Human Rights Commission Meeting Minutes - November 17, 2022

The Regular Meeting of the Board of Human Rights Commission of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in the Commission Chambers at City Hall at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, November 17, 2022.
The Human Rights Commissioners present or absent were as follows:
Present: Matuor Alier, Carolyn Becraft, Nancy Boyle, Hamida Dakane, Jacqueline Dotzenrod, Barry Nelson, Cheryl Schaefle, Cody Severson (via conference call), Ahmed Shiil, Sekou Sirleaf.
Absent: Sarah Boonstoppel.
Item 1. Welcome and Introductions
Vice Chair Shiil welcomed Members to the meeting and introductions were made.
Item 2. Approve Order of Agenda
Member Dotzenrod moved to add an item to the agenda to discuss Ordinance No. 10-0322. Second by Nelson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member Alier moved to extend the Public Comment period to four minutes per speaker. Second by Boyle. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member Nelson moved to add an item to the agenda for a continued conversation about the Human Rights Commission’s response to the death of Shane Netterville. Second by Boyle. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member Schaefle moved to add an item to the agenda to discuss the forming of a Committee or Task Force to discuss what other Committees might be necessary for this Commission. Second by Nelson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member Becraft moved to approve the Order of Agenda. Second by Alier. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 3. Approve Order of Minutes
Member Becraft moved the minutes of the October 20, 2022 Human Rights Commission meeting be approved as presented. Second by Dakane. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 4. Public Comment
Wess Philome expressed his ongoing concerns about the initiative he brought forward in September regarding the death of Shane Netterville.
Christopher Coen spoke about the death of Shane Netterville.
Item 5. Discussion about HRC resources i.e., ID’s, buttons, polo’s, etc.
Chair Severson said he has been in discussions with Gregg Schildberger in the Communications Department to put those items together for the HRC.
Item 6. Updates to the Human Rights Commission webpage
Chair Severson said he has been in contact with the Communications Department about updates to the website and what links are used and are not. He said he hopes to have a better assessment at the next meeting.
Item 7. Onboarding process for new HRC Members
Dr. Hogan said he just received the onboarding packet today, which will be available going forward for new members.
Member Becraft asked that all of the Members get a copy.
Item 8. Recommendation to add a statement about Public Comment in the By-Laws Delayed
Dr. Hogan said there have been discussions about adding a statement in the By-laws about Public Comments. He said he would ask for the Commission’s comments on the language that was presented.
Member Dotzenrod said if the Commission is going to change the language she would suggest that language be added to let citizens know they can sign-up to speak the day of the meeting. She said she would also like to see that something be added about to whom agenda items are sent or given to.
Member Alier moved to delay this item until the next meeting. Second by Becraft. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 9. Discussion on City Ordinance No. 10-0322
Member Dotzenrod said she would like to propose removing the word “intent” from the Ordinance.
Member Dotzenrod moved to make a recommendation to the Fargo City Commission to place on their Regular Agenda at the November 21st meeting consideration for removing the word “intent” from City Ordinance 10-0322 regarding Harassment. Second by Becraft. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Member Boyle said she wonders if there should be a suggested word to replace the word “intent."
Member Dotzenrod said she would leave that to the discretion of the City Commission.
Item 10. Continued Conversation about the Human Rights Commission’s Response to the Death of Shane Netterville
Member Nelson said he doesn’t feel the discussion into the death of Shane Netterville has not been resolved, nor has the role of the Human Rights Commission been resolved. He said the Commission spent a good part of the last meeting discussing what the Commission’s role is not in this matter; however, what the Commission has not discussed is what the concerns are and what would be an effective way to resolve those concerns.
Member Dotzenrod said she doesn’t know where the friction of sending the letter is coming from but she doesn’t believe that is from either the Police Department or the City.
Member Boyle said she thinks it’s in the City’s best interest to allow the Department of Justice to investigate this incident.
City Attorney Nancy Morris provided an update on the independent investigation discussion. She said she is in discussions with the Department of Justice and the FBI regarding this matter.
(Member Becraft absent).
Item 11. Discussion regarding the Forming of a Committee or Task Force Delayed
Member Shiil moved to delay the discussion regarding the forming of a Committee or Task Force until the next meeting. Second by Nelson. All Members present voted aye and the motion was declared carried.
Item 12. Announcements
Member Dotzenrod said the Department of Justice is currently putting together a training on Hate Crimes. She said she thinks it would be a great event for the members to attend if available. She said she is not aware of a set date.
Member Shiil said he wanted to recognize Member Dakane for her successful run for the ND House of Representatives and Jamey Garvey for his hard work at the election polls.
(Member Alier absent)
Item 13. Staff Updates
Chair Severson said nominations are being accepted until December 16th for individuals or groups whose work embodies Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy.
Item 14. Adjourn
The time at adjournment was 1:17 p.m.