Human Rights and Diversity - 10/10/2019APPROVED MINUTES
EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS & DIVERSITY COMMISSION
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 7:00 P.M., Eden Prairie Center
Office of Housing and Community Services
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Greg Leeper (Chair), Shahram Missaghi, (Vice
Chair), Katherine Lucht, Leslie Philmon, Rehmatbai
Sumra; Sana Elassar, Philip Skeie, Asad Aliweyd,
Tyler Aman
STUDENT MEMBERS: Caprice Steidle, Najma Ali, Nicole Mayer, Stavan
Bhakta, Winifred Halm De-Souza
COMMISSION STAFF: Megan Yerks, Staff Liaison
Julie Krull, Recording Secretary
I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chair Leeper called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. Commission Members Missaghi,
Philmon and Aman and Student Members Mayer and Halm De-Souza were absent.
Sumra arrived at 7:30 p.m.
II. INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS
The guest speaker for the evening was Robert Ellis, Director of the Eden Prairie Public
Works Department.
III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: Lucht moved, seconded by Aliweyd, to approve the agenda. Motion
carried 5-0.
IV. APPROVAL OF THE SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 MEETING MINUTES
MOTION: Elassar moved, seconded by Aliweyd, to approve the September 12th, 2019
minutes. Motion carried 5-0.
V. LOCAL NON-PROFIT PRESENTATION – ROBERT ELLIS, EP PUBLIC
WORKS
Chair Leeper introduced Robert Ellis, Director of the Eden Prairie Public Works
Department and stated he has been with the City for 8 years. Mr. Ellis said he would like
to get feedback on the ADA Transition Plan for the Right of Way. Mr. Ellis pointed out
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October 10, 2019
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ADA stands for Americans with Disabilities Act. Title II of ADA pertains to Right of
Way. He stated they want to remove barriers from existing or reconstructed facilities;
mainly sidewalks, trails, curb ramps and signals. A part of this plan consisted of where
all the sidewalks, curb ramps, trails and traffic signals are located. There was a condition
assessment of the problem areas that happened in 2018. The results were:
A. Sidewalks and Trails
Cross Slope (140 locations)
Drainage (116 locations)
Driveway Interruption (117 locations)
Obstruction/Obstacle (7 locations)
Running Slope (76 locations)
B. Curb Ramps (2,462 total)
Rating 1 = No facility exists (3)
Rating 2 = Most ADA standards not met and no truncated domes (1,746) – in
the 1990’s truncated domes were not required and a lot of Eden Prairie’s
development occurred then so that is why there are so many now.
Rating 3 = Some ADA standards met and truncated domes present (512)
Rating 4 = All ADA standards met or proper documentation provided (201)
C. Traffic Signals (16 total)
Non-compliant Push Buttons, Indicators, Signage, etc. (15)
These are the priority areas for improvements:
Half mile from Transit Stations
Half mile from Community Facilities
Half mile from High and Medium-High Density Housing
Half mile from Southwest Transit Bus Stops
The Improvement Schedule consists of:
A. Ten Year Capital Improvement Plan, including
Sidewalk and Trail Reconstruction
Pavement Management Projects
Roadway Reconstruction
Grant Opportunities
B. New Development Projects
C. Total Cost Estimate $13M over 26 years
ADA Coordination:
A. ADA Coordinator for ROW
Public Works Director
B. Staff Training
Design, Inspection and Construction
C. Grievance Procedure
ADA Coordinator
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HRDC
City Manager
Mr. Ellis said the next steps will be recommendations from the HRDC this evening, then
it will go to City Council for approval and once it is approved it will be implemented.
Lucht asked if just the red zones on the map will be done. Mr. Ellis said they will be
done first but they will be doing all zones.
Chair Leeper asked, in regards to the time frame, it is quite extensive, being 26 years at
$13M, if Mr. Ellis could discuss the expanded time frame. Mr. Ellis said they looked at
other cities and most were at 80 percent in 20 years, so they wanted to be at the standard.
He pointed out it was more expensive to rebuild then it is to have it new, hence the $13M.
Lucht asked if Mr. Ellis was concerned that technology would change in the 26 years.
Mr. Ellis said technology will change but the Department of Justice will give the City
reprieves. Chair Leeper commented there should be a review period. Elassar said that is
included in the document on page 9. Mr. Ellis said the document will not change but the
appendix will change quite often. Chair Leeper said he recommends it to be reviewed
every 1-2 years. Aliweyd said he would like to make this document/project public to
everyone. Chair Leeper said appendix 1 addresses public hearings.
Yerks asked Mr. Ellis when this will go to City Council for their review and approval.
Mr. Ellis said it will hopefully be by the end of the year.
Sumra commented if there is a construction project going on it would be nice if there was
a hotline number residents could call with questions.
Chair Leeper said he would like re-easement included in the document and to also
include ramps.
Elassar commented that the grievance process should be made available to the public.
Sumra asked if on the ‘Grievance Form” could it be listed as the complainant name and
not just name. Mr. Ellis said the form is drafted by the Department of Justice so they
would not be able to change that. Elassar stated she was happy to see it was written in
plain language. Mr. Ellis said the League of MN Cities developed the standard for that.
Chair Leeper requested a motion to give this plan their recommendation to the City
Council.
MOTION: Skeie moved, seconded by Sumra, to recommend approval of the ADA
Transition Plan to the City Council. Motion carried 6-0.
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V. STAFF REPORT – MEGAN YERKS
A. COMUNITY EVENTS:
1. General Fund Grant – The RFP deadline has passed for this grant. 10
applications were submitted and presentations will be made next week.
$286,760 will be awarded for 2020-2021.
B. COMUNITY EVENTS:
1. Becoming Nicole – This will take place on October 24, 2019 from 6:30-
7:15 pm at the Eden Prairie City Center. Eden Prairie Reads hosts book
and panel presentation by people from the transgender community and
their families.
2. Interfaith Circle’s Thanksgiving Community Celebration – Pax Christi
Catholic Community with host this event on Saturday, November 23rd at
7:30 pm.
3. Navigating the Waters – This will take place at St. Andrews Church on
November 8th fro 9 am – 12 pm. This will focus on disability awareness,
etiquette and accessibility (including digital accessibility).
4. Health and Wellness Workshop: Nutrition & Your Health – Thursday,
November 7th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. This will be at the City Center in the
Heritage Room and is hosted by PROP, OHCS and NAMI.
5. Health and Wellness Workshop: Physical Activity for Health – Thursday,
December 5th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. This will be at the City Center in the
Heritage room and is hosted by PROP, OHCS and NAMI.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. EP CULTURE ‘N MOTION
Chair Leeper said he would like feedback from everyone. Steidle feels there
should have been more promotion for this. Chair Leeper said it would be great if
the Student Commissioners could handle this as it is much easier for them. Yerks
said Molly, who works at the high school, suggested talking to teachers to get
extra credit for students. Lucht said she thought it was well attended.
Aliweyd said he thought it was successful. He also suggested that people that did
not attend should be able to read about it. Elassar said she was approached by a
reporter and said she would be willing to talk to her. Chair Leeper and Aliweyd
said they can also speak with her. Ali commented that it was a good event.
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Steidle thought it was very interesting. Elassar said she really enjoyed this event
and said it was very interactive. She also said it would be nice if the table hosts
could be able to mingle. Chair Leeper thanked Elassar and Aliweyd for being
table hosts.
VII. NEW BUSINESS
A. EDEN PRAIRIE OPEN HOUSE
This will take place at Eden Prairie Fire Department #1 on Saturday, October 12
from 11-2 pm. Yerks said they need a few people to staff this event. Elassar said
she could be there from 12:30-2pm. Skeie said he could help out from 11-12:30
pm, as did Aliweyd. Sumra said she will also be there. Yerks said she has a spin
wheel and diversity books and will have supplies for this.
B. NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH - NOVEMBER
Chair Leeper said he would like to highlight this event. Yerks said there is a
packet that includes history of Eden Prairie residents. Aliweyd said he would like
to hear a speaker come and give us a highlight of living here; he said he knows a
Dakota Sioux professor.
Lucht asked if there was an event we could partner with someone for this. Yerks
said she can ask if we can post a PowerPoint on this topic on the HRDC site,
otherwise they can post the Land Acknowledgement statement. Aliweyd
suggested we get information out to people and get a speaker into the
Commission. Chair Leeper said in regards to the Land Acknowledgement
statement, he would like this focused on Eden Prairie and have feedback from a
Sioux representative. Yerks asked in general for social media, for Native
American Heritage month, what the Commission would like to do. Chair Leeper
said for sure something online and also look for someone to give feedback and
check history. Sumra said she could do that and Chair Leeper and Lucht said they
would also help. Chair Leeper said the statement should just be a few sentences
long.
C. LOOKING FORWARD: 2020 WORKPLAN PREP
Yerks said for everyone to look at the guide for the work plan and they will
discuss it next month. She also stated if any member is not going to be at the
meeting next month to have the sheet submitted prior to the meeting.
D. LOOKING FORWARD: STUDENT COMMISSIONER PROJECT
Chair Leeper talked to the Student Commissioners about brainstorming for a
Commissioner project and to bring the ideas forward next month to talk about it.
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Yerks said it does not have to be an event; it could be a speaker or something in
writing.
IX. UPCOMING MEETING
A. NOVEMBER 14, 2019
X. ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Lucht moved, seconded by Skeie, to adjourn the Human Rights & Diversity
Commission meeting. Motion carried 6-0.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:59 pm