09-08-15 Worksession CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
• Richfield, Minnesota
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Special City Council Worksession
The
Inion Hometown
September 8, 2015
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 6:15 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Pat Elliott; Edwina Garcia; Tom Fitzhenry; and
Present: Michael Howard
Staff Present: Pam Dmytrenko, Acting City Manager/HR Manager; Jay Henthorne, Public
Safety Director/Police Chief; Mike Koob, Deputy Public Safety
Director/Deputy Police Chief; and Elizabeth VanHoose, City Clerk.
Item #1 HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION PRESENTATION REGARDING COMMISSION
DIVERSITY AND NATURALIZATION CEREMONY(COUNCIL MEMO NO. 82)
Mark Westergaard, Chair of the Human Rights Commission, and Debbie Eng, Vice Chair of
the Human Rights Commission, discussed holding a Naturalization Ceremony here at City Hall
sometime in 2016, naturalizing maybe 40-50 citizens.
Mayor Goettel along with council members think the ceremony is a great idea.
Council Member Howard stated he's attended a Naturalization Ceremony and it was a
powerful experience.
Chair Westergaard and Vice Chair Eng presented the 2015 Richfield Human Rights
Commission report.
Chair Westergaard and Vice Chair Eng also presented the Community Conversation
document.
Key points of conversation:
• The need to have better diversity on our boards and commissions.
• Ideas for improving the commission recruitment and interview process.
• Discussion of possible changes to the City's website and use of translation services or
tools.
• Outreach to the community through churches, social media and other media outlets
(e.g. Latino radio station.)
Council Member Garcia questioned if the Human Rights Commission (HRC) and Police
Multicultural Advisory Committee (PMAC) work together.
Public Safety Director Henthorne stated they didn't at this time.
Chair Westergaard stated that the HRC would be attending the next PMAC meeting.
There was general discussion of the key points amongst the Council.
The HRC report will be posted to the City's website.
Special Worksession Minutes -2- September 8, 2015
Item #2 DISCUSSION REGARDING A PAID PARENTAL LEAVE POLICY (COUNCIL MEMO
NO. 80)
Council Member Howard summarized Council Memo No. 80 on the need for a paid parental
leave policy for City employees.
Council Member Howard stated this is important to stay ahead of the curve and sends a
message to staff that family is important.
Mayor Goettel stated that to be competitive with other cities is sometimes in the benefits. How
will we pay for this policy?
Acting City Manager/HR Manager Dmytrenko explained the current draft of the policy. She
described how the policy would work and potential costs of the new benefit and might be
implemented amongst the group.
Council was supportive of the draft benefits and directed staff to proceed with the policy.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 6:58 p.m.
Date Approved: September 22, 2015
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Elizabeth Van ••se Pam Dmytrenko
City Clerk Acting City Manager