HRC_05_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, , Tiffany Bighley, Tyler Olson, Walter
Burk
Chief Deputy Mike Flaherty: Public Safety Liaison
Guests: Zaylore Stout, esq; Anita Smithson, HRC – Bloomington; Laura Calbone, FairVote MN Coalition
Leader; Marcia Watson, Bloomington Volunteer; Larry Nelson, Richfield FairVote Coordinator
1. Call to Order & Attendance 6:34 after determining a quorum was present by Glubka
2. Approval of Agenda Motion to approved:1st /2nd Anderson / Goodemote
Unanimous approval by Commission
3. Approval of Minutes Motion to approved: 1st /2nd Goodemote/ Bighley
Unanimous approval by Commission
4. Open Public Comment. Email read: To Whom It May Concern,
I'm writing today in regard to an article I read in the Star Tribune about racist covenants contained in
many property deeds throughout Hennepin County. Unfortunately, the deed to my home in Richfield
contains the following language, "No grantee shall sell or lease said real estate to a colored person.".
The article linked me to a local organization called Just Deeds. The mission of Just Deeds is
"acknowledging and addressing systemic racism in housing in Minnesota.". There are currently nine
local cities participating in Just Deeds' mission. I strongly encourage you to partner with Just Deeds to
help Richfield residents discharge this type of racist and hateful language from their property deeds.
Colin Mackenzie
Action: Glubka to contact writer and identify steps being taken by City Council etc.
5. Reports
Chair’s report
Mara Glubka
See below regarding conversion therapy ban
Vice Chair’s report
Katie Goodemote
No report
Secretary's report
Kris Anderson
Notify Kris if you did not get access to Google Drive.
Minutes will be on the drive prior to meeting for review.
Approved minutes will be on Richfield Drive Richfield, MN
School Board
Allegra Smisek
No Report
City Council
Mary Supple
No Report
Public Safety Liaison report
Mike Flaherty
1. Bill Green, DEI administrator, died in April. City
responded with condolences to family. Applications will
be opened to replace the position.
2. Richfield had no issues post Chauvin trial
6. New Business
Ranked Choice Voting (see guest
list)
1. Video reviewed from fairvotemn.org
a. Power or Ranking Your Vote
b. A Seat at the table
2. Proposal to standardize voting in Minnesota
3. Supported by all 3 major parties
Richfield Human Rights Commission April 6, 2021
Meeting Minutes
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4. MN needs to pass bill for Richfield to be able to
participate in rank choice voting due to election being
on even years.
5. St. Paul, Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, Minnetonka and
Bloomington — have enacted ranked-choice voting for
local elections.
6. Started by League of Women Voters.
7. Ask: HRC support and request City Council to pass
resolution (sample resolution to be distributed)
8. For question etc. contact Larry Nelson at
Larry@fairvotemn.org
9. Action:
To be discussed at next meeting of HRC
a. Gene and Mary Jacobsen Award 1. Letters of recommendation reviewed.
Discussion
1. Building of community relations
2. Work during 2020 pandemic
3. Broad scope of working within Richfield
Action:
Motion to make the award to Santos Mejia 1st /2nd
Bighley/Burk
Unanimous approval by Commission
Chief Deputy Flaherty to request to City Council to wait
until award can be presented in person
b. Conversion Therapy Proposal
Mara Glubka
1. Presentation reviewed
2. Letter sent to City council and city attorney requestion
meeting to identify ways to enforce ban without police
intervention.
Discussion:
Look at making civil offense.
Why so many medical groups see it as “bad” medicine why
these groups have not taken action and why is not the state
is not doing something?
Action:
Motion to send recommendation to ban Conversion
Therapy to City Council 1st /2nd Olson / Bighley
Unanimous approval by Commission
c. Create a Diversity, Equity and
Inclusion calendar for Richfield.
Flahrety
Council had requested a DEI calendar. Chief Deputy
Flaherty would like HRC input.
Action:
Tabled till next meeting
Unfinished Business
Welcome Packets
Flahrety
City doesn’t have the capacity at this point. Would need to
sort out homeowners vs renters etc.
Work plan
Mara Glubka
1. City Council request a proclamation for pride month.
Draft reviewed:
Action:
Richfield Human Rights Commission April 6, 2021
Meeting Minutes
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Motion to send proclamation to City Council 1st /2nd
Bighley / Olson
Unanimous approval by Commission
Work plan will be a priority for June meeting
Announcements/Open Forum None
Next meeting: Tuesday, June 1, 2021 at 6:30pm (via WebEx)
Motion for adjournment: Motion: 1st /2nd Goodemote / Olson
Meeting adjourned at 8:05PM
Submitted by Kris Anderson Secretary