090623 HRC MinutesCITY OF NEW HOPE
4401 XYLON AVENUE NORTH
NEW HOPE, MINNESOTA 55428
Human Rights Commission September 6, 2023
Regular Meeting City Hall
CALL TO ORDER Co-Chair Kendra Curry called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL Present: Kendra Curry
Kaamil Hassan
Allison Isenberg
Matthew London
Mindy London
Trista Rehnke
Absent: Maria Leon
Donna Meyer
Diane Ruiz
Ephraim Uwalaka
City Liaison: Chief Tim Hoyt (absent)
Brad Kallio, New Hope Crime Prevention Officer
Guests: Kathi Hemken, Mayor
AGENDA APPROVAL Commissioner Isenberg made a motion to accept the September 6,
2023, agenda, seconded by Commissioner Mindy London. All voted in
favor.
MINUTES APPROVAL Commissioner Hassan made a motion to accept the August 7, 2023,
minutes, seconded by Commissioner Isenberg. All voted in favor.
OPEN FORUM None
DISCUSSION ITEMS
AND REPORTS HRC Membership
- Commission is full at this time.
- Community members are always welcome to attend meetings.
Please let the city know if guests will be attending a meeting.
2023 Subcommittee Updates
- Community Conversations – Lead Donna Meyer
- Final event was held on August 29th at Liberty Park. 6:00 –
7:00 pm.
- Article in the Sun Post highlighted the HRC and Community
Conversations.
- Suggestions for 2024 – continue with shorter timeframe, do
one event at Hidden Valley, continue to use Civic Center
Park due to the traffic, maybe start in May when the weather
warms.
- Sunnyside Park Sponsorship – Lead Trista Rehnke
- Must clean the park 3 times per year.
- 2023 cleanings – May 20th, August 19th
- Third cleaning – October 22nd at noon, 12:00 pm.
- Outreach – Lead Matthew London
- Community Award information sent to the city. No changes
to the actual program, just refined the submission dates and
the award dates. Val confirmed they have changed the form
and are updating the website. Will move forward with the
Jan – March nomination submissions.
- Supplied the Diversity Calendar to the city for 2024 posts.
- Colors of the World – Lead Mindy London
- Team met to assemble the packets for the schools. They
have all been delivered.
- Will pick up the pictures the week of Oct 14th.
Commissioners Hassan and Curry will pick them up.
- Event at city hall will be combined with Trunk and Treat on
Oct 26th. Set up for the event will be Oct 22nd from 1:00 –
3:00 pm (after park clean up). Teardown will be Oct 29th
from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. Brad will ensure the doors are
unlocked.
- Per Officer Kallio, details for the Trunk and Treat event have
not yet been decided. Will discuss further at October
meeting.
- Commissioner Hassan suggested requesting donations from
the Business Networking Group. Other Commissioners
indicated the group isn’t to be used in that way. The HRC
can apply for donations from the Lions, the Rotary, etc.
- HRC does need to follow up with the Rotary and show them
how the Colors of the World event went this year.
- Commissioner Mindy London is working to summarize steps
in the process and what was done to make it easier for
future years.
- Hispanic Heritage Celebration – Lead Diane Ruiz
- Continue to look for business partners for the event.
- Want to be able to have a successful event and scale it
appropriately.
- Planning for food trucks, educational items and
entertainment.
- Looking at Northwoods Park, tentative date of July 20, 2024,
11:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Remaining 2023 Meeting Dates:
- 2023: 11/6, 12/4
NEW BUSINESS HRC Press and Marketing
- Commissioner Hassan inquired about making a press
announcement in the Sun Post, writing an Op-Ed on what the HRC
does and how you should interact with the city. The Commissioner
indicated the recent Sun Post article details with the HRC does and
the events it is working on.
- Commissioner Hassan also suggested reaching out to the local news
channels to have them publicize and attend the Colors of the World
event.
- Mayor Hemken stated any press needs to be cleared with Beth and
the City Manager beforehand. Taking pictures or video at events
needs to be done by the city and the proper releases received.
- The Commissioners decided that the Outreach subcommittee should
be involved as they are already working with Beth.
- Commissioner Hassan suggested holding an event at the New Hope
Ice Arena, something similar to a Community Conversation style
event.
- Commissioner Hassan plans to attend the Business Networking
group and asked how to present the HRC. Other Commissioners
explained they indicate they volunteer with the city on the HRC, that
they live in the city.
COMMUNICATION &
INFORMATION SHARING None
NEXT MEETING The next meeting is Monday, October 2nd at 7:00 pm.
ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Hassan made a motion to adjourn the meeting; seconded
by Commissioner Isenberg. All voted in favor. The meeting was
adjourned at 8:16 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary Trista Rehnke