2011_10_11_HRC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes October 11, 2011 Commissioners Present: Jill Brisbois, Kristin Doneen, Vice Chair Gary Grefenberg, Wayne Groff, Thelma McKenzie, Kaying Thao, Chair David Singleton Youth Commissioners Marie Siliciano Call to Order The meeting was called to order and the clerk called the roll. Approve Amended Agenda Commissioner Gary Grefenberg moved and Commissioner Jill Brisbois seconded motion to amend the agenda to replace item 3.a.iii to "Committee Recommendation to Co- Sponsor "Not In My Town" Program at Roseville High School. Motion prevailed unanimously. Approve Minutes of September 13, 2011 Commissioner Grefenberg moved and Commissioner Kristin Doneen seconded motion to amend the minutes on line 41, after the word staff, add "to Commissioners and to City staff to publish and post," and to add to line 161 the word "minority" after the word some and add "at Roseville High School" after the word groups. Motion prevailed unanimously. Program Planning Committee Committee Chair Grefenberg reviewed the Program Planning Committee report. He talked about the September 14 Civic Engagement meeting. Twenty -four people attended plus the planning committee. He said he was disappointed with the turnout but pleased with the discussion. Various commissioners noted good discussions at the tables. Commissioner Doneen commented that engagement for engagement sake is a hard thing to sell, generally people rally around an issue. Commissioners discussed ways to promote activities or distribute information. Commissioner Grefenberg said the task force would assess how the issue of civic engagement is relevant to residents, and he added that the Civic Engagement Task Force would assess the city's effectiveness of distributing information. Commissioner Brisbois provided information about the October 4 Project 515 community forum on state laws that discriminate that against same -sex couples. She said about 64 people, young and old, from both sides of the issue attended and were given an opportunity to speak. The group broke into small groups that had good discussions about the topic. Commissioners said there was a great diversity of opinions and the differences of opinions generally were handled fairly. They said the small groups were a time for sharing personal experiences about how the 515 Minnesota laws play out in their lives.