Human Rights Commission

Minutes Human Rights Commission The Human Rights Commission met on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 in the Second Floor Conference Room of the City Administration Building. Commission Chairman Ventura called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Present were Commissioners: Ethan Cords, John Worden, Dave Emanuelson, Jim Gunderson, Jamie Vanoosbree and Fred Ventura; City Administrator Kris Busse; and Administrative Specialist Jeanette Clawson. Commissioner Ryan Gillespie was not present. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Commissioner Ventura welcomed everyone and Commissioner Emanuelson took roll call. Minutes of the February 13, 2018 meeting were reviewed; Commissioner Gunderson requested correction that he had not abstained from voting on the LED Billboard expenditure. Commissioner Emanuelson made a motion to approve the minutes with this correction, Commissioner Cords seconded the motion and all members present voted aye for approval. At 5:37 p.m., Commissioner Ryan Gillespie joined the meeting. There were no new bills presented for payment. There were no comments heard during Open Forum. Commissioner Ventura suggest comment be added to future agendas advising “Open Forum Comments” would be limited to five minutes. Everyone agreed this should be the process used and Commissioner Worden requested a sign-in sheet be available during future meetings. During Commissioner Comments, Commissioner Ventura said he presented a plaque to Jose Herrera during the March 6th City Council Meeting for hosting MLK Jr Breakfasts at the Plaza Morena Campestre Grill over the last ten years. Ryan Gillespie said that today she spoke to Owatonna Business Leaders about the Human Rights Commission. During Old Business, Commissioner Worden advised Katelyn Duncan has been contacted to coordinate fundraising for the Mural Project. The grant application for the Owatonna Foundation is almost complete which can also be utilized when following up with other organizations for funding: SEMCAC, Bremer Bank and Cashwise Foods were suggested. Commissioner Gillespie offered to forward the application to the Bremer Foundation and Commissioner Cords offered to forward request to Cashwise (Coburns). Discussion ensued about requesting donations for this project and it was agreed a unified presentation package should be prepared. To promote the project it was suggested Commissioner Worden submit an article to the paper; Commissioner Vanoosbree will look into a banner to post on the wall, “Future sight of the OHRC Mural”. City Administrator Busse said she met with Mark Walban, City Attorney and Ryan Brown, IT Director today regarding the City’s Social Media Policy. Topics they are discussing include the decision if each department, boards and commissions should have individual social media accounts or if all City organizations should be as one account. The social media policy will be presented to Council for approval within the next few months. Commissioner Ventura reported OHS School Superintendent Jeff Elstad advised no current students were identified to serve as a student representative to the Human Rights Commission. The school will advise when they have students for consideration in this role. Minutes – March 13, 2018 Human Rights Commission Page 2 of 2 Commissioner Vanoosbree asked if the commission has plans to attend the 2018 Cultural Fest in September. Commissioner Emanuelson explained an interactive activity for children, representative of a specific country is required. Everyone was asked to bring an activity suggestion to the next commission meeting. Commissioners encouraged each other to attend events planned in Owatonna during the next several weeks. Commissioner Worden suggested an event planned for April 7th at the Steele County Four Seasons Center, Hops for Habitat 2018. Commissioner Gunderson said Thursday, March 15th , Martha Micks, member of the League of Women Voters Minnesota, will at the Steele County History Center to discuss the history of American women and voting. Also in celebration of Women’s History Month, tonight at the Owatonna Arts Center, Sheila Morris, co-executive director of the Waseca County Historical Society and Museum, will discuss growing up Hapa, “half and half” with a Chinese father and an American mother and the impact the Chinese Exclusion Laws had on her family. The next meeting will be Tuesday, April 10th. Commissioner Ventura reminded everyone of the election of officers planned for the May meeting. At 6:29 p.m., Commissioner Worden made a motion to adjourn, Commissioner Gunderson seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Jeanette Clawson, Administrative Specialist