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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 12/09/2010 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2010 7:00 P.M., 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pam Spera(Chair), Marcy Harris (Vice Chair), Peter Huck, Linda Crawford, Lauren Juergensen, Gayle Sanders and Robert Rozanski STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Manager- Housing and Community Services; Heidi Wojahn, Recorder STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Ryan Borchardt and Salman Ikramuddin GUESTS: Jordyn Buchtel, Stephen Hari, Hannah Kurtz, Grant Soderberg I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The meeting began at 7:03 p.m. Commissioners Linda Crawford and Lauren Juergensen were absent. Commissioners Pam Spera, Marcy Harris, and Peter Huck were excused from this evening's meeting. Four representatives from a student government class at Eden Prairie High School were in attendance. Koivumaki gave the students an overview of the Commission and its purpose. HRDC is one of several City commissions comprised of seven to ten members. HRDC has seven members and typically two to three student commissioners. Every commission has a staff liaison who produces a staff report. Staff reports are public and are available on the intemet. The commission was formed in 1968. Over the years, the role of the commission has changed. In the mid-1970s into the 1980s it investigated and made rulings in bias crimes and discrimination cases. Training and funds were available from the State of Minnesota to act as an enforcement board and do this work now handled by the State. Since then, the focus of the commission has changed depending on the make-up of the commissioners. Focuses include education, getting out into the community, and bias crime. HRDC partners with Community Education and district folks to make presentations. Last year, the Commission changed City procedure. It put together a calendar of the most sacred religious holidays reflective of the Eden Prairie community so public meetings cannot be held on those dates. This resulted in a significant change in the way staff operates. Early next year the Commission hopes to join about a half-dozen other metro area cities by asking Council to adopt an ordinance stating domestic partners, whether they are a same-sex couple or not, can register with the City and receive benefits as a married couple. HRDC works with Community Education on a series featuring different cultures. Each event follows a similar format with a catered dinner, presentation from speakers within the community, and roundtable discussions with one representative from the featured culture seated at each table. The International Festival came out of HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES December 9, 2010 Page 2 HRDC about five years ago. The Commission works with the Parks and Recreation Department to hold this annual event which consists of outreach and helping people understand the different ethnicities in the Eden Prairie community. The commission started conflict resolution training. The purpose is to mediate between neighbors when issues arise that are not necessarily criminal,but reduce the quality of life. These may or may not stem from cultural differences. The mediation provides a safe place for people who might not otherwise be comfortable talking one-on-one to address nuisances. Local churches from Eden Prairie and Chanhassen recently participated in a Faith Summit. They came together to talk about what they do and what they can't do in terms of human services. Policymakers have assumed churches will pick up the slack if they don't fund human services and they need to be informed this is not necessarily true. Churches may have their own outreach ministry goals or financial setbacks preventing them from funding human services. From the Faith Summit, a poverty educational series has been formed which Koivumaki will report on later in the meeting. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA No quorum. III. MINUTES No quorum. IV. NEW BUSINESS None. V. REPORTS FROM STAFF - Koivumaki A. HUMAN SERVICES REVIEW COMMITTEE (HSRC) HSRC met; no action to report. B. BIAS CRIME ACTIVITY STATUS No report. C. OTHER REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. City Manager Search Update The City Manager search has been narrowed to six candidates, one of whom is Interim City Manager, Jay Lotthammer. Council will hold a meeting on January 8, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. to conduct interviews. Two or three finalists will be selected to proceed to the next round. 2. Bullyins!Workshop HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES December 9, 2010 Page 3 The Chaska Human Rights Commission and Chaska Police Department are sponsoring a half-day workshop featuring different speakers and breakout sessions on February 5, 2011 at the Chaska Community Center to discuss the issue of bullying. The focus will be inclusive of all types and areas of bullying, not just youths or gays. Commissioners are encouraged to attend and further details are forthcoming. 3. Poverty Education The Office of Housing and Community Services staff are planning a year- long series in 2011 on the realities of living in poverty. It will consist of six bi-monthly sessions, taking place at City Center in the Heritage Room from 8:30-10:30 a.m. HRDC members will be invited to attend. The purpose of the educational series is to help policy makers and faith and business community leaders separate the myths from the realities of living in poverty in the suburbs. The series is intended to be interactive vs. lecture-style. Stereotypes are impoverished people don't work (or want to work) or pay taxes. Perceptions, priorities and relationships are very different for those affected by poverty than for middle class people. 4. Best Buy Grant Balance is $5.10. VI. OLD BUSINESS None. VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS Rozanski asked for clarification on HRDC's role in terms of potential changes to the District's school boundaries. Koivumaki said the Commission is neutral but offered mediation to help bring people out of crisis mode if the final board action results in a lot of upset residents and turmoil. The students reported they haven't heard much about the rezoning, possibly because the high schoolers are not impacted by it. Koivumaki reported the annual Human Rights Awards process will begin in January. Nomination categories are individual, business, community, and youth. Information will be posted publicly. VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting will be Thursday, January 13, 2011, 7 p.m. at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. IX. ADJOURNMENT The meeting ended at 7:30 p.m.