Human Relations Commission - October 17, 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, October 17, 2019.
The Human Relations Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Rachel Hoffman, Abdiwali Sharif-Abdinasir, Cheryl Schaefle, Matuor Alier, Barry Nelson, Hamida Dakane, Cody Severson
Absent: Laetitia Hellerud, Adam Martin
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.
Member Severson present.
Item 3. Approve Minutes
Member Hoffman moved the minutes of the September 19, 2019 Human Relations Commission meeting be approved as presented. Second by Member Alier. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 4. Public Comment
No public comment was provided.
Member Sharif-Abdinasir present.
Item 5. Executive Committee Update & Elections
Chair Nelson noted this item was continued from the September Human Relations Commission meeting and that Member Hoffman was selected as the nomination committee.
Member Hoffman noted her recommendations are to nominate Barry Nelson as Chair and Matuor Alier as the Vice Chair.
Member Hoffman moved to nominate Barry Nelson to continue as Chair and Matour Alier to serve as Vice Chair of the Human Relations Commission. Second by Member Schaefle. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 6. Approve Bylaws
Member Alier moved to approve the Bylaws as presented in the packet. Second by Member Dakane. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 7. Statement to HUD
Chair Nelson shared that a statement was drafted and submitted to HUD (Housing and Urban Development) on behalf of the Human Relations Commission in response to the proposed changes regarding disparate treatment and is included in the packet.
Item 8. Other Business or Announcements
City Commissioner Strand asked why gender identity was not included as a protected class in the Human Relations Commission purpose section as listed in the City ordinance.
Director of Planning and Development Nicole Crutchfield noted that the wording was taken from the Fargo Municipal Code 15-0201.
City Commissioner Strand shared that it might be an item for the Human Relations Commission to bring before the City Commission to address gender identity.
Chair Nelson presented a $250 sponsorship request to the added to the Agenda at this time, from the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition for the 10th Annual Human Rights Summit to be held on November 9th.
Discussion was held on what the Board had contributed in past years, and if event tickets were included for members to attend.
Chair Nelson noted that the sponsorship request for $250 would provide for two members to attend the event.
Assistant Planner Catlyn Christie noted that the Human Relations Commission does have remaining funds in the 2019 approved budget allocated for trainings.
Member Hoffman moved to approve the $250 sponsorship request with the option to add additional training funds if more Human Relations Commissions Members are interested in attending the event. Second by Member Severson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 9. Staff Report
a. MLK Day
Ms. Christie shared that REACH partners has been hired again to assist with the event planning and a planning committee will need to be formed. She also noted that a press release would be going out today to begin receiving nominations for the MLK Day Human Relations awards. She stated the nomination form would be available on the City website and the Human Relations Commission Facebook page.
Commissioner Strand noted interest in naming a City street or avenue in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and beginning that conversation.
Ms. Christie stated that in January 2020 it will be the 20th anniversary of the Human Relations Commission and that Martin Luther King Jr. Day is January 20, 2020.
b. Strategic Planning
Chair Nelson noted the intent to adjourn the business part of this meeting to go into a workshop.
Item 10. Adjourn
Member Schaefle moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:22 p.m. Second by Member Alier.
All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.