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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 01/14/2003 APPROVED MINUTES Eden Prairie Human Rights & Diversity Commission Tuesday,January 14, 2003 7:00 PM - Prairie Rooms A/B, City Center 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie MN 55344 Commission Members: Holly Clynch, Dorothy Fifield, Angie Garcia, Balu Iyer, Harry Moran (Chair), Jeff Strate, and Philip Young (Vice-Chair) Student Representatives: Morgan Hollister, Kian Missaghi, Kaitlin Moss Commission Staff: Molly Koivumaki, Staff Liaison Michael Barone, Staff Liaison (transitional) Tanya Whitsitt, Recording Secretary I. Roll Call ® Dorothy Fifield ® Harry Moran ❑ Angie Garcia ® Holly Clynch ❑ Jeff Strate ® Balu Iyer Kian Missaghi and Kaitlin Moss were present. Morgan Hollister was absent. II. Approval of Agenda Moran suggested adding an item to New Business (item VLC.) to discuss Phil Young's replacement on the Commission. Fifield moved, seconded by Clynch to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried: 4-0 III. Approval of Minutes from November 12, 2002 meeting Iyer moved, seconded by Fifield to approve the minutes of November 12, 2002 as published. Motion carried: 4-0 IV. Reports of Staff A. Eden Prairie Immigrant Services Group (EPISG) Koivumaki stated the group met last week at the Somali Woman's Association on Flying Cloud Drive. She said many people wonder what they do. She stated they serve a lot of Somali woman in the Twin Cities especially in Minneapolis and Eden Prairie, in the areas of job placement, ESL and transportation. They are hoping to get them more involved with other Human Services. Fifield asked if the organization is part of Hennepin County. Koivumaki replied they are not an extension of the county,but may have gotten some funding assistance. Clynch asked if they offer medical services. Koivumaki said she does not think so, however she has heard of a new immunization program at the school district level Eden Prairie Human Rights&Diversity Commission January 14,2003 Approved Minutes that offers shots for anyone. They can help those in the low income brackets,but it is cautioned that this is not a replacement for a healthcare provider. Koivumaki also mentioned that FamiLink is offering tax services to those to need it this year. She will get more information, such as dates, to Whitsitt. B. Human Services Review Committee (HSRC) Koivumaki said the committee met on Monday. She stated there is a change at the Sr. Center and Sandy Werts is no longer in charge of Senior programs; Tria Mann is now their Recreation Coordinator. They are re-thinking how to use the Sr. Center and with Mann's creative ideas, she said many welcome the change. She also said the Sr. Board seems receptive to Mann and her ideas. C. Bias Crime Activity Status Koivumaki reported an incident they are calling "disorderly conduct" under the overpass at Hwy 62 and Chatham Way. She said some children found a spray- painted graffiti picture on the wall and reported it. The police have opened an investigation,but she said there is no known target or specific victim in this case. The picture appears to be racial and derogatory in nature. They do not know when the "tagging"picture was put there, and she noted it is not visible when one drives by on the road. The police are working with the St. Paul Taggers Task Force who came out to look at it. They believe it is the job of amateurs rather than a gang. Public Works, coordinating with County maintenance, have removed the offensive picture. Koivumaki passed around photos of the graffiti. Clynch asked if the police will watch that spot for activity. Koivumaki replied that yes they will periodically check on that location. V. Old Business A. Update on YSA —Scholarship amounts Koivumaki said she contacted the Finance Department to check the status of the account which holds the scholarship money. She stated the account has enough money to have two $1,000 awards this year. Moran said he would have liked to discuss it further and even though we have enough money this year,he saw that we do not have enough for next year's scholarships. He asked if we followed due process, and wondered if we had enough discussion of the matter of raising the scholarship amount. It was decided to leave the amount at$1,000, since the flyers and applications had already been sent out. Iyer asked if the City would have any scholarship money in the budget for next year. Moran asked if the City or Commission can do fundraising for the scholarship as a method to replenish the account. Koivumaki said she would find out, and there would be further discussion. VI. New Business A. Discuss 2003 Work Plan Koivumaki said the annual DiverseCity on the Prairie event will be canceled, along with four other recreation programs. She said this is due to budget constraints. Moran said we did not get much benefit from the last DiverseCity on the Prairie, since it did not seem pulled together and there was not much interest. 2 Eden Prairie Human Rights&Diversity Commission January 14,2003 Approved Minutes Missaghi mentioned the high school's Diversity Fair is on and scheduled to be the 2nd or 3rd week of February. Moran stated our Commission would like to have a table and applications for the Youth Scholarship awards available at the fair this year. He said he would like more information, and Missaghi said she will put Mr. Halloren in contact with Moran to make arrangements. B. Discuss 2003 HRA & YSA Timeline Koivumaki passed out a new timeline for the Human Rights awards and the Youth Scholarship awards. The deadline for the Youth Scholarship Awards applications is Monday, March 3, 2003. The deadline for the Human Rights Awards is Monday, March 31, 2003. Koivumaki said they need a Commission member to read the Martin Luther King, Jr.proclamation at the City Council meeting on January 21sr. Moran asked Koivumaki to make calls to members to ask for a volunteer. It was suggested Jeff Strate may be a good candidate for this task. C. Discuss Phil Young's replacement on Commission Koivumaki said there is a need to replace the position of Vice Chair since Phil Young left the Commission to become a Councilmember. However, she said they would like to wait for the new term and wait until the new members are appointed. Moran reported that due to a personal matter,he will be unable to attend the February meeting and possibly will miss the March meeting. With the Vice Chair position open, someone will need to lead the meeting. He stated we need to have at least four members attend the February meeting in order to have quorum. He said he wants the Commission to maintain momentum and continue to do well. Moran said they should designate someone to run the next meeting. Due to the circumstances, Iyer suggested postponing having the guest speaker from Golden Valley for another meeting. VII. Reports from Commission Members None. VIII. Future Meetings/Events The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, 2003 at 7:00 pm. IX. Adiourn Clynch moved, seconded by Fifield to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried: 4—0 Moran adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m. 3