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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 04/12/2012 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY,APRIL 12, 2012 7:00 P.M., 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pam Spera (Chair), Robert Rozanski (Vice Chair), Gayle Sanders, PG Narayanan, Zina Nourkadi, Hans Gustafson, and Laura Kaczmarek 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. Commissioner Narayanan and Student Representative Mahamud were absent. Introductions took place. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Rozanski moved, seconded by Nourkadi, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 6-0. III. MINUTES Spera said it is not standard procedure to include deliberations of the Human Rights Awards nominees in the minutes. They should be removed. There are many reasons not to have them part of the public record. Koivumaki recalled this as well. Spera asked if nominees have to give consent. Koivumaki said they do not,but it is up to them whether or not they want to accept the award. MOTION: Rozanski moved, seconded by Sanders, to approve the March 8, 2012 minutes as amended. Motion carried 6-0. HRDC directed Koivumaki to ask the City Attorney if it is within HRDC's purview to hold deliberations for Human Rights Awards in closed session. IV. NEW BUSINESS None HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES April 12, 2012 Page 2 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. Annual Commissions Banquet Invitations should be distributed soon. The event will be held May 9 in the Garden Room at City Center. Commissioners are encouraged to attend. 2. Upcoming Events The City of Bloomington's Human Rights Commission (BHRC) is interested in partnering with HRDC on hosting a Somali/Latino fair. Koivumaki will be meeting with her Bloomington counterpart in the near future and would like participation from commissioners to help plan the event. It will likely take place in September or October. As details develop, she will disseminate information via email. Rozanski volunteered to help. Koivumaki noted she'd also received a recent inquiry from BHRC about the Domestic Partner Registry. She has shared Rozanski's contact information to discuss further. The next segment in the "Who Are Your Neighbors" series will highlight the Chinese culture. There is a large professional Chinese population in Eden Prairie. Community Education handles the logistics, but HRDC is needed to help facilitate the evening of the event which will be November 1 in the Heritage Room at City Center. The format will be dinner and a roundtable discussion. The event will be published in the Community Education catalog and turnout is generally good. The subsequent event is scheduled for May 2, 2013. 3. Best Buy Grant $5.10 remaining. Nourkadi departed the meeting at 7:40 pm. VI. OLD BUSINESS A. HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS Koivumaki reported the deadline for the Human Rights Awards was extended and an additional nomination had been received. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES April 12, 2012 Page 3 Rozanski moved, seconded by Kaczmarek, to reject the nomination. Motion carried 3-0-2 with Spera and Gustafson abstaining. Following up on last month's nominee, Koivumaki stated she had received an email from the classroom teacher for which Darryl Stanton volunteers confirming Stanton's contributions and referring to him as a great help. VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS Gustafson reported he is currently on an educational subcommittee for the group project "Healing Minnesota Stories" which marks the 150th anniversary of the Dakota conflict. It is being led by natives and memorializes the 38 Dakota warriors hung in Mankato in the largest hanging of natives in U.S. history. There are also plans to raise funds to erect a memorial structure on Pilot Knob Hill, a sacred burial ground. Bloomington is showing the film "Dakota 38". A trailer of the film can be found on Google using search words "Dakota 38". If HRDC is interested in getting involved, perhaps a screening of the film could be shown here. There is also a memorial walk from the New Ulm area to Fort Snelling along the Minnesota River that runs through Eden Prairie. They stop at each mile to partake in a tobacco ceremony and are looking into getting permanent markers for these stops. Somebody could come in to talk to HRDC about the walk. There are lots of other opportunities to get involved, as well. A website with more information should be up and running soon, and Gustafson will keep commissioners informed of plans as they arise. Koivumaki will check with BHRC to see if they're involved in the Bloomington screening. She noted other Eden Prairie connections are the burial mounds near Hennepin Village and the Battle of Shakopee which took place within eyeshot of there. VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting will be Thursday, May 10, 2012, 7 p.m. at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. IX. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Rozanski moved, seconded by Sanders, to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0. Chair Spera adjourned the meeting at 8:10 p.m.