CC_Minutes_2012_0827 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday,August 27, 2012 Page 28 Noting the time and other business before the body, Mayor Roe closed public comment at approximately 9:12 p.m. Pust moved, Willmus seconded, acceptance of the Roseville Human Rights Commission Resolution (Attachment A) in the form in which it was presented; and readopting the resolution as a formal resolution of the Roseville City Coun- cil, Resolution No. 11003 Position Statements Councilmember Pust opened her comments by acknowledging very clearly that every individual speaking, as well as those not speaking tonight, held deeply seated beliefs based on their personal value systems, whether personal, cultural, religious or political. Councilmember Pust stated that she honored all of those individual beliefs, and in sharing her own, advised that she was speaking from a place of respect, honesty and humility. As an elected member of the City Council, one of five members, Councilmem- ber Pust stated that every time she sat in this Chamber for the last seven (7) years in that role, she took her job as doing what was best for the community of Roseville. While this flavored her views, Councilmember Pust stated that she was always trying to make decisions based on what was best for Roseville. While hearing some insist that this was not a local issue and inappropriate for the Roseville City Council to take a position on, with all respect, this, as with all other discussions on a City Council level, were based on what was or was not in the best interest for the whole community. Councilmember Pust noted that the City Council passed resolutions all the time based on values and how they're reflected, but opined that she had never heard anyone say it was inap- propriate to do so; and further opined that the City Council had that authority and that responsibility. Councilmember Pust opined that this is a matter about human rights, and came to the City Council from the HRC, a piece of our City government; and from time immemorial and funded through your tax dollars, the City Council was charged to work on matters of human rights. As a result of the work of the HRC, and the State's Declaration of Human Rights, under which they func- tioned, Councilmember Pust opined that it was the responsibility of the City Council to deal with this topic. Councilmember Pust noted that when the Dec- laration of Human Rights was adopted sixty (60) years ago, its enactment had happened when nations said a consensus was needed for international standards to recognize the rights of humanity; with those rights self-evident, powerful and simple. Councilmember Pust read that Declaration, noting that the annual Essay Contest was filtered through that Declaration with students reading its provi- sions and responding through their heart-felt essay projects. Councilmember Pust opined that human rights are a birth right, not conferred upon us by government, and further opined that governments exist to protect