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Roseville Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes November 13, 2007 Page 3 of 4 1 Commissioner Venters reported on his visit with Roseville Police Chief Sletner and Captain Rick 2 Mathwig and his tour of the Police Department at the recent City Hall Open House. 3 Commissioner Venters noted the receptiveness of Chief Sletner and Captain Mathwig in 4 discussing the proposed Facing Race Forum. Commissioner Venters noted that the Chief had to 5 manage training each year based on POST Board standards and requirements. 6 7 Discussion included past training offered to the Police Department and certified in conjunction 8 with the POST Board, ease of certifying the Facing Race program with the POST Board, 9 logistics of training for the department, possibly broken up during morning and afternoon roll 10 calls, length of the program for three one -hour sessions and the eagerness of St. Paul 11 Foundation to work with the City's Police Department to work out a plan and facilitate training. 12 13 Commissioner McKenzie provided Commissioner Venters with recent collaborative training and 14 positive results by the Grand Rapids Police Department and the Itasca County Sheriff s 15 Department. That training was certified by the POST Board and provided more police officer 16 specific training and created interest among Police Departments. 17 18 Further discussion included options for such training and involving the City Attorney and POST 19 Board; intimidation by some at the City Hall Open House by the equipment and armaments 20 displayed by Police Officers (i.e., SWAT Team, etc.); identification of the "It's Time to Talk" 21 banner, rather than identifying it as diversity training to avoid negative connotations; and 22 cooperation with the business community. 23 24 Commissioners were receptive to gearing training exclusively to the Police Department on their 25 terms and with their specific interests and issues in mind. 26 27 Additional discussion included the need for police officers awareness of the Human Rights Act; 28 possible continuing education credits available and the benefits to officers if certified through the 29 POST Board; and involving other communities' Police Departments in the training. 30 31 Commissioners Venters and McKenzie volunteered to work with surrounding communities, the 32 POST Board and the State HRC on the training opportunity and to report at the next meeting. 33 34 Immigration Status Roseville Welcoming Community 35 Commissioner Venters talked: about recent media coverage he'd seen regarding landlords not 36 asking immigration status of prospective or current tenants and suggested that he attend an 37 upcoming City Council meeting to make them and the public aware of this provision of the law 38 and to attempt getting a practical ordinance for the City. Commissioner Venters noted that he 39 had mentioned the idea to Councilmember Ihlan who seemed supportive. 40 41 Chair Delmore noted that when the City had a proclamation (for example of Hispanic Month) 42 nothing more was done. 43 44 Discussion ensued on how best to approach this issue and involve the public and City in those 45 discussions. 46