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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 03/08/2012 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2012 7:00 P.M., 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pam Spera (Chair), Peter Huck(Vice Chair), Linda Crawford, Gayle Sanders, Robert Rozanski, PG Narayanan, and Zina Nourkadi STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Manager- Housing and Community Services; Heidi Wojahn, Recorder STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Ramla Mahamud, Camrie Vlasak I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chair Spera called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Commissioners Rozanski and Crawford, and Student Representatives Mahamud and Vlasak were absent. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Sanders moved, seconded by Nourkadi, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0. III. MINUTES MOTION: Huck moved, seconded by Nourkadi, to approve the February 9, 2012 minutes. Motion carried 5-0. IV. NEW BUSINESS - Koivumaki There are two nominations for the Human Rights awards: C.H. Robinson in the business category and Darryl Stanton in the individual category. C.H. Robinson was nominated by People Reaching Out to Other People (PROP) for sponsoring an employee-driven community garden from which fresh produce was donated to PROP's food shelf. Stanton was nominated by his wife for his efforts on his weekly cable TV show"Voices of the People" and as a volunteer at Eden Lake Elementary (EL). Commissioners viewed a DVD accompanying Stanton's nomination of a presentation he prepared for Black History month at EL. MOTION: Huck moved, seconded by Sanders, to award Stanton the Human Rights Award in the individual category pending verification and positive feedback from the EL principal. Motion carried 5-0. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES March 8, 2012 Page 2 MOTION: Sanders moved, seconded by Narayanan, to award C.H. Robinson the Human Rights Award in the business category in recognition of its employee-driven community garden. Motion carried 5-0. Narayanan expressed discouragement over the lack of nominations. Koivumaki said the number fluctuates from year to year depending on the composition of the Commission. Huck said some people are more connected than others and are better able to network. Narayanan said the responsibility shouldn't lie solely on commissioners to come up with nominations, but rather it should be their job to identify additional avenues through which the process can be marketed. Discussion ensued on ways to further publicize the process via the City Communications Department, Chamber of Commerce, churches, and schools as well as other organizations. Spera said three months prior to announcing the Human Rights Awards process, implementation of publicity ideas should be on the HRDC agenda. V. REPORTS FROM STAFF A. HUMAN SERVICES REVIEW COMMITTEE (HSRC) No report. B. BIAS CRIME ACTIVITY STATUS No report. C. OTHER REPORTS FROM STAFF 1. Youth for Human Rights Event Minnesota Youth for Human Rights has announced a"Bring Human Rights to Life" event on Saturday, March 17 in downtown St. Paul. This will be an open house format with speakers and is hosted by the Church of Scientology on 5th and Wabasha. 2. Annual Commissions Banquet Plans for the annual recognition banquet on May 9 are under way. More information to follow. 3. Commission Appointments Spera was reappointed chair and Rozanski was appointed vice-chair by City Council. Huck and Crawford are rotating off while Hans Gustafson and Laura Kaczmarek have been newly named to the commission. A third applicant was appointed to another commission. 4. New American Academy Open House New American Academy (NAA), a group that tutors immigrant children, is hosting an open house 4:30-6:45 pm on Saturday, March 24 at the high school. Topics to be discussed include ways to let the underserved population have access HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES March 8, 2012 Page 3 to business opportunities relating to the Light Rail Transit. NAA received a community engagement grant from Corridors of Opportunity, and this event fulfills one of their obligations. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. MANIFESTO Huck thought Berg made several good points in her presentation at last month's HRDC meeting regarding proposed wording changes to the Manifesto; however, he is not in favor of entertaining changes to the Manifesto at this time. By voting down the HRDC's recent proposed change, it seems Council's perception is the Manifesto does a good job as is. Even so, he would not have a problem asking Council to officially reaffirm the Manifesto per Jeff Strate's recommendation. This would be easier to accomplish without changes, especially in light of the recent adoption of the Domestic Partner Registry and in the aftermath of the school boundary changes. Spera stated although Council did not officially reaffirm the Manifesto, she felt it was done implicitly via the process. Council sent the message they are interpreting the Manifesto broadly which is a good thing. It is Jean Harris' legacy and should be left alone. Council may not be receptive to the idea of additional changes since they just went through this with the Commission. Huck agreed. Sanders also agreed it should not be reopened after spending a year discussing it. Narayanan said HRDC did a thorough job examining the document. MOTION: Narayanan moved, seconded by Sanders, to revisit the Manifesto periodically but to not consider changes at this time. Motion carried 5-0. Sanders departed the meeting at 8:37 p.m. B. JEFF STRATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS Huck reiterated Strate's second recommendation about having the Manifesto reconfirmed was already addressed. Spera and Narayanan stated his first recommendation is very broad and general: "Recommend to the City that it investigate, evaluate and select ways the City (on its own and in partnership with other organizations) can effect on-going programs and policy to reduce prejudice and defacto housing segregation and promote cross-cultural and economic class, ethnic and racial understanding empathy". Koivumaki said from a staff perspective, the City is already aware of issues and fulfilling obligations in this area. There are policies on housing segregation, and the City is bound by all sorts of Housing and Urban Development regulations. In her annual action plan, Koivumaki has to report how fair housing is implemented and how barriers to fair housing are investigated. Staff in her office work with a number of non-profits and do outreach with different immigrant populations. There was a HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES March 8, 2012 Page 4 cross-cultural series done jointly with the District and an economic series on poverty. There have been tours of affordable housing to educate others. Ongoing initiatives help bring people in the community together. Huck said Strate's concerns are nobody seems to be standing up and doing anything in response to a small group of people who are causing rifts in the community and the Commission is a good place to start addressing this. Nourkadi agreed there is a problem; Strate sees the division and problems in the community as a bigger issue. HRDC should bring people together, listen to different sides, facilitate, and share our voices that we are here for a better life. Spera said the way Strate's recommendation was worded (with"City" being the target), it doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of HRDC;however, she felt Strate thought the boundary issue should be a wake-up call to the whole city. The Commission was advised not to get involved in the boundary issue, and Strate likely did not know that. Narayanan said he needs guidance on fulfilling his duties as a commissioner. Spera said we are somewhat limited as to what we can do as there is no budget and the conflict resolution process was stalled. Narayanan suggested developing a survey to determine how the human rights factor is doing and to compare results. Koivumaki said there have been a lot of opportunities to partner with the District and other communities over the years. The reality is these opportunities are Commission- driven. Commissioners need to decide how involved they want to be. The biggest thing HRDC has the power to do is listen to people express what they're feeling in Eden Prairie. It doesn't investigate or issue reports, but it is a sounding place where people can come and talk. Nourkadi departed the meeting at 9:04 pm. Spera said maybe HRDC could apply for a grant to do something similar to the video event at the library some years ago. Spera thanked Huck for his service to the Commission. VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS None VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting will be Thursday, April 12, 2012, 7 p.m. at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. IX. ADJOURNMENT Chair Spera adjourned the meeting at 9:10 p.m.