HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 11-08 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
NOVEMBER 8, 1995
CITY HALL
CAI J- TO ORDER
The Brooklyn Center human rights and resources commission was called to order at 7:15 p.m.
ROT 1. C'AT.T.
Members present: Vice Chair Brown, Commissioners Nesseth, Yang, Nyquist, Braziel. Also
present Council Liaison Hilstrom and Staff Liaison Gohman.
Members absent and excused: Commissioners Achtelik and Chairperson Lerbs.
Members absent and unexcused: Commissioners Maddox and Eoloff.
APPROVAI. OF MINUTES - OCTOBER t 111995
There was a motion by Commissioner Nesseth and seconded by Commissioner Nyquist to
approve the October 11, 1995, minutes. Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF ACTFNDA - NOVFMRFR R, 1995
Commissioner Yang stated he wanted to discuss the league meeting of the human rights
commission under other business.
There was a motion by Commissioner Yang and seconded by Commissioner Braziel to
approve the agenda adding a discussion of the League of Minnesota Human Rights
Conference. The motion carried.
BUD=
The commission discussed the overall City budget as well as the human rights and resources
commission budget as requested for 1996. There was a consensus of the commission to forward
a memo to the City Council as soon as possible recommending the Council reconsider a budget
allocation for the human rights and resources commission for 1996. Included in the memo will
be the motion from October 11, 1995, which states: "There was a motion by Commissioner
Nesseth and seconded by commissioner Nyquist to recommend to the Council to reconsider
funding of $1,650 budget for 1996 for the human rights and resources commission." The 1996
budget requests include $1,000 for Heritage Festival, $150 for League of Minnesota dues, and
$500 for league conference.
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There was a general discussion on social services. Staff liaison Gohman stated that there will be
public input taken at the December 6, 1995, and if needed December 13, 1995, hearing at the
Council meeting when the Council is in discussion on the budget at the truth in taxation hearing.
There was a general discussion about the,social services review process. Council liaison Hilstrom
stated that it is very important that our HRRC are a part of the review process for social services.
Staff liaison Gohman stated that Brooklyn Park human rights commission is looking at our
process and may be doing the same in Brooklyn Park. It was a consensus of the commission to
obtain statistics on Brooklyn Peacemaker recidivism rate.
There was a general discussion on the November 7, 1995, memo from Brooklyn Peacemaker to
Chair Lerbs which was distributed at the meeting. Brooklyn Peacemaker is reducing its funding
request at this time from $15,000 to $10,000. Commissioner Nyquist made a recommendation
that a funding method or policy should be developed stating that funding will be given from the
City for five years maximum and no more funds will be given to that organization after five years.
The funds should be reduced each year by a certain percentage. There was a general discussion
on this recommendation.
There was a motion by Commissioner Brown and seconded by Commissioner Nyquist that
a review should be done on the contractual services process and also on the amount of money
funded by the City along with developing policy and funding limits to social services. This
policy should be developed used in 1996 for the 1997 budget. The motion carried.
Commissioner Nyquist stated that he will work on a draft of review of social services.
The commission discussed the bias response plan. Staff liaison Gohman stated that the draft bias
response plan has been forwarded to Council. Also that Northwest Hennepin Human Services
Council has set the second part of training on bias response for November 13, 1995, at their
office. Staff liaison Gohman will talk to the police department on this matter.
The commission discussed the essay contest. Commissioner Yang put together a sample outline
for the essay contest and gave it to commission members prior to the meeting. Commission
members stated that Commissioner Yang did an excellent job putting the program together.
There was a motion by Commissioner Nyquist and seconded by Commissioner Nesseth to
adopt a change in the plan to award eight $25 prize winners. The motion carried.
There was a consensus of the commission to have the essay contest solely at Brooklyn Center High
School.
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Staff liaison Gohman stated that Jerry Timperley, Chair of the Brooklyn Park human rights
commission, is interested in doing a cooperative effort in diversity training for its policy makers.
It was the consensus of the commission to have Commissioner Maddox contact Jerry Timperley
regarding cultural diversity training for policy makers. The cultural diversity discussion continued
that police department will be setting up training and that we are working on training for City hall.
There was a consensus to put No. 5 on the work plan on the next agenda.
Commissioner Yang stated that he will not be on the board for the Minnesota Human Rights
league. He could not attend all the meetings due to other commitments. Representation by
BCHRRC includes Commissioners Nesseth, Maddox, and Eoloff. Commissioner Nesseth updated
the commission on the last league of Minnesota rights meeting.
There was a motion by Commissioner Nesseth and seconded by Commissioner Yang to move
the December 13, 1995, starting time of the next human rights and resources commission
meeting to 6 p.m. so it will not conflict with the truth in taxation budget meeting by Council.
The motion carried.
VICE. CHAIR -BROWN RESIGNATION
There was a general discussion by Vice Chair Brown stating that she is changing her residency
from Brooklyn Center and will no longer be able to be a member of the HRRC. Vice Chair
Brown stated that she has enjoyed being on the commission over the years and working to get
programs and projects in place for her community. She stated that she encourages the commission
to continue to move on with diversity training and things such as the bias response plan. She
stated that she felt the commission was doing a wonderful job. There was a consensus of the
commission to give thanks and appreciation to Vice Chair Brown for her very helpful participation
over the years.
There was a motion by Commissioner Nyquist and seconded by Commissioner Braziel to
adjourn the meeting at 8;55 p.m. The motion carried.
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