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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 10/13/1998 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1998 7:00 p.m., CITY CENTER Heritage Room IV 8080 Mitchell Road COMMISSION MEMBERS: Gloria Winans, Chairperson; Commissioners Brad Behrends, Richard Helzel, Harry Moran, Vicki Pellar-Price, Darryl Stanton, and Munna Yasiri YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE: Sopanha Te and Jennifer Johnson COMMISSION STAFF: Michael Barone, Supv. Personnel/Payroll; and Dave Hix, Recording Secretary(for Jan Nelson) I. ROLL CALL Chairperson Winans called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m., Munna Yasiri was absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chairperson Winans offered the following changes to the agenda: Move Item VLC. Report of Youth Representatives to after III, since youth representative Te needs to leave by 7:20 p.m. MOTION: Helzel moved, seconded by Moran, to approve the Agenda as published and amended. Motion carried 6-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 8, 1998 Chairperson Winans asked for correction and/or additions to the meeting minutes of September 8, 1998. MOTION: Helzel moved, seconded by Stanton to approve the September 8, 1998 meeting minutes as submitted. Motion carried 4-0-2(Stanton and Winans abstained) IV. OLD BUSINESS A. Summary of Focus Area Responsibilities September 1998 - "Preparing for an Aging Community" Human Rights and Diversity Commission Minutes October 13, 1998 Page 2 Fostering Public Dialog - Helzel stated public feedback is the goal of fostering public dialog. Reviewing Outcomes - Winans suggested forming a subcommittee to analyze the Outcome Report and bring back to the Commission subjects for discussion. Barone stated he would create a summary of the report when it is available and bring the information forth to the Commission. Participate In Senior Awareness Week - April '99 - Behrends suggested that the Human Rights and Diversity Commission offer to participate, in a capacity to be decided, for one day of the event. Inteuenerational activities - Johnson state the high school participates in senior awareness by offering senior matinees in the spring during prom season. She stated she would follow up on the issue and report back to the Commission in regards to other activities the high school offers for the community's senior citizens. Southwest Metro Transit(SWMT) - Kate Garwood, representative for SWMT, has offered to keep the Human Rights and Diversity Commission apprised of SWMT's "five year transportation plan." Behrends, also a member of the HTHSB, suggested a partnership between the HTHSB and the Human Rights and Diversity Commission. Human Rights Issues for the Elderly - Winans suggested there are different categories of elderly people: 55-65(active seniors), 65-75(seniors), and over 75(elderly). Stanton stated there are more seniors in the work place and this issue could be a focus of discussion by the Commission. Winans suggested housing and social security issues as other possible topics of discussion in regards to human rights for the elderly. Helzel stated transportation for the elderly was also a critical component of senior care. Winans suggest combining Items 2,3,4,5,7,8,9, and 10 of Barone's list under a "senior task force heading" with sub-headings for discussion. Barone stated the City Council is interested in having the Human Rights Commission discuss the above issues. There is no established time frame for completion of the discussions and submittal of recommendations to the Council. A summary of discussions of"Job Base" and "Preparing for an Aging Community" would be written and given to the Commission for their consideration. B. Agenda for October 27, 1998 Human Rights Commission Workshop It was agreed upon to address the following items at the October 27 workshop: • Human Rights Youth Scholarship Award process revision • Vision 2001 - Focus Area Responsibilities discussion • Information packet organization V. NEW BUSINESS A. Focus Area Responsibilities Discussion: "Insuring Public Safety" Human Rights and Diversity Commission Minutes October 13, 1998 Page 3 Winans opened the floor for discussion of Eden Prairie students who are trying to get their driver's licenses. Moran stated the high school had suggested that the age requirement be raised (from 15 to 16) one year and that a minimum grade point average be introduced as a requirement driver's license eligibility. Johnson stated there currently are increasing levels of driving privileges that are based on a youths driving record and academic record. Barone stated the "Insuring Public Safety" focus might not fit the Human Rights Commission area of responsibility. Helzel suggested that the issue might fall under the Police Department or Department of Public Safety's responsibility and there is no commission in the City that addresses their issues. No action was taken on the "Insuring Public Safety Issue." B. Report on "Building Inclusive Communities" conference held September 21 - Brad Behrends On September 18, 1998, Behrends attended a conference that focused on "Building Inclusive Communities and Municipal Responsibilities." George Lattimer, former Mayor of St. Paul and Werner Lohe from the Comprehensive Permit Law Unit were two of the guest speakers. There were afternoon breakout sessions that explored the "Role of the Human Rights Commission", and a panel discussion on "Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing; Linking the Suburbs and the Central Cities." Behrends told the Commission he would put a summary report together on the conference and distribute it to the Commission. Winans, an attendee of the conference, stated she had spoken with representative from Oak Park, Illinois prior to the conference who stated that their city has a community service called "The Housing Center." These establishments give anyone that is looking to buy a home from within the community a packet of information telling in detail what type of housing is available, what areas etc. Helzel suggested that the Eden Prairie area Realtors be challenged to create similar services. C. Report on"Regional Human Rights Commission Dialogue" held September 24-Gloria Winans On September 24, 1998, Winans attended the regional Human Rights Commission Dialogue Conference. This was the first time that Winans had been able to activate the City's speaker bureau. There were also representatives from eight other human rights organizations present. The main focus of the conference was stated as: "What can we do, as a group, to further the cause of human rights?" Winans presented City's Human Rights Commission 1998/1999 Work Plan which focuses on the following: • Bias Crime Response Network • Youth/Students--annual Human Rights Youth Scholarship Human Rights and Diversity Commission Minutes October 13, 1998 Page 4 • Human Rights Awards--partner with Chamber of Commerce • Vision 2001--partnering with business, community and other commissions • DiverseCity On The Prairie--annual event in August D. Approval of West Suburban Mediation Center-3rd Quarter 1998-$625 MOTION: Helzel moved, seconded by Stanton to approve the payment of the $625 invoice for West Suburban Mediation Center dated October 5, 1998. Motion carried 6-0. VI. REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS A. Housing, Transportation and Human Services - Brad Behrends No report was considered. B. The Minnesota League of Human Rights Commissions - Winans Winans attended the Minnesota League of Human Rights Commissions held on September 26, 1998, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The theme was "Living Together Seeking Harmony; One Race, the Human Race." Todd Jones, U.S. Attorney and Dr. Weissbrodt, a Professor at the University of Minnesota, who is assigned to the United Nations and works with international human rights law, were the event speakers. Winans presented copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to the Commission members. She had obtained these copies as part of the 50th Anniversary celebration held at the League of Human Rights Commissions Conference in St Cloud. The League of Human Rights is asking the Eden Prairie Human Rights Commission to sponsor a contest among seventh and eighth graders in the City's schools, an essay contest, to do education around the Declaration of Human Rights. The contest deadline for Eden Prairie is December 31, 1998. The Announcement of the state winners is January 15, 1999. MOTION: Behrends moved, seconded by Moran that Eden Prairies Human Rights Commission sponsor the annual state-wide Declaration of Human Rights Essay Contest. Motion carried 6-0. The School District Diversity Coordinator will be contacted to help with the implementation of the essay contest. Winans added The Minnesota Department of Human Rights is having their 15th annual Human Rights Day Conference on December 4, 1998. The Conference will be held at the Sheraton Midway in St. Paul, MN. Barone suggested advertising the essay contest in the Eden Prairie News. Human Rights and Diversity Commission Minutes October 13, 1998 Page 5 Winans told the Commission the Eden Prairie News has offered free space to advertise Commission events. She stated she would include the announcement of the essay contest in her submittal to the paper. Johnson stated she would try to get the Student Leadership Advisory Board (SLAB) involved in human rights advocacy within the school system. C. Report of Youth Representatives: Introduction of new member Jennifer Johnson (reported earlier in the meeting). Ms. Johnson is a junior at Eden Prairie High School. She has a green belt in Tai Kwan Do, a member of NHS, a member of Youth Public Relations Council, and a member of Junior Class Council. Sopanha Te (reported earlier in the meeting) told the Commission that there had been a fight incident(what seemed to be preplanned) that took place at Miller Park. The fight involved one Caucasian student and one Asian student. It is not known whether the fight was racially motivated or not. There were no serious injuries,but eye witnesses have stated that the Asian student asked for help and no one would come to his aid. The police were not called. It was also determined that the information that was being shared was second-hand information. Moran asked if the school had been notified. Te said they had not. After lengthy discussion, it was the consensus of the Commission to inform the school's administrative staff and the appropriate law enforcement agency, with letters of inquiry in regards to the fight incident, and offer the assistance of the HRDC in developing some type of "conflict resolution program" within the school. VII. REPORTS OF STAFF A. Activity Status No report was considered. VIII. FUTURE AGENDA/EVENTS October 27 7:00-9:00 p.m.Optional HRDC Workshop November 10 7:00-9:00 p.m.HRDC Regular Meeting November 24 7:00-9:00 p.m.Optional HRDC Workshop December 8 7:00-9:00 p.m.HRDC Regular Meeting December 22 7:00-9:00 p.m.Optional HRDC Workshop January 12, 1999 7:00-9:00 p.m. HRDC Regular Meeting Human Rights and Diversity Commission Minutes October 13, 1998 Page 6 January 26, 1999 7:00-9:00 p.m.Optional HRDC Workshop IX. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Human Rights and Diversity Commission, Chairperson Winans adjourned the meeting at 8:30 p.m.