HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/03/16 - ADMIN - Minutes - Human Rights Commission - Regular Official minutes
Human rights commission
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
3/16/2021
1. Call to order
1a. Roll call
Members present: Virginia Mancini, Avi Olitzky, Paul Baudin, Yvette Baudelaire, Emily
Buchholz, Jaime Chismar, Li Livdahl, Maria Estiquo
Members absent: Andre Barajas, Astein Osei
Staff present: Maria Solano, Darius Gray
Guests: None present
4. Grounding Assumption Exercise
Ground Assumptions exercise from commissioner Eustaquio. A brief review of share
understanding of our work together.
5. Public Statement Discussion
HRC want to ask the City to update city code as the last time was 44 years ago – especially regarding
HRC items.
The Chair introduce Maria Solano, Senior Management Analyst. Maria present to answer questions
around HRC.
Question to Maria – Historical context
Would reaching out council members with more historical knowledge to provide additional context
around make sense.
We can create subcommittees and tasks forces
How would HRC make changes to the City Code. HRC would make changes to code, HRC would have to
vote and then it would have to go to council via a Council Report. And having a chance to respond to
those. And then it has to be published in the newspaper.
Commissioner Eustaquio provided some historical feedback.
Commissioner Chismar would like to ask council to have a list of topics they will interact with HRC on.
Conversion Therapy ban would have been a great opportunity for HRC to provide feedback.
What is Council mechanism for reaching out to HRC?
HRC should be reviewing what’s on the Council Agenda? Darius to add that at the top of the meetings.
How to navigate the council and commission gap.
May 10th asking question about social Media.
Commissioner Mancini moves to make a recommendation that council make a statement addressing the
violence against AAPI community and raising hate crimes against Asian community. A Joint statement
between HRC and Council. A sub-committee will be created to draft a statement to supply to Council. If
it can not be a joint statement we still recommend that council release a statement.
Human Rights Commission -2- 3/16/2021
Commissioner Eustaquio second.
Mancini – there is comfort in acknowledgement of wrong. We hold power accountable to their power.
Eustaquio – for those with power to state they have your back in difficult times. And that adds to being
an inclusive place to live.
Buchholz – All on board to make a statement. Have language that if it can’t come from us still important
that it comes from the Council.
Chismar – Supports, and wants to create criteria for making and encouraging future public statements.
Livdahl – support
Olitzky – Stands behind the motion
Motion in favor passed unanimously.
We will figure out the timeline.
Is there concern about making a statement from HRC?
Virginia, Maria and Avi will compose the Sub-committee.
Paul will serve alternate.
We need to talk about the criteria for making public statement.
Darius – review if there is statement about George Floyd that we can review and a statement about the
trial.
Motion to adjourn by paul
Seconded by Avi.
Meeting closed 5:13.
Subcommittee help working on a social media plan if we passed a statement.
4. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Baudin the meeting at 5:13.
Seconded by Avi.
Meeting adjourned by unanimous vote.
______________________________________ ______________________________________
Darius Gray, liaison Virginia Mancini, chair member