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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977 09-28 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 SEPTEMBER 28, 1977 CITY HALL Call to Order The Brooklyn Center Human Rights Commission met in regular session and was called to order by Chairman Al Weyrauch at 7:32 p.m. Roll Call Chairman Al Weyrauch, Commissioners Joyce Tolve, Jerry Campion, and Michael Miller. Also present were Councilman Gene Lhotka and Administrative Assistant Ronald Warren. Chairman Weyrauch reported that Commissioner Castle has a committment on the fourth Wednesday of each month with the senior citizens and is unable to attend this evening's meeting and is excused. Approval of Minutes Motion by Commissioner Tolve and seconded by Commis- 5-18-77 sioner Miller to approve the minutes of the May 18 1977 Human Rights Commission meeting as submitted. The • motion passed unanimously. Commission Resignation Chairman Weyrauch reported that Commissioner Lacina had resigned from the Human Rights Commission in June, 1977. He explained that Commissioner Lacina had accepted the position of City Administrator for the City of Woodberry and would be unable to adequately perform the duties and responsibilities associated with the Human Rights Com- mission. Correspondence Chairman Weyrauch reported that he had received corre- spondence from the Metropolitan Council in the form of weekly reviews indicating the meetings and upcoming events of the Metropolitan Council. He next distributed ,an informational brochure from the State Department of Human Rights announcing regional mini-hearings on housing, public services, education, employment, public accomodations and credit to be held throughout the state at various regional locations in the months of September, October,and November, 1977. He encouraged members of the Commission to attend these regional mini-hearings if they have the opportunity. He also reported that he had received a letter, also from the Metropolitan Council, inquiring if the Human Rights Commission wished to make -1- 9-28-77 comments on two applications for LAWCOh; funds for the development of Shingle Crrek Trailways submitted by the City of Brooklyn Center. He further reported that he had also received from the Metropolitan Council a booklet entitled Developmental Disabilities: Trends _in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area. He explained that the report was prepared by the Metropolitan-Council staff of the Metropolitan Health Board and by the Metropolitan Council Developmental Dis- abilities Task Force. He added that the information in the booklet was obtained from numerous agencies and from current literature and that, following review by the members of the Human Rights Commission, the booklet would be kept on file by the Secretary for future review. Commissioner Edith Johnson arrived at 7:37 p.m. Councilman Gene Lhotka introduced Ms. Jayne Kuhar who has made application to be a member of the Human Rights Commission. He explained that Ms. Kuhar has been a resident of Brooklyn Center since January of this year and is very much interested in serving on the Commission. He pointed out that one of the qualifications for membership to the Commission is that a member be a resident of the City for at least one year. He further stated that Ms. Kuhar has indicated that she is. aware of the requirement and is still interested in serving on the Commission once the residency requirement is satisfied. Council- man Lhotka suggested that Ms. Kuhar be put on the mailing list for Human Rights Commission minutes and agendas so that she can attend future meetings prior to her consideration for appoint- ment . Commissioner Eleanor Bradway arrived at 7:38 p.m. The Secretary introduced Mr. R. H. Putnam, Director for Senior Guest Speaker . Citizens Assistance in the County Attorney's office. He stated that Mr. Putnam had requested an opportunity to address the Human Rights Commission and to distribute a booklet entitled Senior Citizen the Taraet is You. Chairman Weyrauch recognized Mr. Putnam who distributed copies of the booklet to members of the Commission. Mr. Putnam reviewed his background and stated that he has been retired for approximately eleven years and as of a year ago became a volunteer associated with a project designed to develop an informational booklet for senior citizens. He explained that the purpose of this booklet is to help answer the many questions senior citizens have and to alert them to problems of which they may be unaware.so that they will not become a target of crime, abuse or neglect. He pointed out that the booklet lists numerous agencies which are available to assist senior citizens by providing information on where to go for assistance. He explained that the booklet includes information on consumer protection for senior citizens, • 0 9-28-77 -2- + crime prevention, age discrimination, property tax breaks for seniors, low income housing, health care and medical assistance programs and various laws of special interest to senior citizens. He added that the booklet also contains other information of importance to senior citizens. Mr. Putnam then commented on a number of problems en- countered by senior citizens, one of which seems to be a lack of understanding of the number and types of agencies available to provide assistance for senior citizens. He explained that he considers himself an information person who is available to answer questions for senior citizens or refer them to agencies that can be of assistance. In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Tolve, Mr. Putnam stated that the pamphlets are free of charge and are available at the County Attorney's office. He added that he has brought along a number of pamphlets and would like them to be available in Brooklyn Center at the City Hall. He further stated that he is scheduled to make a presentation to the senior citizens organization at the Brooklyn Center Community Center within the near future and will be making pamphlets available for that group. Following further discussion relative to the booklet and problems of senior citizens, Chairman Weyrauch thanked • Mr. Putnam for his presentation. Commissioner Tolve suggested that these booklets be made available at CEAP, commenting that that agency may well have a need for the information contained in the booklet. City Council, Advisory Chairman Weyrauch introduced the next item of business, and Charter Commission that of a review of the joint City Council, Advisory and Joint Meeting Charter Commission meeting held on August 15, 1977 in the City Hall Council Chambers. He explained that this special meeting was called to discuss and review the Open Meeting Law, the State Critical Areas Planning Act which affects the Mississippi River corridor, the 1976 Metro- politan Land Planning Act and the role of advisory commis- sions in this process. The Secretary reported that the first portion of the meeting involved a review of the Open Meeting Law and the require- ments for local government and that Mr. David Graven, an attorney with the law firm of Holmes, Kircher and Graven gave a presentation relating to the Open Meeting Law and its affects on the City Council, Advisory and Charter Commissions. He briefly reviewed an outline distributed by Mr. Graven which dealt with various aspects -3- 9-28-77 of the Open Meeting Law. The Secretary also reported that the second half of the August 15 meeting was devoted to a presentation relating to the procedures for reviewing and revising the City's Comprehensive Plan and the deveioiiment of a current plan in conjunction with recent State planning legislation. He noted that the mandatory planning act requires all local government units, including cities, towns, townships, and school districts in the metropolitan area to prepare comprehensive plans that are consistent with the Metropolitan Council's plans and policies within the next three years. He further explained that the new plan will, to a significant extent, represent an updating and revision of the City's current Comprehensive Plan but that there are several areas which must be included in the new plan, such as environmental protection elements, housing elements, public facilities plan, a capital improvements program, and an implementation program. He added that advisory commissions will be called upon during the next few years to review and recommend elements of the master comprehensive plan in areas relating to their advisory capacity. He pointed out that although there is no element directly related to the Human Rights Commission,-the Mayor has suggested that the Human Rights Commission review and comment on the Metropolitan Council's social framework 8evelopment'guide which is intended to be a guide for meeting the total needs for society such as the elderly, the handicapped, etc. He further explained that this development. guide is not part, of the system statement but should be completed in the relatively near future and available for review by the Human Rights Commission. The Secretary reported that the Human Rights Commission Report on City Council had forwarded a recommendation to the City Council that the Resolution No. 77-103 Council adopt a resolution for the purpose of expressing and reaffirming the concept of equal opportunity employment practiced by the City. He stated that the Council on May 23, 1977 had considered the Commission's recommenda- tion and following a discussion of the matter had adopted a resolution expressing and reaffirming the policy and intent of the City of Brooklyn Center to provide equal opportunity in employment to all persons. The Secretary pointed out that the City Council had adopted the Commission's recom- .mendation in total. In response to an inquiry, the Secretary explained that the Meeting Schedule Human Rights Commission had decided in January of this year to meet every other month rather than monthly and that a schedule had been presented to members of the Commission noting the dates on which the Commission would meet. is 9-28-77 -4- Updating Accessibility Chairman Weyrauch introduced the next item of business Booklet on the agenda, that of a discussion item relating to up- dating the Human Rights Commission's accessibility booklet. He explained that the accessibility booklet had been published approximately two years ago and that the, Commission might well want to consider as an upcoming project the updating and revising of this booklet for further distribution. The Secretary reported that some comments have been received relative to the accessibility booklet. He explained that most of the comments were favorable and that the negative comments had to do with information people felt was somewhat inaccurate. He suggested that the Commis- sion, in updating this booklet, may well want to review any questionnaires returned as to the validity of the answers. He added that for the most part of the booklet seems to be a success but that efforts should be made to. include more establishments in the City in the booklet. He also suggested that it might be worthwhile to expand the accessibility booklet and to provide community informa- tion such as that contained in the booklet distributed earlier in the evening by Mr. Putnam. Councilman Lhotka stated that he would like to see the Human ?lights Com- mission also look at areas where Brooklyn Center may be lacking in terms of services provided to the community • and make various recommendations as to improving this situation. Accessible Polling In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Bradway, the Places Secretary responded that the City has made every effort to make polling places for elections as accessible to handicapped persons as possible.. He noted that it is the City's policy to either provide absentee ballots to handicapped persons unable to vote at a polling place or to transfer voter registration cards to a polling place' that is more accessible to handicapped persons. Public Transportation Commissioner Johnson commented briefly on bus service Problems in Brooklyn Center and stated that she felt that the City Hall should be more accessible than it presently is in terms of bus transportation. She noted that many persons wishing to come to the City Hall find it difficult to do so without either driving to the City Hall or having someone else bring them. She added that it would be nice if bus transportation to the City Hall was more.available. She also inquired if it was possible for a bus shelter to be erected at Shingle Creek Parkway and Summit Drive for persons waiting for bus transportation 4t that location. The Secretary responded that the Metropolitan Transporta- tion Commission is responsible for erecting bus shelters -5- 9-28-77 on bus routes. He added that although he is not aware of the requirements for constructing a bus shelter., he was aware that the M.T.C. looks at ridership figures and that a certain number of people utilizing a particular bus route at a particular location is required prior to the erection of a bus shelter. Commissioner Tolve commented on a letter that she had read in the newspaper from a handicapped individual that had high praise for M .T . C .'s Project Mobility. She stated that this individual indicated that he was not in favor of making all buses accessible, but did favor seeing Project Mobility expanded beyond the present target area. Chairman Weyrauch commented that he has contacted the M.T.C. to see if a report is available on the results of Project Mobility. He reported that he had been informed that the results of this test project are not yet available .but should be within the near future. "A lengthy discussion ensued relative to public transportation in particular Project Mobility, bus shelter location, and the possibility of extending or modifying bus routes in the area. The Secretary stated that perhaps a representative of M.T.C. .could be contacted to make a presentation to the Human Rights Commission relative to these public transportation concerns. He added that he would attempt to arrange to have a repre- sentative of M.T.C. at the next Commission meeting if members of the Commission so desire. It was the consensus of the Human Rights Commission that the Secretary attempt to have a re-presentative of M.T.C. at the November meeting to discuss public transportation concerns. Commissioner Campion requested that the Commission discuss Updating Accessibility further the idea of updating the Commission's accessibility Booklet booklet. He stated that he would like to see the Commission take some action on this matter prior to the November meeting so that this project can get under way. He pointed out that the Commission in the past has discussed the possibility of developing an article that could appear in the local news- paper announcing the fact that the Commission 'intends to update the accessibility and to urge participation in the survey. He further stated that he felt something could be done prior to the November meeting and that possibly an article could be prepared by that time. A brief discussion ensued relative to Commissioner Campion's suggestion. Commissioner Campion volunteered to develop information relating to the accessiblity booklet to be presented to the Commission for their review at the November meeting. 9-28-77 -6- Commissioner Tolve seconded by Commissioner Motion by The motion passed Adjournment Campion to adjourn the meeting. Rights Commis- The Brook.lYn Center Human s ion adjourned at 9 :15 p • m r Chairman 0 ..$--77 -7- k