04-07-2015Richfield Human Rights Commission
Monthly Meeting Minutes
April 7, 2015
Members Present:
Debbie Eng
Todd Chase
Mark Westergaard
Judith Dominguez (student representative)
Sara Gumke
Emilia Gonzales Avalos
Mike Kuehn
Chara Blanch
Also present:
Michael Koob –Richfield Staff Liaison
Mike Howard-City Council Liaison
Absent:
Jeff Wright
Elizabeth Wendt
1. Meeting called to order by Chair Mark Westergaard at 6:33PM.
2. Approval of Agenda
a.) Todd moved; Chara seconded; Unanimously approved
3. Approval of Minutes
i. Debbie moved; Todd seconded; Unanimously approved
4. Reports
a.) Chair’s report: Mark reported that the Edina City Hall is holding an event marking the
100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the 70th Anniversary of the end of
WWII. This event will take place on April 19th from 1:00-3:30 and will feature guest
speaker Ellen J. Kennedy and special guest, Holocaust survivor, Dora Zaidenweber.
b.) Vice-chair’s report: Deb stated that she will put together a small annual report for the
RHRC to be presented at an upcoming city council meeting
5. Unfinished Business
a.) Community Conversation update: The final draft report for the community conversa-
tion event is almost complete.
b.) Gene and Mary Jacobsen Outstanding Citizen Award: No nominations have been
submitted yet for the the award. The commission agreed to put together a flyer to be posted and
that we would try to get the Sun-Current to put a another notice in the paper.
6. New Business:
a.) Mark has been in communication with representatives from the League of Woman
Voters about co-sponsoring a forum on human trafficking, featuring the speaker, Michele Garnett
McKenzie who gave a similar presentation at the Minneapolis Central Library in March. The
RHRC voted on and approved the event which will take place on May 16th at Richfield City
Hall.
b.) Debbie presented a resolution that would make the RHRC part of a Minnesota coali-
tion to restore the vote to people who on probation or parole from a felony conviction. Debbie
moved, Mike Kuehn seconded, resolution unanimously approved. Resolution 2015-01 attached
to these minutes.
7. Next meeting: May 5, 2015, 6:30PM
8. Adjournment at 7:50PM: Debbie moved, Sara seconded, unanimously approved
Minutes submitted by Todd Chase