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Commissioner Delmore said it seemed that the HRC had been "shut down," and sought City <br />Manager Malinen's assisting in accomplishing the HRC goals. <br />City Manager Malinen questioned if that was an accurate perception; noting that part of the <br />resistance may be the indication that the diversity training is only a Police Department issue, <br />rather than a community -wide one where all needed to be understanding of demographic or <br />cultural differences and changes in the community. City Manager Malinen suggested that the <br />HRC address those issues from a broader perspective, and recognize certain legal issues that the <br />City Council considers from a more global viewpoint. City Manager Malinen advocated for a <br />broader approach for the community, to actively engage in communication individually and <br />collectively to create more understanding. <br />Chair Delmore said that a joint meeting with the City Council would be advantageous. <br />City Manager Malinen advised that all advisory commissions were scheduled for their annual <br />meeting with the City Council later this spring, depending on agenda time availability. <br />City Manager Malinen encouraged the HRC to pursue community involvement in their diversity <br />training, through programs discussed earlier and offered staff's support to help the HRC get <br />notice out to the community for such meetings. <br />Commissioner McKenzie volunteered to provide additional information on the Grand Rapids <br />training, and Commissioner Crump suggested that at the next HRC meeting, a date be set and <br />planning begun in earnest. <br />Further discussion included broad spectrum mailings; how to encourage attendance, developing <br />partnerships with the school district, MN Department of Human Rights, possible grant funds and <br />other planning considerations. <br />City Manager Malinen offered to seek out additional information on grant funding available <br />through the State League of Human Rights. <br />Public Comment <br />Ms. Muoi Duhl shared some perspectives of diversity changes that she'd experienced in her <br />native Vietnam and impacts depending on occupation and lifestyle. <br />Commissioners agreed that the next agenda include discussion on planning for community <br />forum/diversity training. <br />Commissioner Venters asked that City Manager Malinen direct the City Attorney to respond to <br />his e -mail in a timely manner. <br />Commissioner Venters noted that in reviewing essays the MN Human Rights Act stated that <br />individual classes were protected, and asked that a letter to Mindy Greiling and John Marty be <br />drafted asking that immigration status be a protected class in the Human Rights Act. <br />Commissioner Venters volunteered to draft the letter for the next meeting. <br />