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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 12/13/2007 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY,DECEMBER 13, 2007 7:00 PM, 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Community Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Cari Maguire (Chair), Melissa Barra(Vice chair), Daniel Abraira, Larry Piumbroeck, Jeff Strate, Gerry Beckmann, and Pam Spera. STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Nelum Madanayake, Kevin Kamer, and Jacqueline Clevette COMMISSION STAFF: Mary Keating, Staff Liaison Katie Hood, Recording Secretary I. ROLL CALL Commission Chair Maguire called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM. Melissa Barra and Larry Piumbroeck were was absent. All Student Representatives for this term were present. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Strate added Memo of Concern under old business. Commissioner Maguie added Library Event under old business. The group informally approved the meeting agenda. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER MEETING Commissioner Maguire page 2, paragraph 8, changes Barra to Spera. Commissioner Spera page 7,paragraph 2, last sentence does not accurately reflect the conversation. Maguire stated the approval of the minutes will be tabled until the sentence can be reviewed with the recording secretary. The November meeting minutes will be approved at the January meeting. IV. NEW BUSINESS V. REPORTS OF STAFF A. HUMAN SERVICES REVIEW COMMITTEE (HSRC) Keating stated the HSRC didn't meet. Human Rights and Diversity Commission Minutes December 13, 2007 Page 2 B. BIAS CRIME ACTIVITY STATUS Keating distributed a summary of Bias Crime Activity. Keating stated there was a situation at Lifetime Fitness Club involving a manager and a former employee. The individual stated they were called names and a scene was created. Spera asked if the individual was a guest. Keating stated the individual was a former employee. A Lifetime manager confronted the individual and stated she didn't have a membership. The police were called. The individual stated she would like to file a complaint. Keating was not sure which Lifetime facility the event occurred at. Keating stated the woman was given information about the next step she could take Keating stated a job fair will be held by the Office of Housing and Community Services and the Familink Resource Center in March 2008 at the Eden Prairie High School. The job fair will be held with Eden Prairie High School, Hennepin Technical College, the Workforce Center, and members of the Eden Prairie Immigrant Services Group. The organizers will be trying to focus efforts on attracting immigrant students to the job fair. Keating stated there is a summer program at Dunwoody College of Technology. The program would allow individuals who meet low income requirements to attend class. The individuals would attend class five days a week from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., receive $100.00 tax free per week, and receive college credits. Keating, Kerry Holtmeier/Hallee from the Eden Prairie Familink Resource Center and Carla Kress from the City Senior Center are completing an Eden Prairie Senior Resource Guide. This guide was a recommendation from the Senior Issues Task Force. The Guide should be sent to the printer by the end of December. Keating stated a report was submitted to the Senior Issue Task Force in response to recommendations made by the Senior Issues Task Force in 2006. Keating distributed information on the foreclosures involved with TJ Waconia. TJ Waconia was indicted and many of the homes are in the Eden Lake Townhome development. Keating stated she is getting calls about what people should do and where can they find housing. PROP and the City of Eden Prairie will work with the affected people. Keating stated TJ Waconia is being investigated and foreclosed homes are being found all over the metro area. Strate asked if the company or individual is in Waconia. Keating was not sure. Clevette stated she thought the story was on the news the previous night. Maguire questioned why the Fire Department is working on the foreclosure issue. Keating stated the Fire Department was trying to perform fire inspections and could not get in. Keating stated the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and US Attorney's office are involved in the investigation. Human Rights and Diversity Commission Minutes December 13, 2007 Page 3 VI. OLD BUSINESS A. LIBRARY EVENT Maguire thanked those who attended the library event and brought other people to the event. There were around 35 people counted at one time and close to 50 throughout the evening. Maguire stated the Police Department was not concerned prior to the event about one portion of the video that was shown. Scott Neal had the tape edited to remove one portion of the video. The tape is being shown on channel 16 with the edited copy. Strate asked what was edited. Maguire stated the Eden Prairie Police pretended to be selling drugs to immigrants. Maguire was told the Eden Prairie Police do not pretend to sell drugs and do not bait people to buy or sell drugs. Someone must have misunderstood a situation to have the perception of the Eden Prairie Police pretending to sell drugs. Spera asked if a lot of the unedited tapes are in the Eden Prairie Library. Maguire stated there are tapes to be checked out. It is not the HRDC's video and not the HRDC's job to have the video changed. Strate stated there is other law enforcement works in Eden Prairie who are not Eden Prairie Police. Maguire stated the 30 second section was not where the focus was to be and it was a great event. Strate stated it was a great event. Strate commented on the presentations on Pelican Rapids displayed throughout the library. The displays were located on the bookcases. Maguire stated there were around 20 displays. Clevette stated while she was looking at the displays there were younger kids who asked about the displays. Maguire stated the displays moved to the small Edina Library, not the Southdale Library. Strate stated the Edina Library is near Derry's. Maguire stated the library event was a nice gathering. B. MEMO OF CONCERN Strate passed around the Memo of Concern to the Commissioners. The memo was distributed to the Eden Prairie Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission and Jay Lotthammer. Strate attended the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting and made a brief presentation discussing the Memo of Concern. Extra copies were available for distribution at the Eden Prairie Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission meeting. Strate stated he was available to answer questions at the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission meeting. In addition to Strate, there were other individuals who made presentations. During the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission meeting, Strate addressed points in the memo. The Memo of Concern was written in response to the publications on the price increases at the improved Community Center. Strate expressed to the Human Rights and Diversity Commission, the city might consider looking into Passport for Fun. This would help ensure the needs to moderate to low income Eden Prairie residents are met. Human Rights and Diversity Commission Minutes December 13, 2007 Page 4 Strate stated the City Council was meeting at the same time. Scott Neal joined the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting after the City Council meeting was finished. Strate stated Neal reported to the Parks and Recreation Commission members the City Council had just approved the membership fees. Strate stated the city has been receiving many emails and other communication regarding the increase in recreation fees. Spera questioned if the discussion is over. Strate stated the fees decisions were made after the emails. Strate stated the city made the decision during the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Strate stated the City Council had the Memo of Concern before they made their decision. Beckman stated the good news is there are a lot of seniors who aren't concerned about the increase in fees. Beckman and other seniors use tickets to swim and exercise, and the prices aren't going up much. Beckman stated many people purchase tickets because it is a much better deal. Strate stated he contacted a City Council member and they didn't know they had approved the increase in recreation fees. The increase in fees was under City Service Fees and was not split out into a separate line item. Spera stated it is distressing because low income people are paying more taxes but will not be able to use it. Maguire stated at a town hall meeting there was clarification about the increase in taxes for the Community Center. The taxes were for the improvements to the building. There is not an increase in taxes to operate it. The city will not be subsidizing the running of the Community Center. Maguire stated the biggest issue is if the referendum was clear on the pricing. Strate stated Mike Boland is looking into the pricing with what is occurring now and what was stated at the time of the referendum. Strate stated he hope the Commission could keep working on this issue moving forward. VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS A. SOUTH HENNEPIN IMMIGRANT SERVICES GROUP (SHISG) B. ANY COMMISSION MEMBER MAY REPORT Spera and Strate attended the 2007 Human Rights Day Conference. Spera stated the conference was a great day. Spera attended a topic presented by an actor. He read the speech,but the presentation worked because the speech had great substance, and the actor was a great speaker. Spera attended another presentation by Dr. Verna Price. Spera thought she was amazing and inspiring. Dr. Cordele Price is looking to start a program for boys. The presentation was on Girls in Action. Human Rights and Diversity Commission Minutes December 13, 2007 Page 5 Spera stated the rest of the day the presentations could be individually selected. One of the speakers didn't show up. One of the presentations Spera attended was on the history of the affirmative action law. Recent cases were talked about by an attorney. The attorney stated he thinks the new decisions were wrong,but wonders what was the intent of the ruling. Spera attended another presentation on mental illness and reasonable accommodation. Spera stated she meet many interesting people at the presentation. Strate attended four workshops. Strate distributed 3 handouts: Bloomington Human Rights Commission 2008 Holocaust Remembrance Projects, and article about the Deadly Medicine "CHGS AND SCIENCE MUSEUM OF MINNESOTA TO SPONSER "DEADLY MEDICINE: CREATING THE MASTER RACE"", and a description of the Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race from the Science Museum Website. One of the workshops was presented by Mike Farrell. He had charisma, and was able to get his point across well. He spoke about Rwanda. Strate attended a workshop on diversity in the work place. The presentation went over cases where not all employees won. One of the cases involved a flight attendant. The flight attendant stated she had to pray at various times during the flight. The flight attendant was the only member of the church and religion. The ruling stated the need to pray went against Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)regulations and the flight attendant could pray at different times. Strate stated Strate can send the Commission Members the case laws if interested. Strate attended presentation held by the Police Chief of St. Paul, John Harrington. Black on Black Law was talked about. Things aren't going good because the murders are black men are killing black men. Some people call the murders "stupid murders". The murders might occur because of a shirt the individual is wearing. The murder's self image is improved by their action. There is no one else there for the murderers. Domestic crime in the black community was also talked about. Some progress has been made,but there is lots of room for improvement. The city tracks people who comment domestic violence. Strate attended a presentation on pop culture and racial stereotypes. This presentation, in commissioner Strate's opinion, was not really worthwhile and had a lot of fluff. Strate attended a presentation held by the Bloomington Human Rights Commission. The Bloomington Human Rights Commission has a $35,000 budget and gets work plans. The Bloomington Human Rights Commission is getting involved in the Deadly Medicine exhibit held at the Science Museum. Human Rights and Diversity Commission Minutes December 13, 2007 Page 6 There are plans in place to help transport people from Bloomington to the Science Museum for the exhibit. Strate asked the presenter is Bloomington Commission would be willing to partner with the Eden Prairie HRDC. The presenter expressed a willingness to partner. The Bloomington Commission will be trying to work on extra show to tie into the Deadly Medicine exhibit at the Science Museum. Strate stated that the ISAIAH project is an interfaith program. Previously, a synagogue has worked with the ISAIAH project. These could be tied together. Abraira stated he is Jewish and would be interested. The extra shows will take man power. Strate stated maybe survivors or children of survivors of the Holocaust could be included in the extra shows. Karner asked if the cost of admission to the pool, using tickets, is being raised. Strate state it is increasing by $2. Clevette asked how much it to swim. Beckman stated it is $3.50 for adults. Beckman stated the Community Center will take her insurance card if she would go again. Beckman stated she hasn't been to the community center in a couple of years. Beckman stated she thought the price was $3.50 for adults. Beckman gets reimbursed $20 per month. Maguire stated she believes an individual needs to use the facility eight times in order to receive the $20 from insurance. Beckman state the tickets can be used for the insurance reimbursement program, and a membership is not needed. Beckman stated the dressing rooms were very dirty and many people are willing to pay more to have clean dressing rooms. Clevette stated it is her last meeting. Maguire stated the HRDC Commission is an open meeting and Clevette is welcome anytime. VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC Meeting will be on Thursday, January 10, 2008 at the same time and location. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Maguire moved to adjourn the December 13, 2007 meeting of the HRDC, seconded by Abraira. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:12 PM.