Human Relations Commission Meeting Minutes - May 20, 2021
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, May 20, 2021.
The Human Relations Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Cheryl Schaefle, Barry Nelson, Hamida Dakane, Cody Severson, Ahmed Shiil, Carolyn Becraft
Absent: Matuor Alier, Abdiwali Sharif-Abdinasir, Laetitia Hellerud
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Vice Chair Severson welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Approve Order of Agenda
Member Becraft moved the Order of Agenda be approved as presented. Second by Member Nelson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3. Approve Order of Minutes
Member Nelson moved the minutes of the March 18, 2021 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
No public comment was provided
Item 5. Executive Committee Nominations
Member Becraft spoke on behalf of the nominating committee and stated the committee is recommending to nominate Matuor Alier to serve as Chair, and Cody Severson to serve as Vice Chair.
Member Schaefle moved to nominate Member Alier to serve as Chair of the Human Relations Commission. Second by Member Shiil. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member Becraft moved to nominate Member Severson to serve as Vice Chair of the Human Relations Commission. Second by Member Nelson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 6. Bias Crime Ordinance Update
Assistant City Attorney Nancy Morris provided a background and summary of the Bias Crime Ordinance the City Attorney’s Office has been directed to draft. She noted work is being done on drafting three ordinances addressing criminal mischief, harassment, and simple assault. Ms. Morris stated the next step is for the draft ordinances to be presented to the City Commission.
Item 7. Presentation: Fargo Youth Initiative
Fargo Youth Initiative (FYI) Members Abhijna Kavasseri and Aarya Panwalker gave a presentation on what the Fargo Youth Initiative is, and provided an overview of the work they have done this year on the racial equity subcommittee of the FYI.
Discussion was held on the survey the students conducted and Board Members requested a copy of the survey.
Item 8. Announcements
Member Nelson shared the and City Commissioner Arlette Preston have been meeting with groups regarding the Hate Crime Ordinance.
Item 9. Staff Updates
Fargo Police Lt. Ahlfeldt provided an update on concerns brought forward at the April Human Relations Commission meeting.
Discussion was held regarding data tracking on traffic stops.
Chief Zibolski spoke on behalf of the Police Department noting data is available for when a citation is issued, but not for warning stops, and they will be looking further into the data.
Lt. Ahlfeldt noted the Police Department recently released a video on suicide prevention and awareness that can be seen at Breakthesilencetogether.org.
Item 10. Adjourn
The time at adjournment was 12:36 p.m.