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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,August 27,2012 Page 21 tions have not been clearly stated or already made as to one of the two sides to this issue early in the process, others speakers would then be heard. Mayor Roe reviewed the public comment process to allow the meeting to move as efficient- ly as possible. Mayor Roe welcomed and invited HRC Chair Gary Grefenberg to make the presentation; and Chair Grefenberg in turn invited other HRC Commissioners to the table. Those present included: Chair Grefenberg; and members Kristin Do- neen and Wayne Groff; HRC and Student Representatives Joan Dao and Marie Siliciano. Chair Grefenberg advised that HRC Member Kaying Thao, while un- able to attend the May 16, 2012 HRC meeting or tonight's meeting, asked him to convey her full support of the resolution. Mr. Grefenberg stated the purpose of the resolution and asked the Roseville City Council to ratify the resolution to openly state that they welcomed a diverse community, including supporting the rights of the gay community; and to stand with the HRC in opposition to the proposed marriage amendment; further rec- ognizing the negative affect it would have on Roseville residents. Student representative Dao concurred with Chair Grefenberg, and asked that the City Council consider adopting the resolution as well. Student representative Joan Dao, as a Roseville youth, spoke in appreciation and pride of how the Roseville community worked; and opined that by the City Council supporting the resolution, they could be part of something really cool; and further opined that this was not an individual thing,but represented the ide- ology of the larger issue. Mayor Roe thanked the HRC for their ongoing work and their attendance. Public Comment Gene Gjerdingen, 2553 Fisk Street Mr. Gjerdingen urged the City not to pass a resolution on the upcoming amendment, opining that the City should not cast a ballot for or against, but urged individual Councilmembers to cast their personal votes along with other voters in the State of MN. Laura Olmstead,3057 W Owasso Blvd. Ms. Olmstead urged the City Council to support this resolution, noting that it was incredibly personal to her as part of a gay family; and their decision to pur- chase a home and raise their children in Roseville. Ms. Olmstead noted that their rationale for choosing Roseville was based on the City being so open and progressive; and supporting civil rights for everyone. As a regular church at- tendee, Ms. Olmstead advised that their church supported and would marry them if ever given that opportunity. Ms. Olmstead provided an historical per-