03-05-2019Richfield Human Rights Commission
Monthly Meeting Minutes
March 5th, 2019
Members Present: Brett Stursa, Heather Eastlund, Bob Mulcahy, Katie Goodemote, Adam
Alaihaimier, Carrie Chillman, Michele Thompson, Sarah Musgrave, Kris Anderson, Todd Diede,
Tasha Ostendorf
Public Safety Liaison: Mike Flaherty
Also present: Katie Rodriguez, city manager
1.Meeting called to order by Chair Brett Stursa at 6:32pm.
2.Motion to approve Agenda: Eastlund/seconded Diede; motion carried.
3.Motion to approve Minutes: Eastlund/seconded Stursa, motion carried.
4.Open public comment: None
5.New Business
a.Introduction of new commissioners
b.2019 work plan (possibilities only; we’ll decide at next meeting on which ones to
formally add to the plan):
i.Speaker series: Last year planning began for the 2019 speaker series,
but all but one (Goodemote) of the commissioners on this subcommittee
cycled off the HRC in January. Stursa noted that if we decided to
discontinue the speaker series, we would need to determine the impact
on the Richfield Foundation donation that we received last year.
ii.Augsburg Park Library Reading opportunity: Mulcahy explained potential
partnership with Augsburg Library to create a human rights-themed
reading events for children.
iii.Proclamation committee: Stursa explained that we are hoping to create
three proclamations this year (Black history, ADA, and Hispanic Heritage
Month) proactively declaring Richfield’s support for human rights values.
iv.Penn Fest: Great opportunity to come into contact with public concerns;
also can encourage people to apply for commissions, potentially
increasing diversity. Chillman suggested we partner with arts commission
this year.
v.Miss Richfield event at Augsburg Park. Stursa explained that we worked
with Augsburg Park Library to host a Miss Richfield storytime in 2018.
vi.Gender neutral labeling of single-stalled bathrooms: Flaherty explained
that a previous motion by the HRC has led the City Council to schedule a
work session on March 12th, which will include a 20 to 25 minute
presentation that HRC should lead. City Manager Rodriguez explained
that most public restrooms in Richfield would be cost prohibitive to
change, but not all. She then suggested that if the HRC’s goal was for the
city to make changes to public restrooms where it is easy to do so, to
consider gender-neutral labeling on single-stalled bathrooms in new
construction, and to encourage local businesses to do the same, then the
matter can be handled administratively through a council memo rather
than a working group. Motion made by Eastlund to create a subcommittee
to draft such a memo and cancel HRC’s request for a working session.
Anderson offered an amendment that the memo include that current
single-stall bathrooms be labeled gender neutral where cost neutral and
that going forward this would become the position of the city as a whole.
Chillman seconded. Motion passed. Rodriguez clarified that the memo
would officially come from her office but that an initial draft from the HRC
would be impactful. Stursa, Eastlund, and Musgrave volunteered to be the
subcommittee. Flaherty to cancel City Council working group session.
vii.2020 census: Stursa explained we have an opportunity to play a role in
driving census participation.
viii.Other: Re-naming Columbus Day, HRC history project, Minneapolis
redlining history project speaker event (potentially augmented with
Richfield information).
At next meeting, we will decide what we want to tackle in terms of our
2019 work plan.
c.Outstanding Citizen Award, call for nominations. Call for nominations to go up on
city website (Stursa to work with city to update form). Goodemote to work with
Sturza on publicizing.
6.Unfinished Business
a.Gender neutral bathrooms, March 12 work session: See above.
b.2019 Events Planning:
i.Naturalization Ceremony at Holy Angels, recap/planning for 2020 (Stursa,
Chillman): 201 new citizens naturalized. Well-organized, impactful. We
will form a subcommittee at next HRC meeting.
ii.Children’s book reading at Augsburg (Mulcahy): Musgrave agreed to lead.
Mulcahy to coordinate with Musgrave on Augsburg Park contact info.
7.Reports:
a.Chair’s report: Noted that Minnesota human rights budget will likely increase
under new governor.
b.Secretary’s report: HRC history project ongoing to celebrate HRC’s 50th year. Let
Mulcahy know if you want to be involved.
c.Vice Chair’s report: None.
d.School Board Liaison report: None.
e.Public Safety Liaison report: None.
8.Announcements/Open Forum: None
9.Next meeting: April 2nd, 2019, 6:30pm
10.Motion for adjournment: Anderson/seconded Chillman. Meeting adjourned at 7:54pm.
Submitted by Bob Mulcahy 3/24/19