06-06-2017
Members present: Jeff Wright, Swopnil Shrestha, Mark Westergaard, Logan Schultz, Sarah Musgrave,
Chara Blanch, Will Rukel, Ben Sunderlin, Debbie Eng, Yami Ordonez, Sara Gumke
Liaisons: Tim Pollis – School Board Liaison, Mike Howard – City Council Liaison
Meeting called to order at 6:33 p.m.
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1. Mark Westergaard moved to approve minutes of may meeting – Jeff Wright 2 – carries
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2. Mark Westergaard move to approve agenda – Sarah Musgrave 2 – carries
3. No open public comment
4. Planned Parenthood – Jeff Wright gave intro
a. Jamie Grills – Assistant Director of Education and Outreach at Planned Parenthood
b. Katrina Mendoza – works with middle and high school students – at RHS and RMS ---
once per year. Out of the Vandalia clinic.
c. Have Richfield specific information. In 2008 got a lot of federal money. Partnership
with Better Together Hennepin. Program is Que Onda! (What’s Up!) Talk about sex,
STI’s and relationships. Work with female students so that they become peer
educators.
d. Handout with program options – contact info on brochure
e. Communications team will help write a resolution.
f. Students get paid for involvement. $5 per contact as a peer educator. The students
can come and teach us.
g. Mike Howard offered to have them come to Council.
5. Reports
a. Chair
i. Annual Report – please send any changes before 6/27.
ii. Jacobsen Award Presentation – 6/27. Reception at 6:00; Council Meeting at
7:00
iii. Commissioner Recognition Event – 6/13 at 6:00
iv. MNDHR – TPT (Twin Cities Public Television) – Invitation to “Our Rights: Justice
for All” screening – 6/13 7:00pm
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v. Heredia Friendship City sculpture dedication: Saturday, June 24 2:00
PM, City Hall
vi. Neil Ruhland is the new Media Coordinator for the City
b. Secretary – absent
c. Vice Chair – No report
d. School Board Liaison – a lot of activity since the last board meeting. Understands the
concerns that were raised. What he did as a board member was to ask about each and
every thing along the way. There’s more to come but don’t know how public it will be.
District policy can be reviewed; employee concerns can’t be.
i. Is the discipline process online? Doesn’t know
ii. When is your term up? This year – 4 year term
iii. Had student organized protests as well. Students brought forth multiple issues.
Glad they spoke up – wish they had sooner.
iv. Discussion around move from 6 hour day to 7 hour day
e. Council Liaison
i. Housing -- Success with Aeon purchasing Season’s Park. Taking ownership in
September. One meeting with tenants so far. 404 units; many 2 & 3 bedroom
units. A private developer was interested in purchasing – concerns about a
similar situation to Crossroads. Aeon will update the facilities. School district
and board was involved – brought attention to Council. May work on
ordinances – 30 day notification of sales.
f. Transportation Commission
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i. Not enough foot traffic at 72 and Nicollet for a stoplight
ii. Grant money to get set up like Portland on Nicollet – enhanced crosswalk
g. Community Services – no report
h. Comprehensive Plan – no new meeting
6. Committee Reports
a. Islam 101 Event - 60-75 attendees, Church was great, Presentation went well
b. Community Engagement Community – Sara didn’t attend tour; Maria went and
provided update
i. Committee will meet to determine goals of the sub-committee
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c. 4 of July Planning
i. Wrist bands are 41 cents each if order 1000; temp tattoos are 17 cents each if
order 1000
ii. Would need a banner – no quote; other commissions would need to get on
board
iii. Carrie will have to follow up on Candy and Pamphlets
iv. Jeff will work with MNDHR for swag
v. No cooperation with RSJC
vi. City will reach out to Fraser
d. Black Lives Matter Resolution
i. Civil Service Commission may be disbanded because it hinders hiring diverse
candidates
ii. Vote tabled until can be sent out as a pre-read
7. Unfinished Business
a. Night to Unite – contact is Jill Mecklenberg. Sara will reach out about commission
participation
8. Tabled items
a. Benchmarking against other commissions
b. Community Conversations at Augsburg
c. Sara confirming Community Engagement speaker for August
Motion to Adjourn – Debbie Eng; Second – Chara Blanch
Adjourn at 8:24 p.m.