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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 04-12 HRC MinutesApril 12, 2011 Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes 1 MINUTES CITY OF MAPLEWOOD HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Council Chambers, Maplewood City Hall 1830 County Road B East 1. CALL TO ORDER A meeting of the Commission was held in the City Hall Council Chambers and was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairperson Kringle. 2. ROLL CALL Commissioners Jon Brandt, Commissioner Present William Joanis, Commissioner Present Jeffrey Kringle, Commissioner Present Arianne Maxwell, Commissioner Present Marie Ridgeway, Commissioner Present Laurie Rose Simon, Commissioner Present Charlotte Winnen, Commissioner Absent Staff Karen Guilfoile, City Clerk, Director Citizen Services 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Rose recommended tabling item 5. a. Focus Group Proposal due to Commissioner Winnen’s absence Commissioner Brandt requested to move 7. a. Response to Citizen Complaint to 6. b. and add a new 7. a. Statement from Commissioner Brandt. Commissioner Maxwell moved to approve the agenda as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Brandt. Ayes – All The motion passed. 4. APP ROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the March 8, 2011, Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes. Commissioner Simon moved to approve the March 8, 2011, Human Rights Commission Minutes as submitted. Seconded by Commissioner Ridgeway. Ayes – All The motion passed. April 12, 2011 Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes 2 5. NEW BUSINESS a. Focus Group Proposal – Commissioner Char Winnen (tabled due to Commissioner Winnen’s absence) b. Maplewood Human Rights Commission Essay and Art Contest Spring 2011 – Commissioner Ridgeway Commissioner Ridgeway gave a presentation on the Maplewood Human Rights Commission Essay and Art Contest Spring 2011. The commission shared feedback and discussed other criteria and timeframes for the Maplewood Human Rights Commission Essay and Art Contest. More information will follow. c. Yellow Ribbon Communities – Commissioner Maxwell Commissioner Maxwell gave a presentation on the Yellow Ribbon Community program and answered questions of the commission. Staff stated the city council has been working on a yellow ribbon community for awhile now and may be collaborating with the City of Roseville on this program. Staff recommended Commissioner Maxwell may want to be the liaison from the HRC for the Yellow Ribbon Community project. Commissioner Maxwell agreed she would like to serve as the HRC liaison. d. Review of the HRC Mission Statement a. City Clerk, Director Citizen Services, Karen Guilfoile gave a brief report on the HRC Mission Statement. b. Commissioner Maxwell read the HRC Mission aloud. Commissioner Brandt moved to table the review of the HRC Mission Statement. Seconded by Chairperson Kringle. Commissioner Ridgeway made a recommendation that the mission statement be a part of the tri- fold brochure as a means to advertise the Human Rights Commission. Seconded by Commissioner Simon. Ayes – All The motion passed. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Getting to Know Your Neighbors – Commissioner Simon Commissioner Simon said as a commission she thought it would be a good idea to meet with members in the community such as the Hispanic, Hmong, Somalian, and GLBT community as a means of getting to know our neighbors. The commission would like to find out if members of those groups would like to participate with the Taste of Maplewood which is being held at Goodrich Park on August 19 & 20, 2011. Commissioner Maxwell said she would be available August 19, 2011 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. April 12, 2011 Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes 3 Staff stated there will be a large booth for all the boards and commissions at the event and the HRC is welcome to put something together and get back to staff in regards to the event. b. Response to Citizen Complaint – Commissioner Brandt Commissioner Brandt discussed a complaint made by Bob Zick during visitor presentations. Commissioner Brandt said he had spoke with staff regarding getting a copy of the council meeting where Mr. Zick made his complaint about Mayor Rossbach during visitor presentations. Staff was unable to get the DVD to work due to technical difficulties so he would recommend tabling this item until such time that the DVD is available for the commission to comment on. Commissioner Joanis moved to table this discussion until the next meeting so that staff can work with the IT department to compile the portion of the meeting between Mayor Rossbach and Bob Zick for commissioners to comment on. Seconded by Commissioner Ridgeway. Ayes – All The motion passed. 7. COMMISSION PRESENTATIONS a. Commissioner Statement – Commissioner Brandt Commissioner Brandt said in honor of the 150th anniversary of the start of the civil war he would like to read the history of slavery aloud. Commissioner Brandt said its time to rededicate the Maplewood Human Rights Commission to the preservation and promotion of human rights in the City of Maplewood. Commissioner Brandt read a quote from Edmund Burke. He would encourage commissioners and other members of the public to bring any human rights issues to the attention of the commission to help the Human Rights Commission carry out their role on the commission. 8. STAFF PRESENTATIONS None. 9. VISITOR PRESENTATIONS a. Bob Zick, North St. Paul. Mr. Zick spoke in regards to his attendance at the March 8, 2011, Human Rights Commission meeting where he spoke during visitor presentations. City Attorney Kantrud told the commission that the Mayor was going to apologize and make a statement at the next council meeting. Mr. Zick disagreed with that statement. Mr. Zick would still like the commission to take action on Mayor Rossbach’s reaction and behavior. Commissioner Brandt moved that the commission not comment on this until they have had an opportunity to view the DVD. Seconded by Commissioner Rose. Ayes – All The motion passed. 10. ADJOURNMENT Chairperson Kringle adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m.