12-05-2017Richfield Human Rights Commission
Monthly Meeting Minutes
December 5th, 2017
Members Present: Sara Gumke, Carrie Chillman, Mark Westergaard,
Sarah Musgrave, Grace Verbrugge, Will Ruckel, Chara Blanch, Debbie Eng,
Ben Sunderlin, Matthew Kiflu.
Mike Koob - Public Safety Liaison
Mike Howard - City Council Liaison
1. Meeting called to order by Chair Sara Gumke at 6:33 pm.
2. Motion to amend agenda to include discussion of the Convention of the Rights of the
Child by Grace Verbrugge, seconded by Debbie Eng; motion carried. New motion to
approve updated agenda by Westergaard, seconded by Eng; motion carried.
3. Motion to approve 11/2017 minutes Westergaard, seconded Blanch; motion carried.
4. Open Public Comment: none
5. Reports
a. Chair’s report: none
b. Secretary’s report: it was noted that the roster was updated and corrected, the
attendance report for the year will need to be given to city staff, and email will be
sent out tonight for everyone to double check it for accuracy.
c. Vice Chair’s report: not in attendance
d. Liaison Reports:
i. Public Safety Liaison: none
ii. City Council Liaison: Mike reports that he just returned from a special
Truth in Taxation meeting and Council will decide on a new levy soon;
also a work session on Cedar Point 2 will be held to discuss proposed
housing development.
iii. School Board Liaison: from Tim Polis, shared Reimagine Richfield letter
from superintendent highlighting the plan to involve students to address
integration, access, equity, and excellence; noted was the piece on KSTP
news; Grace suggested student speaker on this and will follow-up.
iv. Transportation commission: Sarah reports no update.
v. Community Service commission: Grace was unable to attend last mtg.
vi. Comp Plan Advisory Committee: Sara has no update at this time.
vii. HRA: Jeff was not in attendance to give report.
6. Committee/Project Reports:
a. Convention of the Rights of the Child; Grace offered a brief explanation and will
send more information to the commission to decide on drafting a resolution in
support, will discuss again at the next meeting.
b. Trafficking presentation debrief: Approx. 25-30 people in attendance, it was
agreed that the presenter did very well and the church did a great job organizing
and working with them was smooth; Mark encouraged those community
members in attendance to apply to the HRC. Deb suggested that the HRC to
maintain contact with churches to promote the HRC events; Sara gave Carrie list
of church contact info to save to Google Docs for this purpose.
c. Community Engagement Committee:
i. Commission demographic survey: Sara made the agreed upon revisions
but was unable to print them, will email them to Mark to approve then will
send them out to the other commissions.
ii. Tabling event: Ben will contact Assumption Church for a tabling date in
December, Will and Sara will draft statement to be given to social media
contacts advertising the City accepting community commission
applications until the end of December, Will will also contact Cam at
SunCurrent to attend an HRC meeting in order to strengthen partnership.
Sara will contact city staff Susie to make copies of flyers and get them to
Debbie, Sara will also contact Jeff to get the banner if it is needed. When
date of tabling event is confirmed an email will be sent to city council by
Mike H. asking for someone to attend with the HRC.
7. Unfinished Business:
a. Update on PP partnership; Jeff was not in attendance.
b. PMAC partnership; Sara just returned from the meeting, was glad to be
reconnected with the group and will provide updates as she has them.
c. Naturalization Event update: Mark says that City Hall has been secured for
2/20/18 for the ceremony from 10-11am accommodating approx. 40 people, Mike
K will reserve an additional room for reception and judge to do paperwork after
the ceremony. Mark will make final arrangements after the new year.
d. ACLU pamphlets: not discussed as Debbie left early.
8. New Business/Announcements/Open Forum
a. Grace will follow-up on the genocide awareness month tent exhibit; Ben and
Chara will pursue speaker on racial equity; Sarah M suggested educational/info
session surrounding Native American treaty rights, she and Mark will pursue
contacts, Ben suggested doing something with Fort Snelling during their event in
2020.
b. Sara G suggested exploring what Edina is doing to poll community about
inclusivity and discussing if this is something that the HRC would like to pursue.
9. Next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 2nd, at 6:30pm.
10. Motion for adjournment by Blanch, seconded Westergaard; meeting adjourned at
7:40pm.