2011_08_09_HRC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Roseville Human Rights Commission August 9, 2011 Draft Minutes Page 3 of 6 Commissioner Kaying Thao said when meeting with citizens, many of them said they did not know how to talk to city hall. Commissioner Grefenberg said the format for the September 14 meeting had not been finalized but they would be working on it over the next few weeks. Project 515 Commissioner Brisbois said the Project 515 event was set for Wednesday, October 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Skating Center. Shoreview had agreed to cosponsor, and she asked neighboring cities, including Maplewood, St. Paul and Falcon Heights, to join in co- sponsoring the event, but had not heard back from those cities yet. Planning for Community Dialogue Commissioner Thao said staff emailed planners of the previous years' community dialogue, but none responded until after the program planners had a meeting. On July 21, Commissioners Grefenberg and Thao met to assess the previous year's evaluations and discuss ideas for future forums. They recommended postponing the dialogue until 2012. Commissioner Thao said they recommended that a new group of advisory committee members be formed to work with the Program Planning Committee in recommending a series of community dialogues for the next year. The Program Planning Committee would recommend specific dialogue formats and topics and both of the committees would be responsible for carrying out the forums once approved by the HRC. Commissioner Grefenberg said they wanted to be more effective in reaching minority groups and involving leaders of those communities. Membership of the advisory committee would be fluid but final responsibility would remain with the HRC. They recommended having activities every month, alternating between social issues and cultural celebrations. Commissioner Groff said he thought that was ambitious and would be difficult to get community involvement unless specific groups were involved. Commissioner Thao said they planned to piggyback on other activities by cosponsoring and supporting their efforts. Commissioner Thao renewed the motion to form a new group of advisory committee members be formed to work with the Program Planning Committee in recommending a series of community dialogues for the next year. The Program Planning Committee would recommend specific dialogue formats and topics and both of the committees would be responsible for carrying out the forums once approved by the HRC. Motion prevailed unanimously. Youth Commissioner Report Commissioner Anthony Barrett thanked everyone for the opportunity to work on the Commission. Commissioner Grefenberg asked him if he thought youth commissioners should be able to vote. Commissioner Barrett said he did not necessarily advocate for that, rather he saw his role as a