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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 12-13 HRRMMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA REGULAR SESSION DECEMBER 13, 1978 CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Human Rights Commission met in regular session and was called"to order by Chairman Weyrauch at 7:42 p.m. ROLL CALL Chairman Weyrauch, Commissioners Jayne Kuhar, Edith Johnson, Joyce Tolve and Michael Miller. Also present were Councilmember_ Gene Lhotka and Administrative Assistant Mary Harty. Chairman Weyrauch noted Commissioner Bradway had called and would not be pre- sent. Administrative Assistant Mary Harty noted she had received a message from Commissioner Campion that he would not be able to attend. Commissioners Lemke and Castle did not attend. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 11-15-78 There was a motion by Commissioner Tolve and seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the minutes of the November 15, 1978 Human Rights Commission meeting. The motion passed unanimously. % INFORMATION UPDATE Mary Harty briefly reviewed the process for Community Development Block Grant planning. She noted Commissioner Johnson had been selected from the Human Rights Commission as one of the members of the Citizens Advisory Group for Community Development Block Grants. Commissioner Johnson suggested it would be helpful if members of the Commissions and citizens at large would. either attend the public hearings of the Citizens Advisory Group or present their suggestions to members of the group or staff. Mary Harty also briefly reviewed the progress in the Comprehensive Planning Process in the City of Brooklyn Center. COAL SETTING FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION Chairman Weyrauch. noted he sensed a high level of frustration within the Commission as to where the Commission was at the present time and where it was going. He explained he felt the Commission had been involved in a variety of valuable functions and projects, such as the accessibility booklet and working with the concerned black parent group. He also noted he felt the Commission was fortunate to have excellent members. Chairman Weyrauch commented that most of the Commissioners are pro- fessionals in their own right and it is important that the Commissioners time as a Commission be used wisely.. Chairman Weyrauch suggested it might be helpful at 12-13-78 -1- this time to look at the history of the Commission, where it had been in the past and where it should be going in the future. Councilmember Lhatka agreed it would be helpful to look at the purpose and the func- tion of the Human Rights Commission, what it had been set up for and what direction it wished to take. Chairman Weyrauch further commented it appeared the Human Rights Commission had gone through different stages beginning with dealing with employment, housing, dis- crimination type problems in the 1960's. He suggested it might be helpful to evalu- ate whether or not this was still the purpose of the Human Rights Commission. He further commented the name Human Rights Commission may be limiting ra :her than expansive and there may be a problem even in the name of the Commission. He sug- gested the Commission might wish to look at the name. Commissioner Miller noted there had recently been an article in the Minneapolis paper concerning that very issue, the purpose of Human Rights Commissions. "he article explained what was happening in several municipalities with their Human Rights - Commissions. Commissioner Miller suggested he would provide a copy of that article to the other Commissioners for their review. Commissioner Miller further noted he did not feel the stumbling block was in the title, Human Rights Commission, but rather in the image. Administra-tive Assistant Mary Harty concurred with the discussion suggesting it would be helpful to place on the January agenda the item, goal setting for the Human Rights Commission. She suggested it : ould be. a iiLiNful exercise particularly coming at the beginning of 1979; that being an evaluation of where the Commission had been • and where it was going in the future. -Commissioner Johnson concurred with earlier discussion and explained she had Wo priorities in mind when she had joined the Commission. The first priority was an educational type of booklet and the second priority was in the area of housing. She felt it would be helpful to get information to people concerning for example, housing. Commissioner Kuhar explained she had felt a great deal of frustration because she sensed that people are not coming to the Human Rights Commission for help and there- fore, the Human Rights Commission has no real purpose. Commissioner Johnson suggested there are other things the Commission could be doi rather than dealing with problem:; after they have occurred. Chairman Weyrauch suggested the discussion should be tabled and -a goal setting exercise should be placed on the January agenda for the Human Rights Commission meeting. He asked that all Human Rights Commissioners give some thought to what they felt the direction of the Human Rights Commission should be for purposes of a discussion at the January meeting. 12-1.3-78 -2- SPEAKER Chairman Weyrauch introduced Mr. Kurt Strom, the Public Information Officer from the State Council for the Handicapped. Mr'. Strom provided the Commission with copies of the Uniform Building Code, Chapter 55, Facilities for the Handicapped and also a building access survey form prepared by the Minnesota State Council for the Handicapped. He briefly discussed both handouts and answered several questions from the Com- mission on accessibility. - Mr. Strom elaborated on the point that accessibility means accessibility for all people and is actually a benefit to all people not ju.st to handi- capped people. He noted that most buildings fall in a continuum from being entirely inaccessible to being totally accessible. In response to questions from the Commis- sion, he made suggestions as to some of the ways that buildings could be made accessible. He -suggested the Commission might be interested in acquiring a copy of a book prepared by the Minnesota State Council for the Handicapped called "Accessible Architecture" which is an illustrated version of Chapter 55. The Com- mission expressed an interest in acquiring a copy of the booklet, Administrative , Assistant Mary Harty suggested she would take care of acquiring copies for the Commission. ACCESSIBILITY BOOKLET Commissioner Kuhar brought the material she had compiled. She indicated she had not been able to speak with Commissioner Campion because Commissioner Campion was out of town. She did not know how far along Commissioner Campion was in putting together his part of the booklet. She noted she would attempt to get in touch with Commissioner Campion in hopes that the booklet could be completed., Comm s~- sioner Kuhar also briefly explained a draft of a follow-up letter which she °had been preparing.. The Commission concurred with the style in the letter and the wording which she was preparing. OTHER BUSINESS 'Chairman Weyrauch noted there was no other business to be handled. ADTOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Tolve and seconded by Commissioner Kuhar to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. C, Chairman 12-13-78 -3-