04_06_2021Richfield Human Rights Commission April 6, 2021
Meeting Minutes
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See link for video of HRC Meeting: Richfield, MN
Members Present: Mara Glubka, Katie Goodemote, Kris Anderson, Michele Thompson, Tasha
Ostendorf, Anne Flake, Tiffany Bighley, Tyler Olson, Walter Burk
Mike Flaherty: Public Safety Liaison, Mary Supple: City Council Liaison, Allegra Smisek: School Board
Liaison
Guests: Ken Meter, Angela Tona, Melissa Poehlman, Mix Luci Wolfstone
1. Call to Order & Attendance 6:36 after determining a quorum was present by Glubka
2. Approval of Agenda Unanimous approval by Commission
3. Approval of Minutes Request by Thompson to add attendance to the minutes Motion to
approve with changes: 1st /2nd Thompson / Flake
Unanimous approval by Commission
4. Open Public Comment Anyone who is not on the agenda who would like to address the
Commission on items not on the agenda.
No additions
5. Reports
Chair’s report
Mara Glubka
1. After attending Commission training identified need for a roll call
vote. Discussion included to need for Board privacy and how vote
should be recorded.
Decision:
a. Secretary to document number of ayes and nays in the
minutes
b. Chair to do roll call & call vote
Vice Chair’s report
Katie Goodemote
No report
Secretary's report
Kris Anderson
Asked members to identify their name when providing a motion or 2nd
School Board
Allegra Smisek
School Board has been working on
1. Equity policy
a. has received input from 750 middle / high school students,
Community members / safety – supportive.
b. Has had strong edits.
Smisek will send new draft to Glubka for distribution to Commission.
2. Covid Virus graduation relief
a. Richfield has high graduation standards than MN state,
which has lower elective requirements.
b. 30% of Seniors would not meet requirements
c. Board elected to reduce requirement to State level for 9 –
12 grades
City Council
Mary Supple
1. New City website had ability to change accessibility by using the
lower left purple person on the web site to change font etc..
2. MNDOT is seeking input on the 494 project between Bloomington
and Richfield. Looking at adding Ped Bridges that would improve
bike and pedestrian access and safely between the 2 cities.
Check out www.494openhouse.com for providing input
Richfield Human Rights Commission April 6, 2021
Meeting Minutes
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Public Safety
Liaison report
Mike Flaherty
1. Police focus has been on preparing / security for the Chauvin trial in
Minneapolis
a. Spontaneous looting occurred during past unrest.
b. Also prepared for civil unrest
2. Veteran’s Park fire was toward the back with no buildings damaged.
Cause yet to be determines
6. New Business
a. Just Needs
Melissa Poehlman ,
Asst. Community
Development
1. Slide presentation regarding Just Need looks a discrimination
practices and how Richfield was part of this history. (presentation
was sent to all Commission Members)
2. “Racially restrictive covenants refer to contractual agreements that
prohibit the purchase, lease, or occupation of a piece of property by
a particular group of people.”
3. Proposal to City Council in April requesting city address Racial
Covenant.
4. City would be a platform for Richfield Citizen to remove these
covenants from the deeds. A website would be created with
resource and a pool of lawyers would help landowners remove this
language.
5. All would be free of charge for Richfield resident. Hennepin Count is
waiving the recording fee.
6. “1968: Federal Fair Housing Act made racially restrictive covenants
explicitly illegal. 2019: Minnesota Legislature passed law allowing
property owners to reject racially restrictive covenants (Minn. Stat. §
507.18)”
7. Burk suggested that all transfer of deeds remove the restrictive
covenant language.
a. Part of Just Needs is to introduce and educate the use of
Covenants
Action:
A. All were encouraged to use the web site and contact Melissa if
interested in providing outreach training etc.
B. Commission to send letter of support – Melissa to send draft to
Mara.
Motion to support the initiative and recommend to the City Council 1st
/2nd Burk / Goodemote
Unanimous approval by Commission
b. Welcome Package
Ken Meter
Presentation
1. Recommending developing a welcome package for Richfield.
2. Gave examples of Powderhorn Park and Puget Sound and building of
community.
3. Would require a diverse team to engage the community.
Discussion
1. Great community benefits
2. It is believed that there is a current packet sent to new residents
(Tiffany will check if she still has hers from April 2020)
Richfield Human Rights Commission April 6, 2021
Meeting Minutes
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3. Might be nice to include work of the HRC. Restaurant, parks, farmers
market and other Richfield benefits in packet
4. Add neighborhood signage to increase feeling of community.
Action:
Supple to identify current city resources.
Wolf volunteered to be a member of team if identified.
c. Conversion Therapy
Proposal
Mara Glubka
Draft was presented for information.
Action: Will review next month
Potential topics for work plan to be discussed at April meeting
Unfinished Business
Work plan
Mara Glubka
Kris to keep Workplan up to date
Announcements/Open
Forum
None
Next meeting: Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 at 6:30pm (via WebEx)
Motion for adjournment: Motion: 1st /2nd Ostendorf / Burk
Meeting adjourned at 7:59 PM
Submitted by Kris Anderson Secretary