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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,July 13, 2015 <br /> Page 23 <br /> gested reviewing and revamping how advisory commissions worked as a whole, <br /> rather than simply focusing on these two. While there may be positive reasons to <br /> combine the HRC and CEC, after hearing comments from commissioners, Coun- <br /> cilmember Etten suggesting leaving them separate for now to see how things <br /> grew; while recognizing that maybe some other combination would allow more <br /> vitality and excitement for those volunteer participants. <br /> While recognizing the merit in all of the options, Councilmember Laliberte ex- <br /> pressed concern in merging the HRC and CEC. Councilmember Laliberte opined <br /> that the CEC should not have more responsibilities added to their plate by ex- <br /> panding membership at this time, or by increasing their scope of duties or func- <br /> tions, which she found unfair to them as a newly-created commission. On the <br /> other side, Councilmember Laliberte agreed to be open to look at the role of the <br /> HRC, opining that the work they did, from her perspective, was not the work of <br /> an HRC whether from a complaint-based or other scenario. While it would be <br /> great to have that in place if a complaint occurs, of course, Councilmember <br /> Laliberte opined she was their role more in the celebration, education, awareness, <br /> and diversity and sensitivity training realm. Whether called an HRC or by anoth- <br /> er name not in line with the state human rights function, Councilmember Laliberte <br /> suggested it and the Ethics Commission needed meaningful work to avoid frustra- <br /> tion. Councilmember Laliberte suggested that clear direction be provided to any <br /> commission going forward, to make sure their charge was meaningful. While ap- <br /> preciating the role of the HRC in bringing the naturalization ceremony to Rose- <br /> ville, Councilmember Laliberte questioned if the HRC needed to continue that <br /> handholding, opining staff could potentially continue to sponsor or host it on an <br /> annual basis without the HRC owning that work. If there is still live in the annual <br /> essay contest, based on her observation and comments heard about its dysfunction <br /> in the past and Roseville being the only participate at the state level, Coun- <br /> cilmember Laliberte stated she could support that, as long as it was recognized <br /> that the City of Roseville's role was not to support state human rights efforts. <br /> Councilmember Laliberte stated she was open to renaming two individual com- <br /> missions, combining them, or changing their schedule pending on the specifics <br /> the City Council wanted each to accomplish. However, Councilmember Laliberte <br /> opined that the current "loosey-goosey" status could not continue to create frus- <br /> trations for those advisors. <br /> When creating the Finance and CEC Commissions, Councilmember Willmus not- <br /> ed discussions at that time included the possibility of the HRC becoming the <br /> CEC. At that time, Councilmember Willmus,stated he had fought for the HRC <br /> and CEC to remain separate, with the CEC a standalone commission. Coun- <br /> cilmember Willmus stated his further concern in overburdening the CEC as it cur- <br /> rently exists; and his comments to staff when first discussing this was to have eve- <br /> ryone in the room to weigh in. That said, Councilmember Willmus opined that <br /> the HRC, even when fully populated, experienced issues with materials, a lack of <br /> commitment from some commissioners making it difficult for remaining mem- <br />