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Home My WebLink About1997 04-09 CCP Joint Session with Human Rights and Resources Commission City of Brooklyn Center City Council and Human Rights and Resources Commission Joint Session April 9, 1997 7 P .m. Conference Room B 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Approval of Minutes: February 12, 1997 4. Approval of Agenda: April 9, 1997 5. Bias/Hate Crime Response Plan 6. Other Business 7. Adjournment Attachments: • Minutes of February 12, 1997 • Draft Bias/Hate Crime Response Plan DRAFT 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 FEBRUARY 12, 1997 CONFERENCE ROOM B CITY HALL CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center Human Rights and Resources Commission was called to order at 7:01 p.m. ROLL CALL Members present: Chair Lerbs, Commissioners Raisch, Braziel, Yang, Maddox, Doucette, Huemoeller, Achtelik, and Adam Graves, Brooklyn Center High School Student. Also present were Council Liaison Carmody and Administrative Intern Steve Sydow. Members absent and excused: Commissioner Taylor. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JANUARY 8 1997 There was a motion by Commissioner Yang and seconded by Commissioner Braziel to approve the January 8, 1997, minutes. The motion carried. APPROVAL OF AGENDA - FEBRUARY 12 1997 There was a motion by Commissioner Achtelik and seconded by Commissioner Yang to approve the February 12, 1997, agenda. The motion carried. BIAS RESPONSE PLAN There was general discussion regarding the Bias Response Plan. The Commissioners suggested changes for Draft C and returned it to Commissioner Doucette. They plan on passing those changes in March, discussing the proposal with the Council on the April 9, 1997, Council/Human Rights & Resources meeting, and then will present it to the Council at the following Council meeting. PROGRAM IDEA EXCHANGE SEMINAR Brooklyn Center was not represented at the Program Idea Exchange Seminar. INITIATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD FOR BROOKLYN CENTER There was a general discussion regarding the Human Rights Award. Commissioners want to add a nomination flyer similar to "call for nominations ", the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council flyer. There was a discussion regarding the selection process for the Human Rights Award. 2/12/97 _1 _ DRAFT LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSIONS There was a general discussion regarding the commission. Karyn Huemoeller will be added to the list of Brooklyn Center representatives for the League of Minnesota Human Rights. OTHER BUSINESS The Commissioners discussed mail and informational flyers from the Northwest Hennepin Human Services Council. There was a general discussion regarding the 1997 work plan. A Human Rights Task Force at Brooklyn Center High School was also discussed. ADJOURNMENT There was a motion by Commissioner Achtelik and seconded by Commissioner Maddox to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m. The motion carried. 2/12/97 -2- 470 Pillsbury Center i 200 South Sixth Street Minneapolis MN 55402 (612) 337 -9300 telephone • . (612) 337 -9310 fax e -mail: atrys @kennedy- graven.com CHARTERED CHARI,F.s L. LEFEVERE Attorney at Law Direct Dial ('612) 337 -9215 March 24, 1997 Mr. Michael McCauley City Manager City of Brooklyn Center 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway Brooklyn Center MN 55430 RE: Bias ate Crime Response Plan Dear Michael: You have requested that I review the draft bias/hate crime response plan prepared by the City's Human Rights and Resources Commission. This latest draft, Draft C, has eliminated many of the concerns which were raised in response to the Commission's initial draft. The copy which was forwarded to me eliminates the Commission as the principal actor in this plan and substitutes the "Brooklyn Center Response Team ". The plan does not specify how the members of the team will be selected. I would recommend that the team include the City Manager or Manager's appointee so that the City may be kept fully advised of the activities of the response team. Additionally, the plan notes that the Commission seeks a commitment from the police department that the Commission will be notified as soon as possible after a complaint. I would recommend that this be modified to state that the Commission will be notified of such a complaint as soon as possible by the police provided such notification will not hamper on -going investigations or prosecution and is consistent with the Minnesota Data Practices Act. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Very truly yours, Charles L. LeFevere CLL:lh C'LL t 19850 BR291 -4 3/97 City of Brooklyn Center BIASIHATE CRIME RESPONSE PLAN PROPOSAL MISSION To establish a local response to bias/ hate crimes and to join with the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission (LMHRC) in establishing a state -wide response mechanism to counter hate and bias crimes. PURPOSE The Response Team will provide initial and ongoing referrals to create linkages between victims and network partners. The response is intended to promote expeditious community support to victims, not to investigate or determine legal rights. The Commission seeks: • City Council approval of the Plan. • Support from City Manager on bias response. • A commitment from the Brooklyn Center Police Department that the Response Team will be notified as soon as possible after a confirmed bias/ hate crime complaint. Contact will be made through the Human Rights P g g and Resources Commissions staff liaison. • The establishment of a community network that can be activated to promptly support victims of bias/ hate crimes. • To raise awareness of this issue within the community. Attached: Bias/ Hate Crime Response Plan, draft D Attachment A; general guidelines Attachment B; network partners Draft D 3/97 BIAS/HATE CRIME RESPONSE PLAN In response to a bias /hate crime, and at the victim's request, the following will occur: 1) Immediate Response. • Upon receiving notice from the staff liaison of an incident, an assigned Responder will call the victim to set up a visit. • This visit will allow the responder to ask questions to determine which community partners to notify (according to victim's requests and LMHRC guidelines). • The victim will be given a disclaimer that the Responder is not a legal advisor or investigator. 2) Initiate Network Response. • Notify the staff liaison and mayor of the response. • Contact the State Project Coordinator, LMHRC, to seek support and ensure that the Minnesota Department of Human Rights is notified. • Identify if the affected area is participating in a neighborhood watch program. Crime watch coordinator would contact the neighborhood watch block captain. The goal would be to have one of the victim's neighbors attend the interview, thus adding a familiar face to the process. • The city staff will send letters to the media, conduct interviews with local cable channel, and plan/ conduct community -wide response when appropriate, and first and foremost with the victim's approval. • Conduct follow -up contact. Follow -up contact should be made within one week, in person or by phone. Check on any recurrences, other problems, and offer continued support. • Subsequent follow -up within one month (if appropriate). • The team and network representatives involved in the response shall meet as necessary, review the process, and take action or make needed changes. 3) Review Response. • The Response Team shall review the overall process. • The Response Team shall send letters of appreciation to the network representatives involved. The Response Team shall inform the City Manager and Police Chief of the outcome. Response Plan Attachment A 3/97 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS These questions are meant to be a guide to enable us to be helpful to the victim(s). These questions will assist in determining which network partners to contact. • What happened? • Where did this occur? • Was this the first incident or have there been others? • Were children involved? • Is there anything we can do to help you? • What can the community do to prevent future occurances? • Is there anyone that you would like to contact you, or that we could contact for you? • Inform the victim(s) that the responder will contact the LMHRC and the City Manager to report the incident. APPROACHES • Development of suggested approaches for community -wide response (including an evolving list of network partners, suggested interview questions, etc.) will be the responsibility of the Brooklyn Center Human Rights and Resources Commission. • On -going maintenance of a Procedure Manual, which may contain sample statements/ letters to the media (for the mayor's use), other cities' responses to similar crimes, a list of network partners, etc.. • Development of a disclaimer, in cooperation with the City Attorney, to clarify the Response Team's role as a channel /link, not an investigator or advisor. • Primary media contact (press conference, letters to media, etc.) will be the mayor, or her appointee, after obtaining victim's consent for, or preference against, publicity. • Appropriate advocacy groups will be established in cooperation with LMHRC. Attachment B City of Brooklyn Center 2/97 BIASMATE CRIME RESPONSE PLAN NETWORK PARTNERS Organization ' Contact Telephone City of Brooklyn Center Michael McCauley, City Manager 569 -3300 Myrna Kragness, Mayor 561 -7442 Kathleen Carmody, Council Liaison 566 -3114 ?, Staff Liaison 569 -3300 Brooklyn Center Police Dept. Scott Kline, Chief 569 -3300 Neighborhood Watch Dave Grass, Crime Prevention League of MN Human Rights Mort Ryweck, Chairperson 374 -5580 Commission Anoka- Hennepin School District 11 Carla Swenson, Director 422 -5500 of Personnel Brooklyn Center School District 286 Ron Jennings, 561 -2120 Community Liaison ext.337 Osseo School District 279 Sharon Mortud, 391 -7005 Human Rights Officer Robbinsdale School District 281 Gwen Martinson, Director 533 -3133 of Special Services North Hennepin Community College John Dawson, Director 424 -0939 of Cultural Diversity Brooklyn Center Ministerial Reverend Mark Stromberg 557 -7142 Association Pastoral Care Team, North Memorial Reverend Greg Bodin 520 -5627 Hospital (on -call 24 -hrs) Northwest Hennepin Human Services Patricia Wilder 493 -2802 Council Family d Children Services es M Magnuson, Director Mary gn 560 -4412 Northwest Branch North Hennepin Chamber of Commerce Marilyn Slifka 424 -6744 MN Department of Human Rights 296 -5663 Gay & Lesbian Action Committee Action Council 822 -0127 Help Line 822 -8661 Urban League Lucky Rosenbloom 827 -5673