HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-031
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CITY OF ARDEN HILLS
COUNTY OF RAMSEY
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO. 04-31
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS
WHEREAS, the City of Arden Hills is a desirable place to live and work, welcoming
residcnts, non-residents, businesses, employees, institutions, and visitors irrcspective ofrace, color,
creed, or other differenccs; and
WHEREAS, as our Country, State, County, and City have grown more diverse, that diversity
has cnriched our lives; and
WHEREAS, despite this growing diversity, recent incidents in our community and in the
Mounds View School District remind us that racism, discrimination, and prejudice persist; and
WHEREAS, these incidents may leave the false impression that the City of Arden Hills and its
citizens are intolerant of diversity in general, and minorities of color in particular;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: The City Council of the City of Arden Hills takes
the following actions, with the intention of sending a clear message to all citizens, residents and non-
residents alike, that the City of Arden Hills respects human dignity and the rights of all and does not
condone or tolerate racism, discrimination, or prejudice:
>- The City Council will join with its neighboring cities in formally adopting a joint resolution
addressing this issue.
>- The Council will send a signed letter to residents and businesses addressing this issuc.
>- The Council will add, to the City's list of core values, a new value asserting respect for
human dignity and rights.
>- The Council will work with local churches to also address issues of human dignity and
rights.
>- The City web site will reference this resolution and related material, as well as links to the
Minnesota Human Rights Department and other relevant organizations.
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>- The City newsletter will publicize these and other City actions, and related information
(brochures and posters) will be visible at City Hall.
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~ The Council will sign a resolution each Human Rights Day.
~ The City will seek to sponsor, with neighboring cities and other organizations, a speaker of
recognized stature in conjunction with Human Rights Day.
~ The City will review its employment policies and procedures to ensure that they encourage
diversity, and will plan diversity training for City Council and staff.
~ The City will invitc groups promoting or representing diversity to participate in its annual
Day in the Park celebration.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The City Council will work cooperatively with the Mounds
View School District regarding the following:
~ Encouragc the School District to consider joining one of the numerous, multi-district,
integration organizations that include most, ifnot all, of the other school districts in the
north metro area.
~ Encourage the School District to consider using Youth Frontiers, a Minnesota non-profit, or
another organization of its choosing, to address racism and diversity in annual assemblies or
retreats at Mounds View and lrondale High Schools.
~ Encourage the School District to establish its own, or participate in an existing, Annual
Human Rights Art Contest and Human Rights Essay Contest.
~ Encourage the School District to address racism and diversity on its website and note
related meetings, press articles, and news releases that cover related events.
~ Encourage the School District to ensure that its employees have diversity training.
~ Encourage the School District to participate in programs sponsored by the Minnesota
Minority Education Partnership.
~ Encourage the School District to review the adequacy of its curriculum with regard to
racism and diversity.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARDEN HILLS THIS 29th
DAY OF MARCH, 2004.
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