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Regular City Council Meeting Monday, April 14, 2008 Page 10 Presentation Chair Delmore -Introduction Commissioner Venters provided a bench handout with materials for tonight`s presentation. Materials included "Overview and Functions" and Statement of Purpose" dated April 14, 2008; an overview of the "Facing Race" initiative of the Saint Paul Foundation; Grand Rapids Human Rights Commission materials for "Fostering Positive Law Enforcement -Community Relations" programming; a proposed Housing Ordinance proposed and sponsored for Council consideration by the Human Right's Commission; and an overview of the City of Austin's Wel- come Center and comparisons of the two communities. Chair Delmore provided a brief overview of the HRC's accomplishments over the last year and since their previous joint meeting with the City Council; opining that all could learn from Councilmember Kough's example to authentically care for our citizens and to put people first. Chair Delmore highlighted discussions and work of the HRC on issues of diversity training for City employees, after deter- mining that more training was needed as continuously noted by the HRC; the en- thusiastic support of the annual Essay contest by students; the HRC's purchase of books on diversity for Roseville area schools; and noted the focus and function of the HRC as taken from the City's website. Commissioner Bob Venters -Initiatives we've worked on over the last year Commissioner Venters reviewed current and future plans for diversity training on behalf of the community, as well as City employees, seeking City Council input of those plans. Commissioner Venters reviewed various options, with the intent to initiate conversations among various groups, with the HRC serving as hosts and sponsors, with other agencies providing the training. Mr. Venters mentioned aspects of Mayor Klausing's recent "State of the City" address and the continuing diversity of the community, and desires to make the community more welcoming to all, while serving to advance the diversity training initiated by City Manager Malinen with the on-line training for City employees. Discussion included the HRC's diversity training planned for the community, with Councilmember Pust suggesting that the HRC partner with the Roseville School District for resources and community contacts; previous meetings of the HRC and School District and desired emphasis on the community; how to make the diversity information and/or training information available to the general pub- lic; voluntary versus mandatory training opportunities; community education ef- forts on diversity in contexts other than race (i.e., immigration status; GLTB community; protected and/or non-protected classes); with Councilmember Pust also encouraging the HRC to work with the League of Women Voters on their work to-date in the community on similar issues. Councilmember Roe opined that there was an important role for the HRC in the City of Roseville, based on the ordinance originally establishing the HRC, in pro-