HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024/05/21 - ADMIN - Minutes - Human Rights Commission - Regular Human rights commission
May 21, 2024
7:00 pm
If you need special accommodations or have questions about the meeting, please call (Cheyenne Brodeen, 952.924.2517) or
the administration department at 952.924.2525.
Human rights commission
Members present: Andrea Alvarez, Katie Lawler Turnbull, and Celia Anderson.
Members absent: Abby Bauer and Alicia Margalli.
Staff present: Cheyenne Brodeen, administrative services director
Jocelyn Hernandez, race, equity and inclusion specialist.
Guests: None.
1. Call to order
Commissioner Lawler Turnbull called the commission to order at 7:08p.m.
2. Approval of agenda
A motion was made by Commissioner Alvarez, seconded by Commissioner
Anderson, to approve the agenda with flexibility. Motion carried unanimously.
3. Approval of minutes – there were no minutes for approval during this meeting.
4. Old Business
N/A
5. New business
The St. Louis Public School District appointed board member Celia Anderson to the
vacant school board seat earlier in 2024. This is commissioner Anderson’s first meeting.
Commissioner Anderson introduced herself. The other commission members and staff
present introduced themselves as well.
Officer elections were held for chair and vice chair.
Chair:
A motion was made by commissioner Alvarez to move commissioner Lawler
Turnbill as Chair. Commissioner Anderson seconded. Motion carried.
Nice-chair:
A motion was made by commissioner Lawler Turnbull to move commissioner
Alvarez as vice-chair. Commissioner Anderson seconded. Motion carried.
Staff shared an update with the commission regarding the boards and commissions
redesign discussions with council. Staff provided background information regarding the
process for commissioner Anderson. Staff shared that the council discussed this item at
a study session the night prior to this meeting. The following are the three policy
questions and outcomes that the council discussed:
• Policy question 1: How does council want to provide policy direction to boards and
commissions?
o Outcome(s): Re-implement annual meetings to discuss priorities, hold one-on-one
meetings with each commission during the system that best aligns with their work
to discuss their annual work plan and create a form where board and
commission members can directly connect with the council.
• Policy question 2: Does council want to make changes to the appointment process?
o Outcome(s): the council would like staff to do an initial review and scoring of
applications using agreed upon criteria. Council will interview and recommend final
candidates.
• Policy question 3: Does council want to offer compensation to eligible members?
o Outcome(s): Council does wish to compensate eligible board members at a rate of
$49/month.
Staff will be bringing back updates to ordinances and the rules and procedures
document in the near future and are planning the next steps as it relates to
conversations with the council and board and commissions. There will be an
appointment process this summer to fill vacancies and expired terms.
Commissioner Lawler Turnbull appreciates the form idea for commissions to reach out
directly to the council.
Staff shared an update on some of the internal work happening with in the race, equity
and inclusion (REI) division. Staff have added a new learning opportunity this year for
employees called the community connection series. This series focuses on specific
cultural communities in St. Louis Park, specifically the Jewish, African American, Latino
and East African communities. REI partners with community leaders to share how best
to engage with a specific community, historical experience and relationship with
government, major events, holidays or festivals, significant community institutions,
nonprofits, sacred spaces, gender dynamics, religion and norms.
Commissioner Alvarez shared it would be great if the HRC could help plan events like
this for the broader public because this information would be valuable for residents and
other community members as well as staff.
Commissioner Alvarez also asked if it would be possible to change the monthly meeting
to another day of the week. Other commissioners present said they would be open to
changing the re-occurring meeting date. Staff shared that the commission can change
their meeting date if they choose. and will verify the process to do that.
5. Kudos
6. Subcommittee updates
Events subcommittee: Commissioner Lawler Turnbull shared that the literacy festival is
coming up in August again and wanted to know how the commission wanted to
participate and suggested that the commission table at the event this year and promote
the HRC. Commissioners Alvarez and Anderson agreed that tabling would be best.
Commissioner Lawler will reach out to Children’s First to sign up for a booth.
Bias crimes subcommittee: Commissioner Lawler Turnbull asked if there have been any
recent bias crimes. Staff said there hasn't been and will notify the commission when
there are. Staff also noted that it would be a good idea to re-visit the approach to how
the commission has responded to bias crimes.
7. Chair and staff updates
8. Other business
9. The commission adjourned at 8:41 pm.
Respectfully submitted by:
Cheyenne Brodeen, administrative services director/staff liaison