2020-06 minutesRichfield Human Rights Commission
Monthly Meeting Minutes
June 2, 2020
Members Present: Brett Stursa, Heather Eastlund, Katie Goodemote, Carrie Chillman,
Michele Thompson, Todd Diede, Tasha Ostendorf, Mara Glubka, Ava Noack, Hannah
Milton
Public Safety Liaison: Mike Flaherty
City Council Liaison: Mary Supple
School Board Liaison: none
Note: meeting held via WebEx
1. Meeting called to order by Chair Brett Stursa at 6:31pm.
2. Motion to approve Agenda: Glubka/Chillman seconded, motion carried.
3. Motion to approve May Minutes: Glubka/Thompson seconded, motion carried.
4. Open Public comment: None
5. Reports:
a. Chair’s report: It is an important time to talk about racism and discrimination in
our community in the wake of George Floyd’s death and asked commissioners to
express their experiences over the past week. Glubka raised a concern that the
Richfield Police Department only has one body camera. Milton mentioned that
donations were gathered and provided to communities affected both by COVID-
19 and the past week’s events. Many expressed their feelings, concerns,
disappointments, etc. A vigil organized by the Richfield Social Justice Community
was held on May 30. Two requests are coming from that group: (1) for the RPD
to release stop-and-frisk and arrest data; and (2) for the city to fully comply with
its existing body camera policy. Supple mentioned that the data sought is being
compiled so that it can be released. Flaherty mentioned that a company (Police
Strategies) was hired in 2017 to help “crunch” the data for internal department
use. Public-facing dashboards containing data derived from police reports and
use-of-force reports should be available on the city website within a week or two.
Regarding the body camera policy, Flaherty said that the department would
welcome body cameras, but that it is a financial issue. Supple mentioned that
providing funding for body cameras will be part of the city budgeting
conversations. She also mentioned that funding for police mental health
resources will also be part of the budget discussions, along with rental assistance
and affordable housing. She asked that the RHRC provide input to
councilmembers and the mayor on priorities. Flaherty mentioned that a project to
embed mental health resources within the police department is moving forward.
Legislation to create a Peace Officer Excellence Task Force has been proposed
in the MN legislature. Stursa identified three initiatives in which the HRC could
participate: (1) Body camera advocacy; (2) Police data dashboard analysis (3)
Advocating for the creation of the Peace Officer Excellence Task Force. Stursa
asked if the Richfield Police Multicultural Advisory Committee (PMAC) was still
meeting. Flaherty said PMAC has not met since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Discussion was had regarding the high cost of body cameras and whether they
should be a budgetary priority. Stursa mentioned that the MN Department of
Human Rights has filed a civil rights charge against the Minneapolis Police
Department. There is commission support for looking at the police data and
discussing it at the next meeting.
b. Vice Chair’s report: None
c. Secretary’s report: None
d. School Board Liaison report: None
e. City Council Liaison report: Supple thanked Richfield residents and Public Safety
officers for protecting Richfield citizens and businesses, specifically food outlets,
during the past week. The Richfield Employee Equity Committee has been given
increased resources and priority by the city council.
f. Public Safety Liaison report: Flaherty recapped the events of the past week,
including burglaries and attempted burglaries of businesses. Officers and
residents were able to prevent many incidents.
6. New Business
a. ADA anniversary proclamation: Ostendorf will reach out to Richfield Disability
Advocacy Partnership (RDAP) to ask if they would be willing to virtually attend
the council meeting at which the proclamation will be read. A motion to approve
the proclamation was made by Glubka/seconded Thompson, motion carried.
7. Unfinished Business
a. LBGTQIA proclamation: this will be on the agenda at the June 9 city council
meeting. Eastlund and Glubka expressed interest in virtually attending the city
council meeting.
b. Housing committee: Any plans for programming are necessarily on hold due to
the COVID-19 pandemic. An idea was raised to use the funds to create care
packages for Richfield Towers residents. Stursa will check with the Richfield
Foundation to get their thoughts on using grant money for that purpose.
c. Penn Fest: no update
d. Naturalization ceremony: Whether an event can happen in February 2021 is still
being determined.
e. Partnerships: no update
f. Census: The Federal Government has extended timelines for self-reporting,
enumerator follow-up, and reporting results. The city will be reaching out to
historically undercounted areas and communities through various means. Supple
checked with the City on current plans. The city’s census efforts are being led by
Blanca Martinez Gavina. Diede will reach out to her to see if and how the RHRC
can be of assistance.
8. Announcements/Open Forum: none
9. Next meeting July 7, 2020 (via WebEx)
10. Motion for adjournment: Eastlund/Thompson seconded, motion carried. Meeting
adjourned at 8:15 pm.
Submitted by Todd Diede 6/4/2020