HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2009_04_16Brookings Human Rights Committee
Minutes of the Meeting of April 16, 2009 at 11:00 p.m.
City Hall, 311 Third Avenue
Present: Ann Marie Bahr, Steve Bayer, Angela Hatton, Penny Hauffe, Jay Vargas, and
Shari Thornes
Also present: Allen Branum
Not Present: George Hamer, Ryan Howlett, Lawrence Novotny, and Tricia Wek-Visker
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1. Call to Order: 11:07 p.m.
2. Adoption of the Agenda was so moved by Ann Marie Bahr, seconded by Penny
Hauffe and approved by voice vote.
3. Approval of the March minutes was so moved by Penny Hauffe, seconded by Ann
Marie Bahr and approved by voice vote.
4. Schedule May meeting: May 14, 2009 at 12:00 pm.
5. Boys & Girls Club (invited): unable to attend **June agenda item**
6. School District Liaison: Steve Bayer is on the School Board effective July 2009.
More proactive with community and campus. Steve informed committee he has
communicated to the school board regarding the wording on the school calendar
regarding Native American Day and not Columbus Day. Steve told committee about
maybe suggesting a novel to be part of the diversity curriculum relating to Native
American Day and making it a community-wide novel. Who will pay for the novel?
With committee’s current funding, it is possible to buy. The only issue is that the
committee has not had its funding increased since its inception.
7. City funding request for 2010 fiscal year: Shari informed committee she is waiting
on the budget calendar from the city manager; calendar could be similar. The in-
coming mayor will be attending our May meeting to discuss what he thinks this
committee does and what we should do. During our May meeting, the issue of
increase funding will be discussed with the in-coming mayor. If the committee is to
bring in national and regional speakers on diversity, the committee cannot fund such
events with 1994 funding. In addition, the proposed changes to the BHRC mission
will be discussed with the in-coming mayor.
8. Updates:
A. Spring Diversity Potluck-April 19-final arrangements: Jay will set-up at 4:30.
Penny will contact Hy-Vee about bringing chicken and soft drinks; paper goods
will be on the stage prior to the event; Jay will pick up the coffee from
Cottonwood Bistro. During the event, mention the fall diversity potluck (save the
date).
B. Update from Fall Human Rights Forum(subcommittee: Howlett, Hauffe and
Woodard): **Tabled to June meeting**
C. Update on proposed Ordinance revisions with City Attorney: letter has been
drafted and slated for first reading in June and second reading in July.
D. Draft State Legislation: June Agenda item
E. Committee membership update: This is Jay Vargas last meeting as student
representative; he will be graduating from SDSU. Accepting applications for
SDSU student representative. Shari Thornes informed committee she forwarded
to the in-coming mayor the appointment of Jay Vargas with endorsement from the
committee.
9. Upcoming Events Calendar & Announcements:
April 19th: Spring Diversity Potluck
May 12th: swearing in of Tim Reed as new city mayor.
October 12th: Proposed Fall Human Rights Forum on Reconciliation
October 12th: Native American Day in South Dakota
*** It was brought to the attention that the EEOC meeting scheduled for April
16th was not feasible for members to attend with short notice. Contact with the
EEOC will be made to set up a date and time in early fall. September 2009 was
suggested as a possible training session with the addition of local businesses and
SDSU HR departments. ***
10. Future Agenda Items:
May: Meeting with in-coming mayor Tim Reed
June: Invite Boys & Girls Club Representative
Update from Fall Human Rights Forum
July: Update from school district on diversity
11. Adjournment was voiced at 11:57am.
Submitted by Jay Vargas, Secretary for the Brookings Human Rights
Committee.
If your require assistance, alternative formats, and/or accessible locations
consistent with the American with Disabilities Act, please contact Shari
Thornes, City ADA Coordinator, at 692-6281 at least 3 working days prior to the
meeting.