010421 HRC MinutesCITY OF NEW HOPE
4401 XYLON AVENUE NORTH
NEW HOPE, MINNESOTA 55428
Human Rights Commission February 1, 2021
Regular Meeting Via Zoom
CALL TO ORDER Chair Meyer called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
ROLL CALL Present: Heather Fruen
Mindy London
Donna Meyer
Trista Rehnke
Danielle Saima
Heaven Shaw
Zachary Snabes
Jennifer Toavs
Absent: Kendra Curry
City Liaison: Chief Tim Hoyt
Guests: Mayor Kathi Hemken
Allison Isenberg
AGENDA APPROVAL Commissioner Toavs made a motion to accept the January 4, 2021,
agenda, seconded by Commissioner Fruen. All voted in favor.
MINUTES APPROVAL Commissioner Fruen made a motion to accept the December 7, 2020
minutes, seconded by Commissioner Toavs. All voted in favor.
OPEN FORUM Goals for the HRC from the Commissioners
- Reach out to the community.
- Move forward.
- Make community aware of resources, i.e. Embedded Social Worker.
- Have open and honest conversations and communication.
- Make New Hope a welcoming environment and enhance quality of
life.
- Want to be a voice and give back to the citizens of New Hope and
serve them.
- Use my background to share my knowledge and experience with
others.
- Do community outreach, educate and partner with others.
Goals for the HRC from the Mayor
- Be an advisor to the council.
- Provide programs to the community.
- Engage with the community.
- Have a dialog about important social issues.
- Make the Chief and Mayor aware of issues/concerns in the city.
Goals for the HRC from the Chief of Police
- Ask me the tough questions, even if it pertains to my department.
- Use this time as a sounding board to get questions answered.
Goals for the HRC from Guest Allison Isenberg
- Want to be involved in the community, need to continue to learn and
experience new things.
- Dialog is critical.
Question regarding HRC responsibilities to the Mayor
- Other cities HRC’s have overstepped their bounds, i.e. starting
investigating police stops. That HRC was disbanded.
- HRC wanted to take on bullying within the school district. That is not
appropriate. HRC could talk to the school district about the concern
but it is not the responsibility of the HRC to step in and tell the district
what to do.
- HRC can bring things forward but is not the detective and/or judge &
jury to determine punishment.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
AND REPORTS New Commissioner Introduction
- Mindy London
Citizen Advisory Commission Meeting
- Meeting is January 12 at 7:00 pm
- HRC has been asked to send a representative to the meeting to
connect with CAC to share ideas and partner on items or events.
o Chair Meyer, Commissioner Snabes and Commissioner
Toavs will attend.
Recruitment Options
- Commissioner Sesay resigned effective immediately. There is now
one spot open on the commission.
- Information is sent out in the city update document in the water bill.
The opening is listed in the city Pipeline, InMotion, Reader Board,
SunPost and mentioned on CCX.
- Brooklyn Park sends out a city update via a weekly email. Could this
be an option to reach those that don’t receive the water bill?
o Commissioner Snabes will forward the email to the
Mayor. She will ask the Communication Director about
options.
- Post signs in laundry rooms of apartment buildings? Drop off notices
at apartment buildings?
- Table and/or signs at HyVee? Caribou?
Discussion of Recent Police Activity in Minneapolis
- Chief Hoyt answered questions regarding standard police procedure
with regards to the recent shooting and felony search warrant that
was executed in the home.
- Body cameras are being instituted in the New Hope Police
department. Information will be provided to the public. The HRC will
be asked to provide input as well. Cars already have cameras, body
cameras can provide more and different views. Need to be mindful
of privacy concerns, storage/capacity requirements and setting up
processes and procedures.
Just Deeds and Restrictive Covenants
- Chief Hoyt share the CCX video from Golden Valley.
- There are no restrictive covenants in New Hope. Robbinsdale and
Golden Valley do have them. New Hope was incorporated later.
- Chief has a meeting with the City Manager. Communications
Director will be issuing a statement soon and will be available on the
city website and Facebook page.
- Should the city back a company like Just Deeds? The
commissioners all stated “yes”.
2021 Planning Prep
- Review and discussion of the ideas submitted:
o Diversity Business Page (website) to promote
businesses
o African American speaker to incorporate equitable
thinking beyond Black History Month
o Dialog with community regarding race relations in the
city, incorporate Chief and students
o Include religious organizations into park clean up
o Highlight Mexican food establishment for Cinco de
Mayo, encouraging equity
o Back to school backpack drive
o Workshop on home ownership
o Women small business month
o Sweet Blackberry event – Flying Free, The Bessie
Coleman story
o History of Cinco de Mayo for the city Facebook page
o Woodsy the Owl
o Park Cleanup city wide
o Increase HRC awareness, once of month updates on
city Facebook page and website
o Volunteer with the Food Group
o Listening sessions for COVID impact and community
experience along with park clean up or hold session in
the park
o Humanizing campaign, residents that have a need
and/or want to give
o Food, shelter and safety awareness for residents in need
o Police ride-a-long
o Provide stats and data regarding BIPOC home
ownership, partner with the city
o Decorating trash cans in city parks, partner with schools
o Get the student view of what they see in the community
o Partner with student groups on projects
o Partner with LGBTQ group in Robbinsdale or Crystal
- List and discussion points will be sent to all Commissioners. (See
attachments) Please review and indicate your top 5 options. Send
feedback back to Chair Meyer by Sunday, January 10, 2021.
NEW BUSINESS Be a Light in the Night suggestion
- Commissioner Toavs reminded people to be reflective and visible
outside when it is dark.
- Mayor Hemken will get the word out.
Snow Removal
- Commissioner Saima mentioned that there is a snow removal
conversation on Neighbors of New Hope Facebook page. Residents
had questions on who is responsible and by when.
- Answers vary depending on if it is resident property, city property or
company/business property.
- Chief Hoyt will connect with Communications Director to continue to
put information out to the city.
- City clears sidewalks as they can during normal hours, no overtime.
- Police is working with Community Development – apartment
complexes and privately owned buildings to remind them of their
responsibilities, what could be fined, the processes, etc.
COMMUNICATION &
INFORMATION SHARING None
NEXT MEETING The next meeting is Monday, February 1, 2021 at 7:00 pm, via Zoom.
ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Commissioner Trista Rehnke
Secretary