100421 HRC MinutesCITY OF NEW HOPE
4401 XYLON AVENUE NORTH
NEW HOPE, MINNESOTA 55428
Human Rights Commission October 4, 2021
Regular Meeting In Person - City Hall
CALL TO ORDER Chair Meyer called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
ROLL CALL Present: Donna Meyer Heather Fruen
Allison Isenberg Mindy London
Trista Rehnke Danielle Saima
Jennifer Toavs Heaven Shaw
Kendra Curry
Absent: Zachary Snabes
City Liaison: Chief Tim Hoyt
Guests: Kathi Hemken, Mayor
Brandi Hearn, Administrative Specialist New Hope PD
Cicely Davis, Citizen running for Congress
AGENDA APPROVAL Commissioner Saima made a motion to accept the October 4, 2021,
agenda, seconded by Commissioner Toavs. All voted in favor.
MINUTES APPROVAL Commissioner Isenberg made a motion to accept the August 31, 2021,
minutes, seconded by Commissioner Curry. All voted in favor.
OPEN FORUM Next Door App
- Can it be used as a Marketing source? Post upcoming events
there? Yes
Cooper/Armstrong Football
- Rumor of gun shots. There were no gun shots. There were fights,
not high school kids. 1 person was taken into custody, a taser was
brought to the game.
- Capacity was limited for Homecoming. Current students, family and
alumni were allowed in. No issues.
ISD 281 Status
- New Superintendent is working with the cities and police
departments.
- SROs at Cooper are doing great.
Kids at Play signs?
- Available through Public Works. Email Chief Hoyt or Brandi to
request them.
Tri-City Engagement, Oct 2, 2021
- Event was well attended.
- Ramsey County has stopped charging for things found in pre-textual
stops.
- Hennepin County and Attorney Freeman have a meeting with Police
Chiefs.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
AND REPORTS 2021 Committee Updates:
Colors of the World Crayon Donation (Lead – Kendra Curry)
- Thursday, November 4, 3:00 – 6:15 pm, Open House at City Hall for
kids and their families. Kids artwork will be on display.
Increase HRC awareness/Facebook posts/Marketing (Lead - Allison
Isenberg)
- Sun Post article about Guide Dog Month/Can Do Canines will
include some of our content.
- Working to complete a tri-fold poster board to used for City Day.
Brandi has brochures for the table and some Be a Light in the Night
packets.
Workshop on Home Ownership (Lead - Danielle Saima)
- Looking to hold an event summer 2022. A general meeting and then
a resource fair in the fall.
Community Conversations - Race & Police Interaction (Lead- Donna
Meyer)
- Thursday, October 7, 6:30 pm, Basset Creek BBQ with the police.
- Will have a sign-up sheet at City Day.
LGTBQ Group Partnership (Lead - Trista Rehnke)
- Working on creating HRC t-shirts.
City Day
- Saturday, October 9, 2021, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- City Hall
- HRC will have a table at the event. Bring your own chairs.
- Commissioners Meyer, Saima, Shaw and London will attend.
Sunnyside Park Clean-up
- HRC sponsors Sunnyside Park and has committed to cleaning the
park three times each year.
- Park was cleaned on 3/27/21, 6/5/21.
- Final clean up will be Saturday, October 16, 2021, 10:00 am. Meet
at the Playground. Garbage bags will be provided. After Sunnyside
is cleaned, HRC will move to Victory Park to clean it.
- Jaycee Park – Jen Toavs
- Holiday Park – Neighbors have adopted this park, it is now covered
- Terry Linda – Kendra Curry
City Council Work Session
- Monday, October 18, 2021, 7:00 pm
- HRC is scheduled to present at the Work Session. Powerpoint has
been updated and submitted.
NEW BUSINESS Sock & Boot Drive
- Commissioner Saima will connect with Officer Brad Kallio about
community needs and then create a plan.
- Commissioner Curry will assist with planning. Marketing team will
help get information out.
COMMUNICATION &
INFORMATION SHARING Cooper Craft Fair
- Saturday, October 30, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Friend of the Fire Department
- Chair Meyer and Commissioner Toavs have been working on an
event for Rodney who is a friend of the FD.
- Performance will be Thursday, October 28th at 7:00 pm at The
Saloon.
Citizen’s Policy Academy
- Chair Meyer, Commissioner Saima and London are attending.
- Program provides good behind the scenes but there is almost no
diversity so far. Can be an intimidating situation for BIPOC
community members.
New Addition!
- Baby boy #3 due in March 2022 to Commissioner Saima and her
husband! Congratulations!
NEXT MEETING The next meeting is Monday, November 1 at 7:00 pm.
- Meeting will be in person at City Hall but due to COVID, watch for
alternate virtual options.
ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Commissioner Trista Rehnke
Secretary