Human Relations Commission - June 20, 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, June 20, 2019.
The Human Relations Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Rachel Hoffman, Barry Nelson, Abdiwali Sharif-Abdinasir, Matuor Alier, Cheryl Schaefle, Laetitia Hellerud, Paul Jensen (via conference call)
Absent: Hamida Dakane
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair Nelson welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Approve Order of Agenda
Member Hoffman moved the Order of Agenda be approved as presented. Second by Member Schaefle. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3. Approve Minutes
Member Hoffman moved the minutes of the April 18, 2019 Human Relations Commission meeting be approved as presented. Second by Member Sharif-Abdinasir. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 4. Honor Dave Lanpher and Paul Jensen
Chair Nelson acknowledged and thanked Dave Lanpher and Paul Jensen for their years of service and dedication to the Human Relations Commission.
Item 5. Presentation: Fargo Police Department LGBTQ+ Liaison office, Andrea Noll
Officer Andrea Noll, Fargo Police, gave a brief presentation on the LGBTQ+ Liaison office noting the core responsibilities to improve relationships, support, training and education, and assisting crime victims in the LGBTQ community. She noted that North Dakota does not have a definition of a hate crime in the state statute, however, she demonstrated where the hate crime reporting form is located on the City website and how to submit.
Member Hellerud present.
Chair Nelson asked if the state’s lack of a definition of a hate crime has made it more difficult. Officer Noll indicated that it has not because they are also trained to see if there was a bias associated with a crime, and that information is submitted to a national database.
Discussion was held regarding experiences in the schools, when someone should complete the hate crime form, and how the Human Relations Commission could be a partner in this effort.
Item 6. Public Comment
Fargo Citizen Gini Duval, addressed the Board regarding concern over a potential law she learned about prohibiting African Americans from living around St. John’s Church.
Ms. Crutchfield addressed the issue, noting the need to verify if this does exist, and if so, does it exist in the form of a covenant or ordinance. She stated that City staff is not party to covenants, so it would need to be addressed by the property owner if existed as a covenant.
Member Jensen absent.
Discussion was held regarding the need for further details in order to move forward with addressing this issue.
Commissioner John Strand added another clean up to be added to future discussion, would be to look at housing policies as related to felons.
Item 7. Strategic Planning Staff Presentation
This item was heard after Item 9.
Ms. Crutchfield provided an overview of the Strategic Planning efforts of the Human Relations Commission and gave a brief summary of the first two meetings. She noted that staff recommendations for next steps include developing a mission and goals, answering big questions, and developing a work plan to include measurable outcomes.
Discussion was held regarding meeting options to discuss these issues and to maintain forward movement with Strategic Planning.
Member Schaefle moved to move forward with the staff suggested plan for Strategic Planning. Second by Member Alier. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 8. Term Expirations
Ms. Crutchfield noted that Members Hellerud and Sharif-Abdinasir are up for reappointment and it should be on the next City Commission agenda for July 1. She also noted that due to Members Lanpher and Jensen resigning, there are two open seats on the Board. She reviewed the application and appointment process and encouraged interested residents and past applicants to apply.
Item 9. Attendance Policy
Chair Nelson reviewed the attendance policy and emphasized the importance of timely responses to ensure a meeting quorum is obtained.
Item 10. Other Business
This was heard after Item 11.
Chair Nelson shared that the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition will be hosting a book reading and discussion featuring Author James Han Mattson on July 10 at 5:30 p.m., at Zandbroz Variety. Additional information can be obtained through Barry Nelson.
Chair Nelson and Member Hellerud provided an overview of a recent panel discussion they were a part of for the North Dakota Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights. They noted the top subject being inadequate North Dakota laws to address hate crimes and more outreach needed to support victims.
Member Schaefle provided an update from the addictions subcommittee noting that Frank Hunkler is leaving the community. She shared that she had attended a meeting of the Recovery Community Alliance at the Dakota Medical Foundation, and the work being conducted aligned with the origin of the addictions subcommittee. She stated that she believed the work of the HRC addictions subcommittee was complete and that she would continue to help monitor by attending meetings of the Recovery Community Alliance.
Item 11. Staff Reports
Ms. Crutchfield provided an update regarding the decision for the HRC not to have a table at the Police Picnic this year.
Ms. Crutchfield provided a background and overview of the inclusion planning subcommittee. She noted that the City has recently partnered with the Rural Minnesota Concentrated Employment Program (RMCEP) and their Inclusion Planning Committee. She requested that he HRC inclusion planning subcommittee be released, as integrated work has already been begun, so as not to duplicate efforts.
Member Hoffman made a motion to release the inclusion planning subcommittee. Second by Member Sharif-Abdinasir. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 12. Public Comment
No public comment was provided.
Item 13. Adjourn
The time at adjournment was 1:18 p.m.