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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992 09-09 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 9, 1992 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center human rights and resources commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairperson Stoderl at 7:09 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairperson Stoderl, Commissioners Carmody, Achtelik, Eckman, Brown (formerly Commissioner Larsen), Eoloff and Windsor. Also present were City Councilmember Dave Rosene and Recording Secretary Geralyn Barone. This evening's guests included Amy Vomhof f -McClurg of Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council; Don Egnell of Brooklyn Peacemaker Center; Bonnie Lukes of North Hennepin Mediation Project and Rita DeBruyn of Five Cities Senior Transportation Project. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JUNE 10. 1992 There was a motion by Commissioner Carmody and seconded by Commissioner Eckman to approve the minutes of the June 10, 1992, meeting as submitted. The motion passed. REVIEW OF EVALUATION PROCESS FOR CONTRACTUAL SERVICE REOUESTS Chairperson Stoderl asked that the presentations this evening be limited to fifteen minutes or less. She added the commission will wait until its October meeting to score and discuss the applications. MINNESOTA LEAGUE OF HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS Commissioner Eoloff provided an update of activities of the Minnesota League of Human Rights Commissions (MLHRC). She said on July 14 the MLHRC announced a campaign against hate and bigotry, with a pledge that has been distributed to citizen groups, churches and human rights commissions; these groups are signing and returning the pledge. She ;added there is now a big mail campaign related to this. Commissioner Eoloff said the MLHRC is updating its informational brochure which will be presented at its annual conference on September 19. She said the legislative agenda of the MLHRC has been developed and will also be presented at the conference. The MLHRC supports funding for no-fault grievance (NFG) community based training; refining hate crime ordinances; encouraging police 09-09-92 -1- diversity and sensitivity training; and including sexual orientation as a protected class under State statute. Councilmember Rosene said two incidents have come to his attention in the last month which indicates a need for this commission to become involved in NFG cases. He gave examples which involved racial undertones in harassment and discrimination cases. He said he passed information on to the police department in one case and the City's housing inspector in the other. Chairperson Stoderl said she received a report last month on something that could be handled through an NFG process. The Recording Secretary said she spoke with Elaine Hanson of the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (DHR) regarding the NFG process and prospects for starting this program in Brooklyn Center. Hanson seemed to think it would be a long time before the commission could get the proper training because the HRD is uncertain about what direction it is going, and it is unknown when the next available training will be. In response to a question posed by the commission, Hanson said if the commission were involved in NFG cases, there would be no right of the commission to refuse acceptance of cases. Commissioner Eolof f verified these comments and said the commission could still receive assistance from HRD on other projects. There was discussion on whether or not to have Level I training knowing Level II is not yet available. There was discussion about how the commission should proceed with regard to participating in the NFG process and working with the HRD on other projects. Commissioner Eoloff will bring back a draft of a work share agreement at the October meeting for discussion, and the commission may decide to make a recommendation to the city council at that time. PRESENTATIONS BY NONPROFIT HUMAN SERVICE PROVIDERS BROOKLYN PEACEMAKER CENTER Mr. Don Egnell, representing BPC, distributed an August statistical report on cases and a newspaper article. Egnell said he is a retired CPA and has volunteered his services to BPC. He has served on the advisory board and is now on the board of directors and chairman of the finance committee. Egnell reviewed a history of the BPC, what a diagnostic team does, some statistical data, and sample cases. He added the domestic abuse intervention program is now being administered by BPC. He reviewed grants received by the BPC. Chairperson Stoderl asked if BPC was able to get an intern to do a study as noted in the program overview of the application. Egnell said they were unable to get anyone to conduct the study. Chairperson Stoderl noted BPC is requesting $10,000 from the City. She noted half of the total BPC budget is spent on overhead costs. Egnell said $25,000 is spent on salary and benefits, and noted 09-09-92 -2- liability insurance costs have increased substantially. Chairperson Stoderl asked if the funds for domestic abuse were handled separately from the rest of BPC's services, and Egnell responded affirmatively. Councilmember Rosene pointed out BPC has been getting by on minimal rent, and asked to whom the rent gets paid. Egnell said it is paid to Dean Nyquist's office building on Brooklyn Boulevard. Chairperson Stoderl asked how the police department's time is reduced by working with BPC, and Egnell said less time is spent by the officers in court and on paperwork. Chairperson Stoderl noted last year's budget indicated a $25,000 grant from the State Supreme Court. The 1993 budget includes a $25,000 grant from Hennepin County, and she asked if there has been any confirmation on this yet. Egnell said there has been none. Commissioner Carmody noted offenders have the option of going to juvenile court or BPC, and wondered if they would have a record if they go through BPC. Egnell said they would have a record, but it would be excused. Commissioner Carmody asked if BPC is trying to determine the number of repeat offenders, and Egnell said they are attempting to get an intern to prepare this study. Commissioner Achtelik asked if it would be possible to get an annual report of BPC's activities. Egnell said he would try to do so. NORTH HENNEPIN MEDIATION PROJECT Bonnie Lukes of NHMP reviewed the amount requested and received in the past from the City. She discussed several programs including Operation D, which is a juvenile diversion program with the ultimate hope of having juvenile cases referred to NHMP. She said the post-divorce program is funded by a McKnight Foundation grant. Lukes noted NHMP has starting training students to mediate disputes in their own schools. She said representatives from Uruguay have looked at NHMP's mediation program. Lukes discussed how mediators are evaluated to make sure they are adhering to the principles of mediation. She noted the goal of mediation is to try to get people to solve their own problems. Lukes said the ratio of settlements shows ninety percent (90%) of the participants leave with agreements and ninety percent (90%) of those people follow through by complying with their agreements. Chairperson Stoderl pointed out NHMP is making a request of $5,000, which is seven percent (7%) of NHMP's total budget. She noted administrative expenses are at eight percent (8). She added in 1991, 1,156 people were served, and of these there were 131 Brooklyn Center residents. Commissioner Brown pointed out this is about eleven percent. (11%) of the total cases. Councilmember Rosene asked if there is still no charge for people who use the program, and Lukes said there is absolutely no charge. She added the exception is the post-divorce mediations which include a sliding-scale fee with a maximum cost of $60. Lukes 09-09-92 -3- 0 noted that because NHMP is serving more minorities, it is recruiting more minority mediators. FIVE CITY TRANSPORTATION PROJECT Rita DeBruyn of FCSTP reviewed highlights of the past year and noted home pick ups were started in Brooklyn Center in June of this year. She distributed new brochures and reviewed services provided by FCSTP. Chairperson Stoderl asked why there has been an increase in the request, and DeBruyn said the increase reflects costs involving sending out more schedules; an increase in the program coordinator's salary; and the addition of in-kind costs, formerly absorbed by Robbinsdale but now being added to the budget. Chairperson Stoderl pointed out the administrative expenses are at forty-one percent (41%) and she asked how it is determined what is administrative and what is nonadministrative. DeBruyn provided an explanation of this. Chairperson Stoderl asked if FCSTP will ever anticipate lowering its age limit or including younger people with disabilities. DeBruyn said there have not been many requests to do so, and on occasion it has served people under 60 (although this is not advertised). She added they would look at changing ridership eligibility requirements it if there is a direct need to do so. Chairperson Stoderl pointed out people under 60 years of age with disabilities can use Metro Mobility. DeBruyn noted the FCSTP appears to be more reliable and offers a social aspect to its riders. NORTHWEST HENNEPIN HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL Amy Vomhoff-McClurg said she is the Success By six project coordinator at NWHHSC. She reviewed activities of NWHHSC and Success By Six in particular. The commissioners viewed a Success By Six videotape. Chairperson Stoderl asked if the funding request is the same in 1993 as it was in 1992, and Vomhoff-McClurg responded affirmatively. Chairperson Stoderl noted this concludes the presentations by nonprofit human service providers for contractual service requests. She asked the commissioners to complete their ratings and be prepared to discuss them at the October commission meeting. OTHER BUSINESS Dave Kiser of Northwest Community Television addressed the commission regarding a video that is being produced for NWHHSC. He videotaped part of the commission meeting this evening, and was planning to interview Chairperson Stoderl after the meeting. RECESS The Brooklyn Center human rights and resources commission recessed at 8:52 p.m. and reconvened at 9:05 p.m. 0 09-09-92 -4- TRANSIT Chairperson Stoderl suggested that this item be moved to the November meeting agenda. It was agreed that someone NWHHSC and the Regional Transit Board (RTB) come to the November meeting to discuss current transit activities and prospects of financial assistance for local transit programs. REPORT ON STRATEGY FOR INVOLVEMENT WITH CHILDREN'S ISSUES Commissioner Achtelik reported on a meeting held earlier this spring about children's issues. She said there would be another similar meeting coming up and commissioners will be notified about it. Commissioner Achtelik said Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park are considering opening a youth center, and the principal of North View Junior High School is chairing a committee to look into this. It would be called "BAY Center", which stands for Brooklyn Area Youth Center. Commissioner Achtelik requested that the commissioners be added to mailing lists of legislative bulletins, and the Recording Secretary said she would take care of this. CULTURAL DIVERSITY Chairperson Stoderl noted there is an upcoming Heritage Festival originating out of the Brooklyn Center Chamber of Commerce. She noted this is something the human rights and resources commission should be involved in and may be able to become more involved in next year. Chairperson Stoderl noted in the past there had been a Community Awareness Day at Brooklyn Center High School where the human rights and resources commissioners put sponsored an information booth. She said if people are willing to do this, the commission may want to participate in the Heritage Festival this way. There was discussion regarding what the commission could do this year to participate in the Heritage Festival, and Commissioner Carmody noted it would be good for the commission to have a higher profile. Commissioner Brown noted a lot of issues could be covered, and the commission could act as a community resource. She expressed concern about appearing disorganized for this year's event, and the commissioners agreed that they would like to be much more involved in planning next year's event. After much discussion, the commission agreed that Commissioner Eoloff would draft a letter to the editor that would show the commission supports the Heritage Festival this year. At the December commission meeting, there will be discussion on the direction of promoting the commission and its activities. The commissioners agreed that they would like to invite someone from NWHHSC to the October meeting to discuss cultural diversity. The Recording Secretary distributed some information regarding cultural diversity efforts being coordinated by the Government Training Service (GTS). This will also be reviewed at the October meeting. 0 09-09-92 -5- COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULE Chairperson Stoderl said she no longer has conflicts with the regular Wednesday evening meetings. The commission agreed the November meeting would be scheduled for November 12 at 7:00 p.m. due to the Veteran's Day holiday on November 11. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Carmody and seconded by commissioner Brown to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed. The Brooklyn Center human rights and resources commission adjourned at 9:50 p.m. Chairperson • 09-09-92 -6-