Human Relations Commission

CITY OF HOLLAND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting HOLLAND CITY HALL - Training Room, 2nd Floor July 16, 2026 Vision Statement A community where all residents know they are honored, valued, and unhindered by bias, misunderstanding, and conflict. Mission Statement The Holland Human Relations Commission promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in housing, education, employment, and public service. We pursue a community of belonging for all residents, with consideration for groups that are underrepresented, underserved, or marginalized. Value Statement With a collaborative spirit, from a humble posture of learning and respectful dialogue, we serve with commitment, compassion, and civility. We seek the common good. 1. Call to Order 2. Vision, Mission, Values 3. Roll Call 4. Public Comment 5. Special Presentation 6. Approval of Minutes Approval of June 18, 2026 Meeting Minutes. Call to Vote. • 7. Next HRC Monthly Meeting The next meeting will be held on August 20, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall-2nd Floor Training Room.  Reminder: The following meeting on September 17, 2026 will be held in the Heights of Hope Community Center, 450 Stratford Way, Holland, MI 49423 at 6:00 p.m. 8. City Council Liaison Update 9. Student Representative Update 10. Chair Report A. HRC Representation at City Council Meetings.  2026 HRC Representation at Council Meetings B. Strategic Plan FY2026 Updates. 1. Governance: Inspire diversity of skills in recruiting, onboarding new board members, and perform exit interviews. 2. Housing: Identify area of improvements related to housing ordinances and rental conditions. 3. Education: Support Holland Public Schools, celebrate wins, and learn about challenges. 4. Social Justice Awards: Set guidelines for selection of the Social Justice Awards.  5. Election of Officers: A. Election of Chair B. Election of Chair-Elect 11. Activity Report • 12. Other Business A. SAVE THE DATE 1. LAUP Fiesta: Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the Holland Civic Center from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  2026 LAUP Fiesta Sign-Up 2. MI Response to Hate Conference (MIR2H): Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  MIR2H Save the Date Flyer B. 2026 AHAA Registration  2026 AHAA Registration 13. Communications from Commissioners 14. Adjournment PLEASE NOTE: The City of Holland will provide necessary services and auxiliary aids, such as signers for hearing impaired and audiotapes of printed materials, to individuals with disabilities, upon receipt of seven-day prior notice. Person with disabilities requiring auxiliary aids services should contact the City of Holland by writing or calling: Human Relations C/O City Clerk’s Office contacting Esther Fifelski, Human Relations Director, 270 S River Avenue Holland, MI 49423, telephone (616) 616.355.1322. Document(s) available for translation upon request. La Ciudad de Holland proporcionará servicios necesarios como interpretación, traducción, ayudas auxiliaries, lenguaje de señas, y cintas de audio de materiales impresos para personas con discapacidades. Favor llamar con siete (7) días de anticipación a la Cuidad de Holland, Esther Fifelski, Oficina de Relaciones Humanas para obtener estos servicios 616.355.1322 o por correo electrónico a e.fifelski@cityofholland.com. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: In addition to addressing the Commission during public hearings and under “Public Comment,” members of the Audience may address the Commission, on items after a motion is pending on a particular item, by addressing the Chairperson. Audience participation shall be five minutes or less per item. CELL PHONES: Please be courteous and turn cell phones off during the meeting.  City of Holland Human Relations Commission Meeting Minutes June 18, 2026, at 6 p.m. City Hall – 2nd Floor Training Room The City of Holland’s Human Relations Commission meeting was held in the City of Holland 2nd Floor Training Room at 270 South River Avenue, Holland, MI 49423 at 6:00 p.m. Present: Chair Fahrion and Commissioners Arendshorst, Huyser, Pocock, Minkus, and Ristola-Bass. Others Present: City Council Member Lyn Raymond and Staff Representative: Esther Fifelski. Member Absent, excused: Commissioners Khorn and Darland. 2026.06.01 Call to Order. Meeting called to order by Chair Fahrion at 6:01 p.m. 2026.06.02 Reading of the Mission, Vision, & Values. 2026.06.03 Roll Call. See above. 2026.06.04 Approval of agenda. Motion to accept agenda Commissioner Ristola Bass, support from Commissioner Pocock. Motion carried unanimously. 2026.06.05 Public Comment. None. 2026.06.06 Special Presentation. None. 2026.06.07 Approval of March 19, 2026, Meeting Minutes. Motion to approve March 19, 2026, meeting minutes by Commissioner Arendshorst, support from Commissioner Huyser. Motion carried. 2026.06.08 Approval of April 16, 2026, Meeting Minutes. Motion to approve April 16, 2026, meeting minutes by Commissioner Pocock, support Commissioner Huyser. Motion carried. There was no meeting minutes for May as we did not have quorum. Fifelski confirmed we will be at Heights of Hope for the September meeting. 2026.06.08 Next Human Relations Commission Monthly Meeting: The next Human Relations Commission meeting will be held Thursday, July 16, 2026. 2026.06.09 City Council Liaison Update. City Council Raymond reported the following: i. Jubilee & Habitat Vista Green block party. Project is complete. ii. Public Meeting will be held on Monday, June 22, at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers for the Bike Path Public Lane on 17th Street. 2026.06.10 Student Representatives Update. Students are off for the summer. 2026.06.11 Chair Report A. HRC Representation at City Council Meetings Signup: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0449A8A72EA5F49-hrccity B. Strategic Planning FY 2026 Committee Updates 1. Governance: Diversify the work of our Commission by inviting community members to join committees, recruiting and onboarding. No update. Our next meeting is July 1, 2026. 2. Housing: Define “livability standards” for renters in our community and reward/recognize property managers who promote and maintain these standards. Fifelski working on getting something to go into the Fall newsletter. 1  City of Holland Human Relations Commission Meeting Minutes June 18, 2026, at 6 p.m. City Hall – 2nd Floor Training Room 3. Education: Raise the profile of Holland Public Schools in the community through improved collaboration between HRC/Holland Public Schools. Fifelski received grant monies and is having a difficult time connecting with Jefferson Schools. Committee going to the property management companies in the super south to help committee get feedback. 4. Social Justice Awards: Select, review, investigate nominations for annual Social Justice Award recipients and create a two-year communication and branding strategy for SJA Awards. Fahrion reported the Tulip Time Festival as all award winners except one was able to march in the Tulip Time Festival. Fifelski ordered sashes and parade banners for our 2025 SJA recipients. We will do this again. The committee will not meet again until October. 5. Election of Officers: The commission postponed the elections of officers until the July meeting. We have two commissioners absent. 2026.06.12 Activity Report. See attached. 2026.06.13 Other Business. 1. SAVE THE DATE a. Juneteenth: June 20, 2026, Kollen Park, 2 to 7 p.m. b. PRIDE: June 27, 2026, Kollen Park, Noon to 6 p.m. c. LAUP Fiesta: July 18, 2026, Civic Center 11 to 4 p.m. d. 2026 AHAA Registration open. See attached. 2026.06.14 Adjournment. There being no further business, Chair Fahrion adjourned the meeting at 7:01 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Esther C. Fifelski Human Relations Director Human/International/Youth Services 2 Activity Report: May 14 to June 10, 2026 Resident Concerns/Request for Information: TOTAL: 11 Alleged Discrimination: None. General: 4 1, male, needed information related to street project. 1, female, unknown. Wanted her road to get repaired. *1, female, consumer matter related to her Michigan Tax refund. I provided the link where she could check the status at the state of Michigan. 1, male, unknown, he did not get the appropriate permit. Landlord: 1 1, male, unknown. New landlord wanted guidance on leases. I shared format in the Tenant/Landlord guide. Suggested he contact an attorney as the contract formats may be out of date (per MSU contact). Tenant: 6 1, male, unknown. Heating not working since January. Contacted the management company. 1, female, unknown. Has issue with condo association. 1, female, unknown. She was upset about a senior apartment complex and the condition of complex. They do not have violations and passed the last inspection in 2025. The individual wanted the heat to be turned back on, repair the entryway fixture to ring people into the complex, she wanted the hallway carpet replaced, and the parking lot repaired. Provided other state resources to address compliance concerns. 1, female, property management not responding to water leaks. Maintains there is water damage. Contacted landlord. 1, female, wants to break lease. This person never returned my call(s). Basically, there are some rare instances where leases can be broken. One is where a senior citizen moves into a nursing home unexpectantly. Landlords will generally write into the lease exactly what will happen if the lease is broken. 1, female, upset because her landlord did not renew her lease. She then saw the property listed online. She felt like she had kept her landlord informed of all the repairs the home needed and felt she deserved to have her lease renewed. I sent her some housing options that were in much better condition.  May Request for Interpretation * NA entries will be added and updated when received. DEPARTMENT # OF INSTANCES # OF MINUTES Assessor 0 0 Board of Public Works 872 2671 City Clerk 2 16 City Manager/HR 0 0 Community Neighborhood Svcs. 36 428 DDA 0 0 Farmer’s Market 0 0 Human Relations 8 150 Parks & Rec 0 0 Public Safety 2 20 Outdoor Discovery Center 0 0 Transportation 0 0 Treasurer 4 75 Windmill Island 0 0 TOTAL 924 3360