Laserfiche WebLink
ATTACHMENT# 1 <br /> EXCERPTS FROM DECEMBER 2010—MARCH 2011 <br /> HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES <br /> Re: Commission Strategic Plan and 2011 Initiatives <br /> Commission Meeting Minutes <br /> December 8, 2010 <br /> Chairman?s Initiatives for 2011 <br /> Chair Singleton distributed his end of the year report and strategic plan for 2011. He <br /> highlighted accomplishments, including dialogue with the Karen community, regional <br /> Human Rights Conference, board training, Bremer Foundation grant, participation in <br /> Rose Parade, Community Dialogue, youth commissioners and essay contest. <br /> Chair Singleton explained his strategic plan. He proposed the HRC begin <br /> investigating complaints that take place within the City. He explained that at one <br /> time the City investigated complaints but because of changes in state statute <br /> Roseville discontinued that. Then state statute was changed again and cities can <br /> conduct investigations and mediations. Currently Bloomington and Winona do their <br /> own mediations. The city would have to change the code to allow the HRC to conduct <br /> investigations. <br /> He noted that the city has not received any information from the State Department <br /> of Human Rights (DHR) about what complaints have taken place here, and if the <br /> commission does not know what types of complaints there are we are ineffective to <br /> respond. <br /> Chair Singleton has asked DHR to provide data for the past three years on the type <br /> of complaints. He noted that there are a lot of unanswered questions including <br /> logistics, funding, training, and pros and cons of handling cases within the HRC. <br /> Chair Singleton will contact Winona and Bloomington to see how it works In their <br /> cities. He plans to meet with the DHR to discuss this but expects this will be delayed <br /> until the new governor appoints a new commissioner. <br /> Commissioners raised several questions. Commissioners asked about the cost <br /> impact, data practices concerns and what the city would gain by doing this ourselves <br /> (and incurring costs) rather than having DHR conducting investigations. <br /> Commissioners asked about training, noting that the DHR has attorneys or <br /> professional staff to do investigations. <br /> Commissioners agreed that it is important for the HRC to know what types of <br /> complaints occur here and whether there are any trends. <br /> Internal Affairs Committee Recommendations to Amend Strategic Plan 4 <br />