioner Brown to approve the June 22, 1994, minutes as amended. The motion carried; Commissioner Lerbs abstained. Commissioner Achtelik arrived at 6:50 p.m. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The commission discussed the agenda for the October meeting. Commissioner Henry requested adding an item regarding the Target Mentoring Program to the agenda. Chairperson Eoloff stated that it will be added under Other Business. APPOINTMENT OF VICE CHAIR Chairperson Eoloff discussed with the commission that she had asked Commissioner Henry to be vice chair of the human rights and resources commission. Commissioner Henry accepted Chairperson Eoloffs request. Commissioner Henry was appointed as vice chair of the human rights and resources commission. CHILDREN'S ISSUES Commissioner Achtelik discussed the proposed resolution on children's issues. She stated she did not want this to go to the park and recreation commission; she wanted the resolution to come from the human rights and resources commission. Commissioner Nesseth stated that the resolution is admirable but questions if it's a human rights and resources commission issue. Commissioner Lerbs and Commissioner Achtelik stated the commission is not only the human rights commission, but the human rights and resources commission. Commissioner Henry feels this issue and resolution are note worthy, but he is afraid that because we're a new commission, there may be too many things we want to do. The commission needs to establish what the issues are and priorities on these issues. Commissioner Brown stated that the commission's role is to advise the council on human rights and that she sees this as part of the commission's advisory role. Council Liaison Rosene arrived at 7:22 p.m. Commissioner Henry stated the way he sees this is that there are issues we need to work on that take precedence over this and that there are things we need to address now. Commissioner Lerbs stated he had concerns over this proclamation, could it be acting as exclusionary - singling out boy and girl scouts specifically. Council Liaison Rosene stated he agreed with the proclamation in that it should be broadened to include all children who achieve the highest level in their activity group. Commissioner Henry asked if anyone understands how many organizations there could be if we honored all children who obtain the highest level, can we do all of these recognitions? The commission continued to discuss this issue. Chairperson Eoloff called for a vote on the resolution. No motions were made; there was a vote of two for and three again forwarding this resolution to the Council from the HRRC. • Council Liaison Rosene stated that he wanted to initiate this personally and will approach this type of resolution with the city council and talk with the city manager about bringing something forward on children's issues; it does not have to be specific to the human rights • and resources commission. Commissioner Henry again stated that we are volunteers and ~a 09/14/94 -2- we have to determine a mechanism on what we are to address, that these issues are ti important issues, but we also have to prioritize. The commission briefly discussed the history of the human rights and resources commission and several issues that had been brought before the body in the past. Council Liaison Rosene stated that in order for this commission to achieve goals, they may need to meet more often than monthly. MISSION STATEMENT The commission discussed development of a mission statement. There was general discussion on what a mission statement is, the need for a mission statement, and the type of mission statement the group should have. After much discussion, Staff Liaison Gohman suggested that she work on a mission statement and give examples to the commission for review. She also stated she did not want to take this project from their hands, but it may be helpful to bring some examples written for Brooklyn Center's Human Rights and Resources Commission so the group can work specifically on a mission statement that is in draft format. Staff Liaison Gohman also stated this would free the group to start working on the workplan and goals. Commissioner Henry suggested we incorporate number 2 on the draft of mission statements into the sample brochures. Commissioner Nesseth stated she liked the number 1 statement on the commission charge literature. Commissioner Henry stated he likes Bloomington's certificate and wondered if we could do something like this. It was the consensus of the commission to have Staff Liaison Gohman use the samples and mission statement number . 2 as created by the commission at its July meeting to draft samples of mission statements for Brooklyn Center's Human Rights and Resources Commission and bring them to the commission at the next regular meeting. WORKPLAN There was general discussion on workplan projects to be done and goals. Chairperson Eoloff discussed that the October meeting will be to evaluate service contracts, using the evaluation form, to help with budgeting. The November meeting will be used to finalize those evaluations to advise the city council. Commissioners Nesseth and Lerbs stated that two meetings may be needed in October and November to accomplish all of the things the commission wants to do. There was a motion by Commissioner Nesseth and seconded by Commissioner Lerbs to have two meetings in October and November for the human rights and resources commission. The HRRC discussed the meeting schedule. Commissioner Achtelik stated that she may have a hard time attending all of these meetings. Commissioner Brown stated that we may want to wait and see if we need additional meetings and the chairperson can call them at the last minute if needed. Commissioner Eoloff called for the motion. The motion carried. HERITAGE FESTIVAL BOOTH The commission discussed the Heritage Festival, scheduled for early November. . Commissioner Nesseth and Chairperson Eoloff stated they'll form a subcommittee and 09/14/94 -3- check into putting together what's needed for a booth for Brooklyn Center's Human Rights of and Resources Commission at the Heritage Festival. JOINT COUNCIU/COMMISSION MEETING The commission discussed the February meeting. There was a consensus by the commission to have Staff Liaison Gohman contact department heads and commissioners to gear up for the February meeting to create slides, visuals and presentations for the joint council/commission meeting. HUMAN RIGHTS AND RESOURCES COMMISSION CERTIFICATES Commissioner Henry discussed certificates. He likes the idea to have certificates for people who serve on the commission similar to the certificates Bloomington has. There was general discussion of putting together certificates and issuing certificates at different points, either for new members or for those who have been acting for some time, and also to have certificates available for the human rights and resources commission to use at various functions. It was the consensus of the commission to create draft certificates. It was also discussed that these certificates could be used and handed out at the Heritage Festival this year. Council Liaison Rosene asked if we could get Target to help with the backdrop. There was some brainstorming. The thought was that maybe a backdrop could be made to be a big certificate and those visiting the Heritage Festival could sign it, and maybe Target could help. Commissioner Henry discussed the idea of not usingTarget. His thoughts were that design students from the University of Minnesota might be interested in volunteering to create the backdrop for the booth. The brainstorming continued and there were thoughts that next year maybe high school students in the area could create the backdrop for the • 1995 heritage booth. Commissioner Henry will check on the possibility of working with students at the "U" to design the backdrop and will get back to the Heritage subcommittee on this issue. TARGET MENTORING PROGRAM Commissioner Henry discussed a new joint venture between Target and the City of Minneapolis which is called the "Human Ecology Target Mentoring Program." Ten minority students in 12th grade with a minimum GPA of 2.5 interested in retail and merchandising would be brought into the program to learn management roles within retail and merchandising. Target would then provide them with jobs during school. The program is focused to get students away from loans to go through college and a program. Minneapolis Councilmember Jackie Cherryhomes has agreed to open this opportunity to allow cities such as Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and other cities in the area to be involved in the program. Partial funding will be needed by the city in matching dollars for the program. Minneapolis will only pick up Minneapolis residents; and if Brooklyn Center has a resident or student who wants to be in the program, the City must pick up the cost. The funding roughly works that there is $65,000 allocated for ten students to go through the program. Target will pick up 50 percent of the cost and the cities will pick up 50 percent of the cost. If there are interested Brooklyn Center students, they need to apply to the program. Commissioner Henry wants the council to understand what's coming; and secondly, if we know someone from Brooklyn Center, to have them apply to the program. , 09/14/94 -4- .1 There was a motion by Commissioner Henry and seconded by Commissioner Urbs to y' recommend to the city council to consider participation in the University of Minnesota Human Ecology Target Store mentoring program. The motion passed. FUTURE MEETING DATES Commissioner Eoloff discussed future meeting dates. The October 12 meeting will focus on interviews (7:00 p.m.); October 26 will be the additional meeting; November 9 is set as the regular November meeting; and November 16 is set as a tentative meeting. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Nesseth and seconded by Commissioner Achtelik to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried. The human rights and resources commission meeting adjourned at 9:16 p.m. 09/14/94 -5-