Human Rights Commission

City Hall City of Northfield 801 Washington Street Northfield, MN 55057 ci.northfield.mn.us Meeting Minutes - Final Human Rights Commission Thursday, April 14, 2022 6:00 PM City Hall-2nd Floor Training Room 6:00 PM - REGULAR AGENDA CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Vice-Chair Wale called the Human Rights Commission (HRC) meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Present: 7- Glenda Orrego, Veronica Gamino, Bruce Morlan, Matthew Lovick, Ella Mayer, Adam Wale and Jennie Eubank Absent: 2- Linda Larson and Barb Wornson ALSO PRESENT Advisory Member: Mar Valdecantos; Tom Baraniak, School Board Representative; Mayor Rhonda Pownell; City Administrator Ben Martig; Francisco Gaytan, Meeting Associate/Interpreter; Judy Becker, Meeting Associate ALSO ABSENT Advisory Member: Lucy Gonzalez Miron, Youth Representatives: Ana George, Leaf Pennock APPROVAL OF AGENDA Motion by Commissioner Morlan, second by Commissioner Lovick, to approve the April 14, 2022 Meeting Agenda. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Orrego, Gamino, Morlan, Lovick, Mayer, Wale and Eubank APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. 22-232 March 10, 2022 HRC Meeting Minutes Attachments: 03-10-2022 HRC Meeting Minutes Draft Motion by Commissioner Morlan, second by Commissioner Lovick, to approve the March 10, 2022 Meeting Minutes. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Orrego, Gamino, Morlan, Lovick, Mayer, Wale and Eubank PUBLIC COMMENTS None PRESENTATIONS NEW BUSINESS City of Northfield Page 1 Printed on 5/13/2022 Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes - Final April 14, 2022 OLD BUSINESS 2. 22-233 Update on Resolution Declaring the month of April 2022 Fair Housing Month. Attachments: 1 - Res. 2022-034 (Fair Housing Month Declaration City Administrator Martig reported that a motion was taken to the City Council to vote on Resolution Declaring the Month of April 2022 as Fair Housing Month in Northfield. On April 5, 2022, the City Council unanimously voted to pass the Resolution. 3. 22-234 Update on Conversion Therapy Ban. Attachments: 1 - HRC Timeline for Conversion Therapy Work Human Rights Commission Northfield 2 - Recommend Report CRT Red Wing 3 - HRC Conversion Therapy Proposal 2021 for presentation handout 4 - Conversion-Therapy Trevor Project Commissioner Larson provided the attached materials as part of background information for board members and staff to review. This includes the timeline of the work of the HRC Task Force regarding a Conversion Therapy Ban. Staff Liaison Garcia has forwarded this information to the City Attorney to review and prepare a city ordinance for Northfield. This is scheduled for the agenda on May 12th once a draft ordinance is ready. Tentative Timelines: May 12th - Review and Recommend Ordinance Amendment to City Council June 7th - Council First Reading Review of Ordinance June 21st - Council Second Reading of Ordinance June 21st - Council Summary Publication Ordinance City Administrator Martig and Advisory Member Valdecantos answered questions from Commissioners. As a reference, MN State Representative, Todd Lippert, recommended communities institute bans on conversion therapy to demonstrate support throughout the State about this issue. Morlan questioned the need for a ban from the City since it appears that the standards for mental health practitioners and mental health professionals prohibit conversion therapy. Martig will work on clarification for this. 4. 22-235 Refinement and Prioritization of Human Rights Commission Work Plan for 2022 Attachments: 1 - HRC Jan 13 Priorities Summary 2 - HRC calendar for 2021 3 - Northfield Racial Equity Action Plan 4 - MN Human Rights Act Protections City Administrator Martig distributed a draft Calendar and Action Categories for 2022 for the Human RIghts Commission for planning and discussion. The Racial Equity Action City of Northfield Page 2 Printed on 5/13/2022 Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes - Final April 14, 2022 Plan, adopted by the City of Northfield on July 21, 2020, was also provided. The Northfield Human Rights Commission identified four categories for actions they can proactively address and about which they wish to learn. Additional items may be added to meetings as they arise and are appropriate for the HRC to address. The categories are listed and described as follows: 1. Cultural Competence: Cultural competence is a willingness to learn and listen. It is being welcoming and dropping defenses. It is a permanent way of changing how community issues are communicated and approached. 2. Equity: Improve cross-cultural understanding and acceptance. 3. Leadership: Being a successful leader of a multi-cultural community also means recognizing and fostering leadership in others. 4. Public Relations: Increased visibility will allow more citizens to access our services and increased communications will keep the Commission aware of events and trends in the community. Commission Members reviewed the list of priorities from the December HRC meeting. Priorities are in no particular order. I. Review HRC by-laws and procedures. a. Review by-laws b. Voting rights for all HRC members c. Self-review of the purpose of the HRC d. Set yearly priorities e. HRC role: what the HRC can do and can't do. II. Connect with the Northfield community through regularly scheduled events. a. Continue quarterly events b. Continuation of Pride celebrations (parade?) c. Continue MLK event, Hispanic Heritage, Indigenous Peoples' events Conduct, sponsor or collaborate with other commissions and city departments on events such as the MLK event, Hispanic Heritage celebration, Indigenous Peoples' events, Pride in the Park, and the Annual Community Picnic. Ideally, the HRC recommends events and the City of Northfield sponsors those events. Advisory Member Valdecantos suggested that the Annual Community Picnic highlight the Asian community this year. The picnic could be held in June or July. The HRC will decide if the event should be moved from year to year to different areas where there are diverse neighborhoods or if a central location should be established. This could be an international themed event, showcasing all communities within Northfield. Valdecantos has funds from a Union Pacific grant that can be used to support this event. Commissioner Wale asked about funds available to the HRC. Martig indicated that, with Commission advice and approval, staff is able to spend allocated funds as directed. Advisory Member Valdecantos described the October 11, 2021 Indigenous Peoples' Day with members of the Prairie Island Indian Community, hosted by Carleton College. A land acknowledgement ceremony was held, a tipi was set up on campus, Dakota history and contemporary experiences were shared, with the day ending with a community dinner, which included turkey and wild rice soup, a wild rice salad and fry bread. III. Confront and work with the polarization in our community. a. Depolarize from within City of Northfield Page 3 Printed on 5/13/2022 Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes - Final April 14, 2022 b. Braver Angels initiative c. Braver Politics d. Bridge political divide; political diversity Commissioner Morlan described the Braver Angels initiative, which is about building a house united. For additional information, reference https://braverangels.org/ IV. Connect with marginalized youth. a. Improve communication within the community, specifically youth b. Advocate for a gathering place for children to have activities c. More support for transgender youth d. Funding opportunities for children of low-income families (sports, art, music) e. Need weapon detectors at the schools - this is a School District responsibility Extensive discussion followed and included: * There needs to be a safe space to support youth and parents for the LGBTQ population; maybe at the library. There are groups at the Middle School and the High School. The Key is an important resource for gathering as well. * In the past, youth members of the HRC participated in teacher orientation by discussing discrimination and racial equity issues. * There should be a gathering place for younger children. * The Community School is available every week day at Greenvale Park Elementary with evening programming on Tuesday and Thursday evenings for all family members. Transportation is provided. For additional information: https://gvpcommunityschool.wixsite.com/website-1 * There are scholarship opportunities through the Community Action Center, Community Education and Recreation, the YMCA, the Northfield Arts Guild and other organizations. Concern is how accessible the information is about these programs. * Northfield Promise: https://northfieldpromise.org/about/ * We Strive Together: https://www.strivetogether.org/ V. Housing equity. a. Housing!! b. Make sure a Hispanic person sits on the HRA c. Maybe move a person from the HRC to the HRA (and report back to the HRC) d. Housing and related concerns (affordability, transportation, landlords and codes, rent control) e. Transportation The City of Northfield will be undergoing a major rental ordinance update. There are plans for a tenant resource guide; the HRC could recommend that MN Department of Human Rights information be included with the guide. This can be scheduled as an agenda item for a future meeting. The Northfield Housing & Redevelopment Authority is the lead agency for affordable housing opportunities in Northfield. Also, a number of organizations exist in Northfield to address housing and transportation issues. Among them are: * Northfield Transportation Advisory Committee * Northfield Chamber of Commerce, Community Assistance Resources: https://www.northfieldchamber.com/community-assistance-resources/ * Northfield Enterprise Center: https://business.northfieldchamber.com/list/member/ * Northfield Shares: https://northfieldshares.org/ * Northfield Racial & Equity Collaborative: https://healthycommunityinitiative.org/northfield-racial-ethnic-equity-collaborative-nreec/ * Healthy Community Initiative (HCI): https://healthycommunityinitiative.org/ City of Northfield Page 4 Printed on 5/13/2022 Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes - Final April 14, 2022 * Northfield Promise: https://northfieldpromise.org/ VI. Communications with our community. a. Improved communication with the community, specifically youth b. Communication with other human rights groups in Northfield re: equity, diversity c. Communicate with other similar commissions in similar-sized towns d. Need interpreters for commissioners who don't speak English e. Outreach to community to provide 'public comments' at meetings Is there a mechanism for citizens to report human rights violations? Include a 'discrimination hot line' number on the HRC web page and perhaps elsewhere on the city web site. VI. Other a. Affordable eco-friendly products b. Economic opportunities for marginalized populations c. Support for minority-owned enterprises d. Reminders of the city's focus on diversity e. Conversion Therapy ban Youth Representative Ana George is working with the Northfield High School Environmental Club on sustainable products and how those could be purchased in bulk to reduce costs for those with lower incomes. The Environmental Quality Commission has distributed items in the past. Ensure equity is part of the decision making process for other boards and commissions. Continue to have annual guest speakers at HRC meetings; e.g.: Northfield School District Superintendent; Northfield Chief of Police. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS AND CHAIR Advisory Member Valdecantos reported that the installation of the eagle sculpture "Wanbli Mitakuye Oyasin/We are all Related" by John Sterner, Lakota, is tentatively scheduled for June. Commissioner Wale was not able to attend the 2022 State of the City address, however, did watch the YouTube video which he reported was well done. Advisory Member Valdecantos questioned the status of the draft of the letter to be sent from the City of Northfield to Native Communities, Prairie Island Indian Community, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Lower Sioux Indian Community regarding the Land Acknowledgement Statement. Valdecantos will send contact information for these communities to Martig. Advisory Member Valdecantos reported that the MN Department of Human Rights offers mediation training. The 30-hour training focuses on skills such as conflict theory, interest-based negations, ethics for neutrals, and how to mediate civil cases. Additional information is available at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNDHR/bulletins/30ca74c Advisory Member Valdecantos stated that the MN Department of Human RIghts (MN DHR) hosts quarterly meetings with local human rights commissions. From the MN DHR website: "Local human rights commissions are essential to building a thriving, joyful Minnesota. Typically established by charter or ordinance, local commissions operate at a City of Northfield Page 5 Printed on 5/13/2022 Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes - Final April 14, 2022 city, county, or regional level to protect civil rights and promote equity and inclusion. Local commissions engage in a wide range of activities, from mediation to education and outreach. At the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, we are committed to partnering and collaborating with local commissions and councils. We host regular meetings among local commissions. These meetings provide an opportunity for local commissions to network, create best practices, learn about each other’s work, and identify opportunities for partnerships. If you're interested in participating in these meetings, contact Audel Shokohzadeh at Audel.Shokohzadeh@state.mn.us." Commissioner Morlan reported about an upcoming Rotary Conference, Democracy Under Fire - The Rotary Peace Letters, 1932-2022, to be held May 23rd -27th at the Reunion Restaurant in Northfield. For information and to register, go to https://www.peaceconference.us/ or to the Northfield Rotary website https://northfieldrotary.org/ Advisory Member Valdecantos welcomed commission members to attend the Cinco de Mayo celebration on Friday, May 6th at the Northfield Middle School from 5-7 PM. Free food, games, dancing and fun for everyone. STAFF UPDATES 5. 22-236 Staff Report City Administrator Martig reviewed the staff report. Of particular note: * Francisco Gaytan is the new Meeting Associate/Interpreter for the Human Rights Commission. * Interpreter Etiquette is to be read before each meeting. * The Human Rights Commission picture day for the members is scheduled for May 12, 2022 at 5:00 PM. The annual Boards and Commissions Appreciation Day picnic date is TBD. Martig distributed the 2022 Board and Commission Demographic Data chart. As of April 14, 2022, 69% of board and commission members have replied to the survey. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Commissioner Morlan, second by Commissioner Orrego to adjourn the meeting at 7:37 PM. Motion carried by the following vote: Yes: 7- Orrego, Gamino, Morlan, Lovick, Mayer, Wale and Eubank City of Northfield Page 6 Printed on 5/13/2022