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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Rights and Diversity - 10/08/2015 APPROVED MINUTES EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2015 7:00 P.M., 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER Office of Housing and Human Services COMMISSION MEMBERS: Sandra Filardo (Chair), PG Narayanan (Vice Chair), Tonja Bivins, Jenny Buckland, Sana Elassar, Connie Iacovelli, Greg Leeper STAFF: Patricia Fenrick, Staff Heidi Wojahn, Recording Secretary STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Tanvi Mehta, Tala Alfoqaha, Sarah Mason, Adrienne Retzlaff, Turner Gunderson I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Due to the resignation of Filardo as Chair, Vice Chair Narayanan called the meeting to order at 7:17 p.m. following an icebreaker activity. Iacovelli and Buckland were absent. Filardo arrived at 7:20 p.m. II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA This item was addressed out of order immediately prior to Item IV. B. MOTION: Leeper moved, seconded by Elassar, to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4-0. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES This item was addressed out of order immediately prior to Item IV. B. MOTION: Leeper moved, seconded by Elassar, to approve the September 10, 2015 minutes. Motion carried 4-0. IV. REPORTS OF STAFF - Fenrick A. LANDLORD TRAINING Fenrick reported almost 1400 single family dwellings and 35 apartment buildings are rented out in Eden Prairie. Recently the City approved mandatory landlord training as a condition of receiving a rental license. This will go into effect in 2016 for anyone applying for a new license, and in 2017 for license renewals. Fenrick is in the process of putting together the training for the start of next year. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES October 8, 2015 Page 2 Narayanan asked how this relates to the Commission. Fenrick said while not directly related to HRDC's mission, it falls under the category of human rights because there are landlords abusing tenant rights and taking advantage of vulnerable communities who don't understand the law and their rights. Part of the problem is affordable housing is at a premium. B. ADA GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE Fenrick thanked Elassar for providing her with resources on grievance policy and the ADA website. She explained the HRDC is tasked with reviewing ADA grievances against the City. She circulated a document on grievance procedures to be approved by City directors. She has also requested a meeting with the communications director to discuss website compliance. Fenrick thanked commissioners for their new food suggestions to be offered at the Community Center. C. MEDIATION TRAINING This item addressed out of order immediately prior to Item X.A. Fenrick distributed advertising materials for CMRS, Inc., an organization through which she participated in 30 hours of mediation training she deemed well worthwhile. She explained one of the challenges in housing is lack of access to emergency assistance for tenants. Approval can take up to 60 days, and tenants have not been able to get assistance without an eviction notice. The notice goes on their record making it harder to rent in the future. However, if the landlord and tenant agree to mediation, Hennepin County will now accept that in lieu of an eviction notice allowing tenants to receive emergency help and other assistive services. Housing is such an integral part of what happens in Fenrick's department, so she will be incorporating this into all of their housing materials and landlord/tenant trainings as well as sharing this information with the food shelf and other area non-profits. Filardo arrived at 7:20 p.m. Narayanan asked about the cost of the mediation training. Fenrick said there are different training options available and different price levels. Elassar, who has also participated in mediation training, agreed it was a very good investment. Fenrick said the goal is to get tenants and landlords to go to mediation before court. D. BEST BUY GRANT $5.10 remaining. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES October 8, 2015 Page 3 V. OLD AND NEW BUSINESS Fenrick said the City calendar is too full for Park and Rec to take on planning an International Festival,but with support and community partners it may be possible for HRDC to move forward with co-sponsoring such an event. The Interfaith Group is looking at starting a non-profit and has indicated they may be interested in partnering. Narayanan said he would like to look at the aspects of different groups and get one person from each to serve as a representative. Leeper said he and Narayanan were envisioning a steering committee of five to eight people and a larger secondary committee to execute. Fenrick said we need names and contacts now. Narayanan said the three key pieces to making the event successful are large attendance, incorporating cultural aspects, and getting sponsorships. Leeper added volunteers and programming to the list. Commissioners brainstormed possible contacts. Mehta mentioned the high school's international day. Alfoqaha said they haven't held the diversity fest the past three years due to lack of interest and not enough notice. Narayanan suggested perhaps there is a way to collaborate with the school. Mehta said the school's event is held during the school day and students may not be inclined to do something off campus outside of school hours. Leeper said he would still like to collaborate with the group at school behind the event. Additional discussion of contacts, timing, and locations for the event ensued. Fenrick said she will check on stage availability at Staring Lake. It was determined a Saturday afternoon would be the ideal time to hold the event. Fenrick clarified Narayanan and Leeper are putting together the steering and planning committees and asked them to keep the Commission updated. Leeper asked if help was available from City staff even though Park and Rec isn't able to take on planning aspects of the event. Fenrick said not to expect co-sponsorship from the City,but employees may elect to volunteer on their own and it may be possible to get perks in the way of a venue booking or police presence. Leeper said he would still like to include Park and Rec on advertising from a marketing perspective and invite them to have a booth at the event. Narayan asked that contact information for potential partners and participants be forwarded to him or Leeper. Alfoqaha asked if it was ok to submit suggestions for food and dance while Retzlaff asked if student groups could participate. Fenrick said not only are those suggestions welcome,but they could also be considered for the Staring Lake Artist Series. Leeper inquired about the possibility of piggybacking off the trafficking 5K by holding the international event the same day. Fenrick said it would be worth talking with Grace Church about it,but we would need to make sure there are enough partners first. Elassar suggested calling the event a"festival of people". The union and agency she works for would likely be interested and she can look into applying for grants. Fenrick suggested checking with some of the big employers like United Health Group and CH Robinson. Elassar said Hennepin County might be another option. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES October 8, 2015 Page 4 Elassar volunteered to coordinate waste removal so it is a green event in terms of refuse. Discussion followed about types of items to sell such as art and jewelry. Fenrick stated she will research city fee costs for food vendors and find out regulations around selling and alcohol. A. TRACKS IN THE SNOW UPDATE The"Tracks in the Snow" exhibit will run November 12-December 3. On Thursday, November 19, there will be an event at the Community Center from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. with music, games,henna, and other activities. Valerie Shirley will share her experience being in the exhibit. A couple of the student commissioners said they know henna artists who may be interested. Fenrick said she would like several artists, if possible, and asked the students to forward contact information to her. Filardo suggested letting them set out tip jars and asking people to bring traditional games or arts and crafts from their respective cultures. Fenrick said the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) is offering a workshop training called"Unconscious Bias as it Relates to Muslims". Since the Commission had talked about wanting to have a more serious panel discussion as part of the exhibit, she is working on trying to procure the speaker from that event to present at the library on a proposed date of Monday, November 30, 7-8:30 p.m. The event should be neutral and inviting. Leeper suggested coming up with a more welcoming title. Fenrick said the title being used by MCN acknowledges we all have bias. Mason suggested"Breaking Down Bias" might be seen as less accusatory. She went on to talk about tests developed by psychologists at Harvard and other universities to measure unconscious bias. Narayanan suggested finding a way to incorporate the tests into the event. Retzlaff recommended using the Kahoot game, a collection of questions on specific topics, to tabulate results. Elassar suggested having mini passports available for stamping at each location where the photographs will be on display. B. ADA 25t'ANNIVERARY This item was addressed out of order immediately prior to Item V.A. HTC will be the hosting facility for the viewing of the film "Autism in Love" Monday, November 30, 7-8:30 p.m. Fenrick said a panel has not been formed yet, but the plan is to partner with autism parent groups for this event. Filardo suggested having a representative from the Autism Shop in Minnetonka on the panel. Fenrick reported Buckland went to the last Interfaith Group meeting. They decided not to go with an environmental focus for their next event. HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MINUTES October 8, 2015 Page 5 C. CAPITAL ART PROJECT Fenrick reported the Minnesota State Capitol is under renovation. There has been some discussion about art at the capitol building. Art tells history and the art currently on display isn't very flattering and doesn't accurately portray Native Americans in Minnesota. They clothing is not accurately depicted and the artistic interpretation is they are childlike. There are also very few people of color included in the capitol's art collection. Fenrick will send commissioners a link to the website that goes through the current art slide-by-slide with a list of concerns. If the art cannot be replaced, the plan is to have guides incorporate the inaccuracies into their tours. VI. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS The next HRDC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, 2015, 7 p.m. at Eden Prairie Center, Room 125. The December meeting date was changed to December 17. VII. ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Elassar moved, seconded by Leeper, to adjourn. Motion carried 4-0. Vice Chair Narayanan adjourned the meeting at 8:46 p.m.