HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021/04/29 - ADMIN - Minutes - Human Rights Commission - Regular Official minutes
Human rights commission
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
4/29/2021
I. Call to order
a. Roll Call
Present: Astein, Li, Maria, Virginia, Avi, Paul, Andre, Jamie, Paul, Emily B
Absent: Yvette
Staff present: Maria Solano, Jonthan Nwangwu, John McHugh, Darius Gray
II. Approval of minutes
Revote next months
III. Approval of tonight’s agenda
Passes unanimously
IV. Bias Hate Crimes review
V. Kudos
VI. Council Agenda Items
Commission wanted to work more directly with City Council. If commission wants to give
input on a specific item inform Darius to will run it up the chain.
VII. Human Rights Award Review
Chismar gave an overview of our nominations.
Can we name the Award after George Floyd?
When the award is giving how do we make space for the Floyd nomination.
The memorial is a better way to acknowledge Floyd.
We don’t want to make George Floyd a martyr for being killed.
Abstain – Osesi
Buchholz motion to nomination perspectives as the winner of the 2020 Human Rights
Commission
Nomination passes unanimously.
VIII. Conversion Therapy Review – Council request
Council seeking advice and guidance from HRC regarding passing an ordinance in St. Louis
Park.
If passed there would be a religious exemption.
Eustaquio: Who would enforce this ordinance?
If passed it would have to go through a dept. City would have to create a system to be
able to allow folks to report this. So enforcement piece still needs to be worked out.
Is ordinance is being drafted currently? No, staff work draft something and allow HRC to
provide feedback at a future meeting.
Making it an ordinance rather a resolution gives it more power and helps solidified that
the city does not support it.
Baudhuin motion City council work with staff to draft language around a ban in St. Louis
park. With that understating that HRC will be able to review.
Baudhuin: recommend that staff work with city attorney to draft resolution banning
conversion therapy and HRC reviews the draft.
Motion passes unanimously
Absent: Yvette
Discussion: Mancini systemic change needs to occur
Power in setting the exception – its powerful tool will stop some people from doing conversion
therapy due to the ban.
Outfront come to present commission – see if they can attend to do a quick presentation on
their work and their thoughts on.
Chismar likes ordinance written in Minneapolis.
IX. Meeting with Council May 10th 6:30 log on and 7:30 HRC session.
Common theme: HRC would like to elevate its voice
Partnering closer with HRC and Council – as HRC is an advisory commission to City council.
Want to look at HRC bylaws – wants to consider new bylaws rather than editing old
bylaws. There is a desire to be more responsive to current events.
No clear line of communication with City Council
Part of work plan is to do some creative thinking around what we want to do is putting in
the bylaws.
Summer of action – show off the great things that we will be doing.
In future meeting look at the bylaws and create a subcommittee.
X. Work plan and annual report
XI. Summer of Action Planning and discussion
XII. Subcommittee Updates
Meeting to adjourn 8:04 PM
Adjournment