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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-05-11 PACKET 02Human Services /Human Flights Commission City of Cottage Grove, Minnesota Meeting Minutes Wednesday, April 13, 2011 Members Present: Linda Lundstrom Francisco Gonzalez, Vice -Chair Tanweer `TJ' Janjua, Chair Kathleen Washenberger Rick Johnson Brenna Masgai Doug Amos Christie Thompson Members Absent: Jena Nutzman Also Present: Kenneth L. Smith, City Liaison Jen Peterson, Councilmember Call to Order The meeting was held at city hall and called to order at 7:02 p.m. by Commission Chair TJ. 2. Approval of Minutes Motion by Commissioner Lundstrom, Seconded by Commissioner Johnson to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2011 meeting, as presented. The Motion carried and all present were in favor. Doug Amos mentioned his address was wrong. 3. Commission Elections The HS /HR Commission held elections for officers. HS /HR Vice -Chair Francisco Gonzalez made a motion to nominated HS /HR Commission Chair Tanweer 'TT Janjua for another term as Chair. The nomination was seconded by Commissioner Johnson. All present were in favor. HS /HR Commissioner Thompson made a motion to nominate Vice -Chair Francisco Gonzalez to another term as the Commission's Vice Chair. The nomination was seconded by HS /HR Commissioner Johnson. All present were in favor. Results would be forwarded to the Council for approval. TJ informed the group that he would be most likely moving out of state in the near future. Human Services /Human Rights Commission 12 Minutes of the April 13, 2011 Meeting 4. Equity and Integration in Schools Commissioner Johnson was tasked with getting in touch with the diversity coordinator for district 833. He mentioned that they sent questionnaires and met with 833 representatives. The meeting was positive with good ideas flowing. Denise at 833 said she would forward the questionnaire to others. Rick will follow up. Council Member Peterson said 833 was excited about your meeting. It was shown that teachers in the district do not represent the students ethnically. Rick said the statistics were interesting. Council Member Peterson mentioned the district did strategic planning and were looking for others to participate in pathway to excellence on their website. There will be 1 or 2 meetings between now and the end of May. A school official would like to come to our meeting and present info. 5. Community Forum TJ informed the group he attended a Human Rights forum. He heard what other Commissions were doing. City of Roseville took the lead. He will get together with one of their members. Over 100 people from different cultures and different foods were there. There was discussion about fund raising and more meetings. Commissioner Johnson said forums was the reason he joined. A December date was proposed and partnering with the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce. Ken Smith suggested the Commission clarify their vision of the event and decide if they want children or adults at the first forum. Ken suggested the commission not wait a month to meet to work out the details. TJ asked for volunteers to form a subcommittee. Volunteers were TJ, Rick, Francisco and Christie agreed to fund raise. TJ brought up the idea of a combined meeting with Stillwater sometime in the future. 6. Diversity Highlight of the Month Doug Amos talked about his time in India and mentioned language barriers, Karma and the Hindu traditions. Ken mentioned the volunteer banquet. TJ stated that May 3` at Crown Plaza there was a good speaker he was interested in seeing. Francisco stated that there was a proposal to cut 65% of the state's Human Rights Commission's budget. 7. City Upd Council Member Peterson gave the City update. She mentioned the Public Safety City Hall community meeting and stressed the City has money put away for the project to keep taxes neutral. She stated the CG City Council met with the Woodbury City Council. One of their projects came in $1 million under bid. She stressed it was a good time to build. She talked about the Post Office closing, a housing development agreement, the dog park, Good to Great, Blue Star Award for clean water and Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. 8. Adjournment Human Services /Human Rights Commission 13 Minutes of the April 13, 2011 Meeting A Motion was made by Commissioner Johnson, seconded by Vice Chair Gonzalez to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m. Motion carried by all present. Presented by, Kenneth L. Smith Community Services and Communications Coordinator The next meeting will be May 11th at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall.