Human Relations Commission - February 21, 2019 Minutes
The Regular Meeting of the Board of Human Relations Commissioners of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, February 21, 2019.
The Human Relations Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Rachel Hoffman, Abdiwali Sharif-Abdinasir, Cheryl Schaefle, Matuor Alier, Paul Jensen, Barry Nelson, Hamida Dakane
Absent: David Lanpher, Laetitia Hellerud
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair Nelson welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Approve or Amend Agenda
Member Hoffman moved the Order of Agenda be approved as presented. Second by Member Alier. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3. Approve Minutes
Member Alier moved the minutes of the December 20, 2018 Human Relations Commission meeting be approved as presented. Second by Member Dakane. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 4. Public Comment
Frank Hunkler provided the Board with a handout and gave a presentation. He spoke regarding tasking the Human Relations Commission to develop programs and policies to assist in ridding Fargo of fear, ignorance, stigma, and discrimination involving any person or family affected by the polymorbid conditions, and medical or mental health emergencies related to the circular continuum of addiction/mental health and mental illness/related disabilities.
Member Sharif-Abdinasir present.
Board members thanked Mr. Hunkler for appearing before the Board and bringing light to the issue. Discussion was held regarding reasons these conditions are treated differently by communities, the difficulty in obtaining treatment, discrimination and stigmatism received by addicts, and ideas of ways the Board can help.
City Commissioner John Strand suggested the Human Relations Commission form a subcommittee to address the issues, and bring back to the Board findings and suggestions to move forward. He noted that addressing this issue is no small task and that beginning dialog is the starting point.
Members Schaefle, Alier, and Jensen volunteered to serve on the subcommittee.
Item 5. Legislative update: 2303 debrief, 1441 upcoming
Chair Nelson updated the board that SB 2303 was defeated in the North Dakota Senate. He noted the Fargo Human Relations Commission was in support of this bill, which related to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Chair Nelson also noted that HB 1441 failed the North Dakota House of Representatives floor this week. He stated that the Human Relations Commission did not take a position on this bill. He shared that HB 1441 related to the prohibition of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Commissioner Strand stated the City of Fargo wrote a letter in support of SB 2303. He expressed that we should work locally to address this issue at the City Commission level.
Item 6. MLK Event Wrap Up
Assistant Planner Kara Gloe presented an event summary prepared by Reach Partners. She noted the summary would be sent out to Board members.
The Board discussed the summary and feedback provided for improving next year’s event.
Member Hoffman noted that next year marks the 20th Anniversary of the event, and a great chance to make it bigger and better.
Commissioner Strand shared that he would like to see the City of Fargo name a Boulevard or Street in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Item 7. Budget
Chair Nelson gave an overview of the proposed budget and memo included in the packet. He noted this item would come back to the Board in March.
Item 8. Sponsorships
A $500 sponsorship request from Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota was presented for the Building Bridges event.
Planning Coordinator Tia Braseth noted that in the past this had been a standing reoccurring sponsorship, but that the sponsorship request process is being updated to include a yearly application and review process. She shared that the new process would allow for an open application period, and future work would be done to develop review criteria and evaluation.
Discussion was held regarding funding requests that could operate without funding assistance from the Human Relations Commission and the amount given last year for the Building Bridges event. Chair Nelson noted that the sponsorship request for this year does not include tickets for the event.
The Board discussed interest in attending the event.
Member Sharif-Abdinasir moved to approve $500 towards ticket fees for the Building Bridges event and the remainder funds to support the event. Second by Member Hoffman. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Chair Nelson presented a sponsorship request from the Women Initiative Network of Liberia in Fargo for $500.
Precious Dweh, Founder and Executive Director of the Women Initiative Network of Liberia in Fargo, spoke on behalf of the request. She provided a background and overview of the work the program performs working with single women and mothers.
The Board discussed the program and provided additional contacts for Ms. Dweh regarding GED adult education and birth control counseling.
Member Jensen moved to approve the sponsorship request for $500 for the Women Initiative Network of Liberia in Fargo. Second by Member Hoffman. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 9. Strategic Planning Follow Up
Chair Nelson provided an overview of the second strategic planning session held on February 19. The Board shared feedback on their impressions from the meeting.
Ms. Gloe noted that staff is fine-tuning the developing vision statement for the Board.
Item 10. Attendance Policy & Staff January Attendance Report
Chair Nelson shared that a quorum was present for today’s meeting and encouraged Board members to respond to attendance correspondence in a timely manner.
Item 11. Other Business
No other business was addressed.
Item 12. Staff Reports
No staff reports were provided.
Item 13. Public Comment
No additional public comment was provided.
Item 14. Adjourn
The time at adjournment was 1:06 p.m.