Human Relations Commission - May 23, 2017 Minutes
Regular Meeting: Tuesday: May 23, 2017
A Regular Meeting of the Human Relations Commissioners of the City of Fargo Human Relations Commission of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the City Commission Room at City Hall at 12:00 o’clock p.m., Tuesday, May 23, 2017.
The Human Relations Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Rachel Hoffman, Abdiwali Sharif-Abdinasir, Timothy Stone, Barry Nelson, Paul Jensen, Dave Lanpher
Absent: Hassan Lambda, Tanya RedRoad, Laetitia Hellerud
Also present: Kara Gloe, Willard Yellow Bird, Vince Kempf, Tyrone Grandstrand
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair Hoffman welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Approve Agendas & Minutes: Regular
Mr. Nelson moved the Order of Agenda and the minutes of the March 16, 2017 Human Relations Commission meeting be approved. Second by Mr. Lanpher. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3. Public Comment
No public comments were made.
Item 4. Budget Request
The following funding requests were reviewed as follows:
1) All Nations Celebration – funding request for $500
Mr. Jensen stated concern about the event being strictly religious. Mr. Nelson stated that the event is open to the entire community and is not specifically religious in nature. Mr. Lanpher made a motion to approve $250, which would cover most of the publicity. Mr. Nelson moved to increase the amount to $350. Second by Mr. Lanpher. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
2) Uncovering Vice in Fargo/Moorhead – funding request for $400
Mr. Jensen moved to approve $250. Second by Mr. Nelson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
3) Group Think – funding request for $480
Mr. Stone moved to approve $300. Second by Mr. Nelson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
4) ND Human Rights Film & Arts Festival – funding request for $500
Mr. Jensen moved to approve $500. Second by Mr. Stone. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
5) FM PRIDE – preauthorized funding of $500
Kara will check on HRC’s participation in PRIDE in the Park on August 13, 2017. Ms. Hoffman asked everyone to mark it on their calendars.
Item 5. Police Picnic
The police picnic is being held June 27 from 5-8 p.m. Kara will send out an email to staff the booth.
Item 6. MLK Committee
Ms. Hoffman will check with Ms. Hellerud to see if she would like to chair again. People interested in being on the committee should contact Ms. Hoffman.
Item 7. Tyrone Grandstrand – What Works Cities
The City of Fargo is involved with the Bloomberg project that helps cities cultivate open data policies. Mr. Grandstrand discussed how performance analytics could help the HRC identify and solve a problem within the scope of their mission, i.e. increasing diversity in leadership.
Item 8. Public Relations Campaign Update
Mr. Jensen updated that the next meeting will be held June 6th at 1 p.m at Carlson Library.
Item 9. Supporting Fundraising for the African Drought
Mr. Sharif-Abdinasir updated that local Somalian communities raised $21,000 in the first phase of fundraising. He asked how the HRC can help with fundraising. In the next round of fundraising, they are considering helping build wells, which cost $10-20k. Mr. Nelson suggested checking in with worldwide humanitarian organizations. Mr. Jensen suggested the group connect with Mohamed Farun to help with organization. Ms. Hoffman stated that HRC would support any fundraising efforts organized and would help get the word out. She further suggested that HRC be kept informed about efforts.
Item 10. Hate Speech Committee Update
Mr. Nelson stated that the committee met and discussed what updates need to be made to the previously written plan. Mr. Nelson met with Officer Kempf and the Police Chief. An interesting take away from that meeting was that police officers are collecting information on “bias.” Mr. Stone moved to approve the statement with the ability to change the details in the first paragraph. Second by Mr. Sharif-Abdinasir. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 11. New HRC Commissioner Recommendations
Ms. Hoffman pointed out that Mr. Bjornson has resigned due to health issues. She thanked him for his service. She further requested that if anyone has anyone in mind that might fill his role, they ask that person to apply.
Item 12. HB1427 Update
Mr. Nelson informed the group that he has heard HB1427 will be chosen for study in the interim. The decision will be made May 31. Mr. Nelson recommends that the HRC keeps an eye on how that study is conducted. Mr. Sharif-Abdinasir asked who can be involved in the committee. Mr. Nelson responded that it depends on where the committee is.
Item 13. Welcoming Week Update
Mr. Nelson noted that he, Kevin Brooks, and Kara Gloe attended the Welcoming Week Interactive in Atlanta. He recommended that we defer this item as it is not time sensitive. HRC will further discuss this at the next meeting.
Item 14. Adjourn
Mr. Nelson made the motion to adjourn. Second by Mr. Stone. All Members presentvoted aye and the meeting was adjourned.