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020121 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 7:01 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Kendra Curry Mindy London Donna Meyer Trista Rehnke Zachary Snabes Absent: Heather Fruen Danielle Saima Heaven Shaw Jennifer Toavs City Liaison: Chief Tim Hoyt Guests: Mayor Kathi Hemken Allison Isenberg Brad Kallio, Community Relations Officer AGENDA APPROVAL Commissioner Snabes made a motion to accept the February 1, 2021, agenda, seconded by Commissioner London. All voted in favor. MINUTES APPROVAL Commissioner London made a motion to accept the January 4, 2021, minutes, seconded by Commissioner Snabes. All voted in favor. OPEN FORUM New City Council Member - Mike Isenberg sworn in. Questions for Chief Hoyt - Q: Recently residents of Robbinsdale were arrested for white supremacy activity. Are white supremacists a threat to the community? - A: Yes there are the Proud Boys and others. I am supporter of the First Amendment and the US Constitution but when it crosses a line into white supremacy, I am against it. It is my duty to protect people and their right to freedom of speech but not to commit a crime or hurt others. - Q: What about Black Lives Matter (BLM)? - A: Answer the same, they have the right to protest and be heard as long as it doesn’t cross the line into criminal activity. - Q: Do you consider white supremacy to be a threat to society? - A: Yes, FBI provide update list each year. It is alive and well. Business Networking Group - Commissioner London asked about the Business Networking Group meetings. - Mayor Hemken explained that the meetings are now via Zoom on Wednesday morning at 8:30 am. Contact Brandon Bell at City Hall to get the invite to the meeting. Meeting is 1st Wednesday of the month at 8:30 am in even months and at 2:00 pm in odd months. Conversation Therapy - Commissioner Curry stated that Robbinsdale and Golden Valley have language regarding conversion therapies and fines within the city and asked if New Hope was planning to do anything? - Mayor Hemken stated the issue was being addressed at the next City Council Work Session. Currently there is no fine. She is in favor of adding restrictions. Just Deeds - Guest Allison Isenberg asked about if the HRC was doing anything further with the Just Deeds Coalition and the restructure covenants. - Chair Meyer confirmed that New Hope does not have any restrictive covenants so there is nothing to correct. - Mayor Hemken stated that the city will be sharing information. Jeff Alger is reviewing city policies. The City Council did pass a resolution condemning restrictive covenants and supports the work of Just Deeds. Be a Light in the Night – Reflective Gear - Community Relations Officer Brad Kallio’s goal is to have 1 reflective vest and dog collar with light in each patrol car. Officers will give out as needed to people walking at night/in the dark. They will be distributing materials to officers soon. They plan to include the HRC in the information provided when the vests and collars are distributed. - Q: Chair Meyer asked about people of color being stopped inappropriately and if there are concerns here. What is someone is stopped to give them a vest but then other concerns are found and the person ends up detained? - A: Chief Hoyt replied that as long as the officers are up front and honest that they are trying to keep people safe it shouldn’t be a concern. People don’t have to talk to them. However, the police do have a legal right to stop people but you have a have a specific reason to search someone. This initiative will be strictly to help people from a public safety concern. - Q: Is there a campaign or communication for this? - A: Officer Kallio said the communication is slated to come out in March via the city media methods – In the Pipeline, city website, social media, CCX, sent to list of apartment complex managers for distribution. DISCUSSION ITEMS AND REPORTS Citizen Advisory Commission Meeting - Meeting was January 12 at 7:00 pm, Chair Meyer and Commissioners Snabes and Toavs attended. - Commissioner Toavs spoke about the Be a Light in the Night program. - The HRC list of potential projects for 2021 was presented to the CAC. They are interested in assisting with a park clean up in Meadow Lake Park in April or May along with the Watershed Community group. The CAC is also interested in the backpack drive or donation. - Mayor Hemken confirmed that the CAC members patrol the city parks to look for damage or concerns/issues. They report back any findings to the city. Community Relations Office Brad Kallio - Has been in position for two months, on the police force for 13 years. - Focus is to prioritize relationships with the city and be a leader for change. The HRC will help, support and partner with the position when appropriate. Police In-Service, 2/9 and 2/21 - Chief Hoyt will be holding a police in-service on 2/9 and 2/11. HRC members will present at 11:00 am both days. We have 45 minutes on the schedule. - HRC members will tell the police officers what the HRC does and how we can work with the police and community. - Chair Meyer, Commissioners London and Saima will attend. - In-service is done over two days so all staff can attend. The goal is to distribute information, i.e. Embedded Social Worker and how to utilize, Inspections and Code Enforcement. Embedded Social Worker - Asha Mohamud is the new Embedded Social Worker. She is scheduled to attend the March HRC Meeting. 2021 Planning - These items received the most votes: o Workshop on home ownership o Partner with LGBTQ group in Robbinsdale or Crystal o Back to school backpack drive o Increase HRC awareness, once of month updates on city Facebook page and website o Dialog with community regarding race relations in the city, incorporate Chief and students - HRC will need to start with the implementation plans for the options. Will probably need to break out into smaller teams. Will discuss further when all Commissioners are in attendance. NEW BUSINESS HRC page on City of New Hope website - HRC has not been updated with new Commissioner’s names. Past minutes and agendas are also not available. The brochure is the “old” version and not the brochure that was updated in 2018. - Chief Hoyt will work to get page updated. COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION SHARING Colors of the World by Crayola - Guest Allison Isenberg recently discovered that Crayola makes a “Colors of the World” markers and crayons. They have different skin color markers and crayons so they are more representative and inclusive for kids to use. Possible item to include in a backpack drive. - Mayor Hemken indicated that numerous groups do backpack drives already. It may be a better idea to adopt a class in each school and provide the Colors of the World crayons or markers. It is not a good idea for the HRC to fundraise. HRC can accept donations but they have to be run through the city to be transparent. - May be able to partner with ISD 281 on which school or classes would be best. Chair Meyer will reach out to former HRC member, Candace Burckhardt at 281. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is Monday, March 1, 2021 at 7:00 pm, via Zoom. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Commissioner Trista Rehnke Secretary