CC_Minutes_2017_0424 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday,April 24, 2017 Page 15 growing pains to complete its work, Ms. Manke questioned the future of the com- bined effort. In hearing past comments made by the City Council that the CEC never brought anything forward, Ms. Manke opined that this wasn't true, noting three separate proposals recently brought forward, questioning if they had actually made it to the City Council's attention or if the City Council had reviewed CEC meeting minutes. Ms. Manke questioned if that had occurred, and then noted the City Council's desire for the CEC to dissolve without recognizing the efforts of those commissioners working hard and giving of their personal time. While there is a lot of overlap between the HRC and CEC, Ms. Manke stated that the CEC was more focused on community and civic engagement and had been working on some dynamic areas over the last few years. While the City Council made ap- pointments and reappointments to the HRC to bring it up to full membership again, Ms. Manke noted that the CEC was never given the same opportunity and even denied the opportunity to seek applications. Under these circumstances, Ms. Manke opined that the City Council had been ex- tremely unfair to the CEC, and questioned if anything had even been considered beyond the name issue tonight, and emphasizing "human rights" to the exclusion of other areas of focus. While the CEC hasn't had an opportunity to meet since this came forward, Ms. Manke noted that the HRC continued to do so. Therefore, Ms. Manke asked that the City Council reconsider bringing the CEC and HRC back to their full membership and let the CEC pursue their ongoing work tasks going forward. Ms. Manke stated that she'd welcome the Task Force's involve- ment and their input. Mary Englund, 224 N McCarron's Boulevard Given the considerable strong feeling on including "human rights" in the name of this new commission, and other comments, Ms. Englund opined that this may not be the night for decision-making and voting. As a citizen, Ms. Englund stated her understanding of human rights; and stated that she saw community engagement as something totally different; therefore not making sense to combine them with fewer rather than more people involved. Ms. Englund opined that it seemed bet- ter to have them remain separate rather than combining them, especially given to- night's feedback. Molly Slade, 2216 Fulham, former HRC Commissioner Ms. Slade spoke in opposition to the repeal and reorganization of the HRC; and provided a history of the State of Minnesota's Human Rights inception and role of the City of Roseville as one of the original municipalities involved in that state and local effort. Ms. Slade spoke in support of those basic human rights princi- ples to the state and city, and in welcoming the newest neighbor populations in a safe environment, including their municipal government. Recognizing the most recent quality and diverse applicant pool for one vacancy on the HRC, Ms. Slade opined that by removing "human rights" from the title and focus of a combined commission would be confusion and convey the wrong message at this time of