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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 03/12/2009 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2009 7:00 PM, 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Cari Maguire (Chair), Pam Spera (Vice Chair), Daniel Abraira, Gerry Beckmann, Marcy Harris, and Kelly Brandon STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Staff Liaison Scott Neal, City Manager Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Nelum Madanayake, Adam Liter, and Ummul Kathawalla I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Maguire called the meeting to order at 7:09 pm. Beckmann, Brandon and Koivumaki were excused. Kathawalla was absent. Introductions were made. Maguire explained Commissioner Brandon had moved to Hanover and would be discussing her exit from HRDC with Koivumaki. Brandon's departure leaves 4 vacancies on this commission. Neal reported interviews were conducted Tuesday evening with four HRDC applicants; there had been a fifth candidate who was a no-show. One of those four candidates listed HRDC as their second choice and was plugged into their first choice commission. Abraira brought up a potential qualified candidate who missed the application deadline. Neal instructed Maguire to have her contact Mike Barone. Chair and Vice Chair positions have been discussed, but those appointments remain unofficial at this time. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Agenda approved by informal consent. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION: Harris moved, seconded by Spera, to approve the January 8"' and February 12"', 2009 minutes. Motion carried by informal consent. IV. NEW BUSINESS None Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes March 12, 2009 Page 2 V. REPORTS FROM STAFF A. Human Services Review Committee (HSRC) —Maguire (for Koivumaki) Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) recommendations were presented to the City Council at a public hearing on March 3rd. Council approved all recommendations. B. Bias Crime Activity Status —Maguire (for Koivumaki) A terroristic threat incident is being investigated by the Eden Prairie Police Department. A white male, age 66, allegedly made threatening remarks to an African American female, age 19. Victim and suspect are neighbors. Koivumaki has left messages for the victim and is waiting to hear back from her to explain what resources might be available. Koivumaki will update the Commission when a charging decision is made by the County Attorney. Maguire added there is a history of the suspect making racist remarks to the victim. C. Other Reports from Staff— 1. Commission Appointments —Maguire (for Koivumaki) The City Council interview process for new commissioners was canceled from its original date of February 26"'due to inclement weather. Interviews were rescheduled for Tuesday, March 10"'. 2. Best Buy Grant—Maguire (for Koivumaki) Koivumaki wishes to clarify she used funds from her division budget to pay for bus transportation for one of the World Religion Education Tours in the fall of 2008 and the Deadly Medicine exhibit at the Science Museum in the summer of 2008. She did not use any Best Buy grant funds for those events or any other expense. The Best Buy beginning balance in January, 2009 was $803.77. For the "Daughters of Africa" event in February, $625.00 was spent on Mixed Blood Theater and $73.67 on miscellaneous supplies leaving a remaining balance of$105.10. 3. CDBG Reallocations —Neal On Tuesday night, the Council will be looking at CDBG reallocations. Typically not all of the money is spent, so remaining funds get sent to a larger pot for reallocation. The economic stimulus act added an additional $69,000 to CDBG funds in 2008. A list of programs is being considered for which Eden Prairie might qualify on a City level. Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes March 12, 2009 Page 3 4. City Budget—Neal The City expects to fall about$1 million short in 2009 due to a decrease in building revenue. Approximately $2.5 million is generated annually in building permits and related income such as engineering and planning fees,but the City will be lucky if it receives half that amount this year. Because of this, the City is in the midst of a hiring freeze which includes Mary Keating's position, one police officer, two facilities positions, and one Parks & Rec position. A 911 dispatch position is being filled, however. Spera thought every city received some funding through existing federal programs and questioned how that works. Neal stated it is determined by demographics, city size, and other factors. The City doesn't qualify for many of the programs, and it isn't see direct dollar amounts because state funds aren't trickling down to Eden Prairie. Maguire inquired about the status of the 494/169 interchange project. Neal explained half of transportation funding is allocated for the metro area and the other half goes to the rest of the State of Minnesota. There are six Mn/DOT districts; five have decided how to spend their funds and the metro area hasn't yet. There are two major projects being considered: one is the 494/169 interchange; the other is the 610 project across the northern metro. The 610 project is further along in the process than the 494/169 project. If both projects are implemented, that will eat up all of the metro transportation dollars. The question is whether to fund these two large projects, or to choose to fund one of the large projects and several smaller projects. Spera asked what else the City was doing in light of the projected budget shortfall. Neal said about$500,000 in reserve funds would account for half the shortage, and there will also be approximately $250,000 in operating budget reductions such as eliminating interns, travel, and deer management. The remainder will be made up in early retirement incentives, reduction of hours, possible layoffs, and the above-mentioned hiring freeze. Maguire expressed concern that the budget situation could negatively affect the Housing and Community Services Division and the services it provides. She made a plea for balanced rather than disproportionate cuts. She also asked if taxes had been increased, how that would have affected the budget. Neal responded it would have been negligible. VI. OLD BUSINESS Maguire reported Commissioner Beckmann was dissatisfied with how her report was handled at the last meeting. Beckmann requested the report and the February 24"' and 25"', 2009 letters submitted by her legal counsel to be withdrawn. Human Rights & Diversity Commission Minutes March 12, 2009 Page 4 Maguire said she believed consensus had been reached to not accept Commissioner Beckmann's report. Commission members discussed their recollections of the issue. Neal suggested handling the matter with two separate motions which would reaffirm the commissioners' former actions while providing closure. MOTION: Harris moved, seconded by Abraira, to reaffirm the commission's previous consensus decision declining to accept Commissioner Beckmann's February 2009 report. Motion carried 4-0. MOTION: Harris moved, seconded by Abraira, to approve Commissioner Beckmann's request to withdraw the report she submitted for the February HRDC meeting and the February 24h' and 251h, 2009 letters submitted by her legal counsel. Motion carried 4-0. Harris commented she has heard nothing but good things about the "Daughters of Africa" production. Spera said the follow-up event, "Dr. King's Dream", was also good. VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS Harris announced planning meetings for the International Festival will be starting soon. Maguire conveyed she turned all her posters and other library display materials over to Koivumaki and her strategic planning grid to Spera. Spera asked if Robert Rules of Order were the current meeting laws under which HRDC should be operating. Neal responded the City has several copies of these books, and this issue is currently being discussed among the commissions since they all operate a little differently. The City plans to offer training to all chairs and vice chairs in May or June. Harris commented she has "Roberts Rules of Order at a Glance" which is a one-page cheat sheet HRDC can consult. Maguire wished the other commissioners success. Spera thanked Maguire for her hard work and accomplishments. Madanayake and Liter clarified they serve on a school-year basis. VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting will be Thursday, April 9, 2009, 7:00 pm at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. Harris stated she may need to be excused for the April meeting. IX. ADJOURNMENT Chair Maguire adjourned the meeting at 8:10 pm.