Human Relations Commission - February 20, 2020 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 20, 2020.
The Human Relations Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Rachel Hoffman, Matuor Alier, Adam Martin, Cody Severson, Barry Nelson
Absent: Abdiwali Sharif-Abdinasir, Cheryl Schaefle, Laetitia Hellerud, Hamida Dakane
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Chair Nelson welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 4 was heard first due to lack of a quorum.
Item 2. Approve Order of Agenda
Chair Nelson noted that Item 5 will be removed from the Agenda.
Member Alier moved the Order of Agenda be approved as presented with Item 5 being removed. Second by Member Hoffman. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3. Approve Minutes
Member Hoffman moved the minutes of the December 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.
Item 5. Presentation: ND Department of Labor & Human Rights, Labor Commissioner Erica Thunder
Item removed from the agenda.
Member Severson present.
Item 6. Presentation: 2020 Census, Planning Coordinators Donald Kress and Tia Braseth
Planning Coordinator’s Donald Kress and Tia Braseth gave a brief presentation regarding the census and the importance of all being counted. They noted that volunteers and paid workers are needed and there is a focus on harder to count populations. More information and FAQ’s can be found at www.2020census.gov.
Item 7. January Recap: Commission members and staff
The Board discussed items in the January recap report including accessibility violations at the North Dakota State University (NDSU) Sanford Athletic Health Complex, the Land Development Code Diagnostic Study, and the Native American Commission Sweat Lodge closure.
Inspections Director Bruce Taralson spoke noting that the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is a federal program, not a City program. He stated that the Department of Justice is the enforcer. Mr. Taralson provided a background of the process and items the City looks at for compliance regarding accessibility.
Assistant Planner Catlyn Christie shared the Martin Luther King Jr. Day event was a success.
Assistant Planner Karin Flom noted attachments in the packet regarding landlord risk mitigation as additional information from the conversation at the December Human Relations Commission meeting.
Item 8. 2020 Work Plan
Planning and Development Director Nicole Crutchfield referenced the work plan that was included in the meeting packet. She stated it contains feedback received from the previous strategic planning sessions.
Ms. Flom noted that staff is looking for the Members to review and provide input as to where they would like to personally engage.
Item 9. Adjourn
The time at adjournment was 1:03 p.m.