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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 04/10/2001 APPROVED MINUTES Eden Prairie Human Rights & Diversity Citizen Advisory Commission Tuesday,April 10, 2001 7:00 PM - Prairie Rooms A/B, City Center 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie MN 55344 Citizen Advisory Holly Clynch, Dorothy Fifield, Angie Garcia, Balu Iyer, Commission Members: Jodi Malmquist, Harry Moran (Chair), and Philip Young (Vice-Chair) Student Representatives: Rachael Harlos, Amber Swiggum, Jaclyn Matzen Commission Staff: Michael Barone, Manager of Human Resources and Record Services Tanya Whitsitt, Recording Secretary I. Roll Call ❑ Dorothy Fifield ❑ Harry Moran ® Philip Young ❑ Angie Garcia ® Holly Clynch ® Jodi Malmquist ® Balu Iyer All Student Representatives were absent. (Spring Break for Eden Prairie High School.) Vice Chair Young called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. Young welcomed new Commission Members Jodi Malmquist, Holly Clynch and Balu Iyer. Young and Barone both introduced themselves and discussed their background and interest with the Commission and in the community. Each of the new Commission members then did the same. Young stated that City Boards and Commissions follow the Robert's Rules of Order in conducting a Commission meeting. II. Approval of Agenda Clynch moved, seconded by Iyer to approve the Agenda as published. Motion carried: 3 —0 . (Young abstained). III. Approval of Minutes for previous meeting Iyer moved, seconded by Clynch to approve the Minutes from the March 20, 2001 meeting. Motion carried: 3 —0 . (Young abstained). IV. Reports of Staff A. South Hennepin Immigrant Services Group (SHISG) Eden Prairie Human Rights&Diversity Citizen Advisory Commission Page 2 Barone said that there was a SHISG meeting on April 2. He included the Agenda and Minutes from the March 5 meeting for the Commission members to review. He explained that SHISG is an ad hoc group about a year old, comprised of Eden Prairie people who deal with immigration issues. B. Human Services Review Committee (HSRC) Barone stated that the HSRC is a committee made up of City Staff and one Councilmember (currently Sherry Butcher). Their main objective is to review Human Services issues that come to the attention of the City and the City Council. C. Bias Crime Network Nothing to report. V. Old Business A. Review of Youth Scholarship Awards process/timeline Barone said that at the previous meeting, the Commission voted to give two Youth Scholarship Awards to two Eden Prairie High School students. He notified the new members that they would participate in next year's process in March 2002. VI. New Business A. Review/Vote on Human Rights Award applicants 1. Two (2) nominations for Individual HRA category Young stated that this item requires some interaction from all members of the Commission. He said that he hoped everyone had a chance to review the two applications included in the packet for the Award (Rita Krocak and Will Steinberg). Clynch asked if there was any other criteria required for someone to receive the HRA other than answering the questions on the nomination form. Barone distributed a sheet which explained the Award's goals and criteria. He explained that the recipient should have demonstrated that they benefited the community, followed the City's Manifesto and gone above and beyond their regular responsibilities. Iyer asked if these two applicants had been nominated before, and if they did not get the Award, could they apply next year. Barone replied that they had not been nominated before, and they could indeed apply again next year. Malmquist asked where the Youth Awards are presented. Barone said that both the YSA and HRA are presented at a May City Council meeting. He noted that the Student Representatives, the Recording Secretary and the Staff Liaison are not eligible to vote on either Award. After review of the two applications, Young asked the Commission for comments. Clynch stated that she believed Krocak's contributions are more measurable than the other candidate's. She said that the Steinberg's contributions may be more of an "assumption" that what he is doing is good for the community. Young said that he tends to agree. Malmquist stated that Krocak is very qualified and has an enormous amount of energy that she puts into the community. She said that she has seen Krocak work, and believes she is very strong and creative. Barone agreed that she is "at the front" of what is going on in Eden Prairie, especially Eden Prairie Human Rights&Diversity Citizen Advisory Commission Page 3 with the immigration issues. Malmquist commented that she can see actual changes in the community directly from her work. Iyer stated that what is striking about Steinberg's contributions is that he is standing for a cause that doesn't seem to be greatly supported. He said that he has taken the majority of the work on himself and is trying to adhere to the Eden Prairie Manifesto which "promotes acceptance and respect for individuals." He said that he believes Steinberg's work is very measurable. Clynch said that the tone of his struggle is conflictive and that maybe we don't have the full story, so it may be difficult to make a decision. Young stated that while he understands what Steinberg is trying to do, he is struggling with taking his cause and applying it to this Award. Clynch agreed, especially since there is another candidate with such strong positive community actions. Malmquist moved, seconded by Clynch to award the Human Rights Award to Rita Krocak. Motion carried: 3—0. (Young abstained). 2. No nominations for either Non-profit or Business categories this year. B. Discussion of HRA & YSA Awards timeline/process Barone said that he would notify the two award recipients of the YSA and the one student who did not receive the Award. He will also notify the HRA nominees of the Commission's decision. At the May 15 City Council meeting,he said the HRA and the two YSA Awards will be presented; all of the Commission members are invited to attend. He said he will do the press release information and get a copy to the Commission members soon. C. Dissolution of West Suburban Mediation Center Barone informed the Commission that the West Suburban Mediation Center, which the City has used for many years, is dissolving in May. He stated that now the City is going to use the City Attorney's office for mediation assistance until review of other options. He said that he was surprised by the announcement of the dissolution. VII. Future Meetings/Events Barone pointed out the future meeting dates, the Boards and Commissions Award Banquet event the following week and the DiversCity on the Prairie event in August. VIII. Adiourn Clynch moved, seconded by Malmquist to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried: 3—0. (Young abstained). Meeting adjourned at 8:01 p.m.