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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 09-11 HRRM• MINUTES 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 11, 1996 CITY HALL • • CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Human Rights and Resources Commission was called to order at 7:12 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Vice Chair Nesseth, Commissioners Braziel, Doucette, Forrest, Achtelik, and Nyquist. Also present were Council Liaison Hilstrom, Staff Liaison Gohman, and Administrative Intern Steve Sydow. Members absent and excused: Chair Lerbs and Commissioner Yang. Members absent: Commissioner Maddox. Meeting is being chaired by Commissioner Forrest. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JULY 10. 1996, There was a motion by Commissioner Nyquist and seconded by Commissioner Doucette to approve the minutes for July 10, 1996. The motion carried. There was a motion by Commissioner Doucette and seconded by Commissioner Braziel to amend the minutes of August 14, 1996, to include Commissioners Achtelik and Braziel as APPROVAL OF MINUTES - AUGUST 14. 1996 absence excused. The motion carried. APPROVAL OF AGENDA - SEPTEMBER 11. 1996, There was a motion by Commissioner Forrest and seconded by Commissioner Nyquist to approve the agenda for September 11, 1996. The motion carried. BIAS RESPONSE PLAN Vice Chair Nesseth wanted to go on record that the minutes taken for the July work session of the City Council meeting are not worth the money. Vice Chair Nesseth expressed concern that the work session on this matter was viewed as politics as usual. The City Attorney, City 09/11/96 -1- Manager and Councilmembers present wanted their points emphasized. md site felt the meeting . ,_.a The City Attorney, City Managerand Councilmembers was a waste of her whole 1---71-- 1 1 -1-11.1-- - -1 0 present wanted their points emphasized. The minutes from the July Work Session disregarded anyn ut from the Human Rights Commissioners. Vice-Chair Nesseth felt the meeting was "a waste of her whole evening and the concerns of City Manager, City;Council, and City Attorney "could have just'been typed out and mailed to each Commissioner. The motion carried. Nice Chair Nesseth stated there was no listening, and it felt as the commission was not important. If this was the attitude of the City with this Commission, she would not want to be on the Commission. Commissioner Forrest stated, out of 53 Commissions in the state, we are lacking support from the City Council on the bias response plan. Commissioner Doucette stated that we are looking to implement a plan for support to victims who chose to have such support. This point was not captured in the minutes from the Council Work Session in July. Vice Chair Nesseth suggested that the Commission move forward to put a plan together, advise the council and request implementation of the plan. She also suggested 4tat we shottid remove Vice 'Chair Nesseth `stated we should take out the commission as contact'dnd put the Mayor and City Manager in the plan as the contact: Commissioner; Achtelik stated that the plan was created from a number of other plans from cities which have them in place. She questioned why other cities plans have been adopted and not Brooklyn Center's. Council Liaison Hilstrom stated that as a Councilmember she believes the Council is in support of a plan. Council must also be concerned when a City Attorney gives advice, it is Council's responsibility to make sure the legal concerns are addressed. Council Liaison Hilstrom is in support of a plan that Commission, Council, City Manager and City Attorney all find acceptable. Commissioner Forrest stated that we should try to work with everyone and move forward on the plan. There was a general discussion regarding the bias response plan. There was a motion by Commissioner Doucette and seconded by Commissioner Nesseth that a small group of three to four members meet to re-work the plan and remove the Commission as direct contact with victims. Motion Carried There was a general discussion about who should be part of the small group to work on the plan. It was the consensus of the Commission to have Vice Chair Nesseth and Commissioners Forrest, Doucette, Braziel participate in the bias plan small group. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Forrest distributed two handouts. The first was the Eden Prairie bias crime network titled "We Are and Will Remain Intolerant of Intolerance," a seven page plan. The second handout was titled "Victims of Hate Crimes" from the State of California. There was more general discussion on the Bias Response Plan. Commissioner Forrest reported on the League of Human Rights Commission and stated it was a 09/11/96 r -2- very positive endeavor. Council Liaison Hilstrom excused herself at 7:50 P.m. Commissioner Braziel showed the Commission a booklet on business in Brooklyn Center from the Chamber. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Nyquist and seconded by Commissioner Doucette to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m. Motion Carried. 0 • 09/11/96 -3-