HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-09-08 MINUTES
Human Services/Human Rights Commission
City of Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Meeting Minutes
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Members Present: Francisco Gonzalez, Vice-Chair
Linda Lundstrom
Mia Naseth-Phillips
Rick Johnson
Members Absent: Tanweer ‘TJ’ Janjua, Chair
Laurie Steiger
Doug Amos
Also Present: Jen Peterson, City Council Liaison
Caron M. Stransky, City Clerk
1. Call to Order
At 7:07 p.m., the meeting was called to order by Commission Vice-Chair Gonzalez.
2. Approval of Minutes
Motion by Commissioner Naseth-Phillips, Seconded by Commissioner Lundstrom, to
approve the minutes of the August 11, 2010 meeting, as presented. Motion Carried.
4-0.
3. New Commission Member Applications – Youth Seat
Commission Vice-Chair Gonzalez introduced Brenna Masgai, who he interviewed
prior to the meeting for the Youth Seat on the Commission stating that Commission
Chair Janjua will be meeting with her and the Commission will consider her
appointment at the next meeting.
Council Member Peterson stated she would be interested in participating in future
Commission interviews.
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Minutes of the September 8, 2010 Meeting
4. Family Homeless Committee
Council Member Peterson stated she is a member of the Family Homeless
Commission appointed by the Washington County Board of Commissioners. The
Committee will be meeting on a monthly basis and are starting to prepare a Plan to
end homelessness. She stated that a committee member is needed to attend
meetings as needed. Council Member Peterson stated they are in the very early
planning stages.
Council Member Peterson stated there is an Expo on Tuesday, September 21, 2010,
from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., which will be held at the Community Thread Office at
2300 West Orleans Street in Stillwater, which is called the Building Better Lives
Volunteer Expo.
Council Member Peterson asked if this Commission has ever talked about 2-1-1, a
United Way resource where an individual can call to get information about where
you can turn to for child care, senior services, health services, kindergarten
readiness, emergency preparedness, multi-cultural services available, including
Hmong, Russian, Somalia, Spanish, and it is a State-wide service.
Council Member Peterson stated that the Committee is looking for people to get
involved, especially agencies that can offer services. She stated the Wilder
Foundation just completed a study on homelessness to find out where people were
coming from and the reason(s) behind their homelessness.
5. 2010 Human Rights Day Conference
Commission Vice-Chair Gonzalez stated that all of the Commission Members, as
th
well as Council Member Peterson are registered to attend the 27 Annual Human
Rights Day Conference & Forum on Friday, December 3, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel in St. Paul.
6. Accessibility Task Force
Council Member Peterson stated she knows an individual who is very interested in
identifying areas in the City of Cottage Grove that have handicap accessibility
issues, and the Human Services/Human Rights Commission unanimously agreed
with the concept of establishing a Task Force.
Council Member Peterson suggesting that the Human Rights/Human Services
Commission hold a future meeting at Norris Square to discuss accessibility issues
and requested that the Communications Coordinator, Ken Smith, set up a meeting in
the future.
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Minutes of the September 8, 2010 Meeting
7. Diversity Highlight of the Month
Commissioner Johnson stated he was interested in receiving an update from Mr.
Smith on the police investigation.
Commissioner Naseth-Phillips stated that her daughter is attending a very diverse
college in Philadelphia but the people are not ‘Minnesota Nice’ and that has been
hard for her daughter in acclimating to the faster pace, blunt and direct types in
interaction, and she was surprised by the amount of poverty in the community.
Commissioner Johnson highlighted a recent news segment on a church that held a
meeting with the various religions.
8. City Update
Council Member Peterson provided an update on the following:
a. 2011-2012 City Preliminary Budget
b. Public Safety/City Hall Complex
c. Emerald Ashe Boar – Injections/Tree Removal
d. Pine Tree Valley Park Building Renovation
e. Red Rock Station
f. 3M Incinerator
g. Beyond the Yellow Ribbon City Designation
9. Miscellaneous
None.
10. Adjournment
Motion by Commissioner Naseth-Phillips, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, to
adjourn to meeting at 8:12 p.m. Motion Carried. 4-0.
Presented by,
Caron M. Stransky
City Clerk