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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-07-14 MINUTES City of Cottage Grove Human Services/Rights Commission Meeting Minutes Wednesday, July 14, 2010 Members Present: Francisco Gonzalez, Vice Chair Laurie Steiger Mia Naseth-Phillips Doug Amos Members Absent: Tanweer (TJ) Janjua, Chair Council Liaison: Jen Peterson Staff Liaison: Ken Smith Others Present: Rick Johnson 1. Call to Order At 7:02 p.m. the meeting was called to order by Francisco Gonzalez, Vice Chair 2. Approval of Minutes from June 9, 2010. Laurie Steiger made a motion to approve the June 9, 2010 minutes. Doug Amos, seconded the motion. 3. New Commission Members Applications Ken Smith informed the Commission they must make a motion to approve Rick Johnson and Linda Lundstrom for seats on the HS/HR Commission. Francisco made the motion to approve Rick Johnson and Linda Lundstrom as Commission members on the HS/HR commission. Doug Amos seconded the motion and all present were in favor. Ken informed the Commission that he would put their recommendation before the City Council on the next Council Agenda. Ken mentioned that he had received an application from Brenna Masgai and that she was applying for the youth seat. Francisco said he would talk to TJ and set up an interview with her. 4. Strawberry Fest Update/Essay Contest/Accessibility Task Force Ken talked about the Strawberry Festival. He thanked the Commissioners that helped staff the booth and thanked Rick for dressing up in his Wizard costume when it was time to present the Poster Contest winner with her certificate. Mia mentioned the amount of time her kids wanted to ride on the rides. It was discovered that the Accessibility Survey did not have a lot takers. Francisco suggested the City’s web page and Doug suggested putting it up at White Pines and Press Homes’ bulletin board. Councilmember Jen Peterson suggested we put something on cable. 5. Diversity Highlight of the Month It was mentioned that the NAACP put forth a resolution asking the Tea Party to disassociate itself from the more racist elements in their organization. In return the head of the Tea Party 1 called the NAACP racists. Rick talked about the police shooting that a Cottage Grove officer was involved in. 6. City Update Council Member Jen Peterson mentioned that she was in Washington D.C. at the Minnesota Transportation Alliance Conference. She mentioned the upcoming 3M incinerator community th meeting to be held on August 4. Mia asked if the City has any say in the matter. Jen replied that Council can’t do much. They expressed their concern and suggested air monitoring. She stated she has recently been at a BTYR community meeting at the Armory where the Action Plan was worked on. She informed the group that the City won a City of Excellence Award from the LMC for the City Jobs segment on Cottage Grove Spotlight cable show. She mentioned the City was getting a dog park and that the Red Rock Corridor had a meeting to discuss Park & Ride. She stated the City was in the planning stages for a new Public Safety/City Hall Building in the East Ravine area. Mia asked if anyone knew where she could get rain barrels. Ken suggested she contact Brian Voelker at Public Works. Council Member Peterson brought up that she was in contact with the Family Homeless Commission and that they were looking for a group that would be interested in their issues. She said she suggested the HS/HR Commission. She said she’d know more by the next meeting. Francisco asked what the plan entailed. Jen said they wished to emphasize the fact that just because you’re not living on the street doesn’t mean you’re not homeless. Mia asked if there is a shelter in the area. Jen replied there are some transitional homes in Cottage Grove. Francisco stated that he worked in this area in Mankato before he was a lawyer and that he was surprised to see how many kids showed up. Jen remarked that gay & lesbian kids are a growing homeless population. 7.Miscellaneous Doug Amos saw Alice Cooper in Michigan and Mia asked if the Commission had received Sophie’s resignation letter. She was told yes by Ken. 8. Adjournment A motion was made at 8:00 p.m. by Laurie to adjourn the meeting and seconded by Mia. Respectfully submitted by; Kenneth L. Smith ,Community Services and Communications Coordinator 2