2012-11-28_HRC_Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Chair Grefenberg also discussed a recent complaint filed with the City of Roseville regarding the City and Commission's involvement with the constitutional amendment on marriage. He noted the complaint was reviewed by the Ethics Commission last week and they recommended the complaint be dismissed by the City Council. The City Council accepted their recommendation. Future of Civic Engagement Task Force: Chair Grefenberg encouraged the members of the Task Force present to join the Commission for this discussion, and invited them to sit at the table. Chair Grefenberg discussed the Civic Engagement Task Force's presentation made to the City Council on October 22nd. He said the Council seemed to wish the work of the task force to be continued, —and asked the Commission for a recommendation on the structure of the group in the future.. Grefenberg noted the group could continue in its present model as an advisory group to the HRC or become an advisory group to the Council in the form of a Commission or Task Force. Chair Grefenberg presented the Civic Engagement Report's Recommendations " "At a Glance" to the Commission members and then reviewed the proposed tasks of the Civic Engagement Task Force in detail. Chair Grefenberg explained there were several areas of overlap between the HRC and the Civic Engagement Task Force, but that other areas did not. He reviewed a handout he had prepared on this issue and requested the Commission provide input on how to proceed with this item and the Council's request for a recommendation. (A copy of this handout is attached.) Commissioner Brisbois asked for the opinion of the Task Force members present. Greg Simbeck, a Task Force member, was in favor of the group becoming a commission, as this would allow the group to interact with many groups and still report to the Council. Kathy Ramundt, another Task Force member, indicated one of the goals would be to have a representative on the Civic Engagement Task Force from the Planning Commission, the HRC, and the Parks Commission. Chair Grefenberg stated he received three emails from other Civic Engagement Task Force members and each supported the group become its own Commission. Commissioner Thao said the HRC should make a recommendation to the Council this evening. Commissioner Doneen reviewed the goals and objectives of the HRC noting civic engagement was also a responsibility of this group. She questioned how this issue would be dealt with going forward if the Civic Engagement Task Force were to become its own Commission. Chair Grefenberg was in favor of still involving people in human rights awareness and this would remain a human rights issue. The Civic Engagement group would focus more on actually involving people in civic governance. He recommended the Civic Engagement Task Force become a separate group, as it would allow more residents to become engaged in City policy. He did not feel the HRC could do both