100223 HRC MinutesCITY OF NEW HOPE
4401 XYLON AVENUE NORTH
NEW HOPE, MINNESOTA 55428
Human Rights Commission October 2, 2023
Regular Meeting City Hall
CALL TO ORDER Chair Donna Meyer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL Present: Kendra Curry
Maria Leon
Mindy London
Donna Meyer
Trista Rehnke
Diane Ruiz
Absent: Kaamil Hassan
Allison Isenberg
Matthew London
Ephraim Uwalaka
City Liaison: Chief Tim Hoyt (absent)
Guests: Kathi Hemken, Mayor
Christine Gillespie, JCPP
AGENDA APPROVAL Commissioner Curry made a motion to accept the October 2, 2023,
agenda, seconded by Commissioner Leon. All voted in favor.
MINUTES APPROVAL Commissioner Curry made a motion to accept the September 6, 2023,
minutes, seconded by Commissioner Leon. All voted in favor.
OPEN FORUM School Resource Officer (SRO)
- New Hope did remove the SRO out of Cooper High School due to
the new language in the MN State Statue. The police department
will still respond to all calls.
Resignation
- Chair Meyer announced that she will be resigning from the
Commission. Her last meeting will be December 2023.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
AND REPORTS HRC Membership
- Commission is full at this time. There will be openings in 2024.
- 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
- Article in the Sun Post highlighted the HRC and Community
Conversations.
- Team will meet to create summary for the council.
- 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. Meet at
the north end of the park by the playground.
- Outreach – Lead Matthew London
- No update this month.
- Colors of the World – Lead Mindy London
- Trunk or Treat, October 26th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
- Set up on October 22nd at 1:00 pm after park clean up.
- Tear down on October 29th from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.
- Commissioner Ruiz has arranged for additional volunteers to
assist with the event.
- Received $500 from the Rotary and $500 from the Lions.
- Will confirm with the City if the decorations can be “spooky”.
- Hispanic Heritage Celebration – Lead Diane Ruiz
- Looking at Northwoods Park, tentative date of July 20, 2024,
11:00 am – 3:00 pm.
- Mayor Hemken volunteered to visit El Loro with
Commissioner Ruiz to try and get their partnership at the
event.
- Community Development has a list of all the Food Trucks
that could be utilized.
- Parks and Rec have information on local dance troops.
- There is a local chalk artist that might be a good option too.
- Ecuadorian Chocolate Company based in New Hope could
be a good connection.
City Bus Tour
- Tour was a success, about 40 people attended.
- Food was catered by Fork & Flair and it was great.
- The scattered site housing project is building ‘move-up’ housing
options. 73% of the homes in New Hope are deemed to be
affordable. By 2025 there will be a $7.9 million increase in the tax
base from the scattered site homes.
Remaining 2023 Meeting Dates:
- 2023: 11/6, 12/4
- Officer nominations in November. Elections in December. New
officers will start in January 2024.
NEW BUSINESS Updates from the Mayor
- Gill Brothers Funeral Home on 42nd Avenue has closed.
- Northwest Mayors Association met last week and discussed the new
cannabis legislation. Group toured the Rise Dispensary.
COMMUNICATION &
INFORMATION SHARING None
NEXT MEETING The next meeting is Monday, November 6th at 7:00 pm.
ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Mindy London made a motion to adjourn the meeting;
seconded by Commissioner Leon. All voted in favor. The meeting was
adjourned at 8:20 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Secretary Trista Rehnke