HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2013_01_17Minutes
Brookings Human Rights Committee
Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
City & County Government Center – 520 3rd Street
City Administration, Level 3, Executive Session Room
1. Call to Order: Hamer called the meeting to order at 5:02 p.m.
2. Welcome new member & introductions! Present: George Hamer, Chair; Patty Bacon,
Recorder; Chandradhar Dwivedi, Penny Hauffe, Lawrence Novotny, Shafiqur Rahman,
Shari Thornes, City Clerk-Staff, Student rep applicant – Hanna Larsen
Absent: Jaime Nolan-Andrino, SDSU Liaison, Angela Hatton
3. Adoption of the Agenda –Lawrence moved, Penny seconded, motion carried.
4. Approval of minutes – November and 2 December minutes – Chandradhar moved to
approve – Lawrence seconded, motion carried.
5. Schedule future meetings: February Meeting Date: Feb. 21 at noon. Next Quarterly
meeting: discussion about start time and location. Staff will contact the library about Apr 4,
11, or 25.
6. Update on Community Common Read Program by Mayor Reed – history of city
participation. Tim Nichols reaching out to K-12 for participation with Mary Sprecher. Mayor
Reed asked BHRC to take the lead for the city going forward. One person from our
committee to serve on the book selection committee. Discussion about our engagement
and that there is a human rights/diversity component. Hanna is already on the committee,
so she would be willing/able to represent BHRC. Our portion of the funds go to pay for the
speaker, but we could also use some of the funds if we had an event in conjunction with it.
Expectations of the committee: play a role in selection of the book, promote community
involvement, what is our budget? Shari asked the mayor for clarification on our
budget/funding sources. Hanna summarized what our committee reps involvement/time
commitment would be. We agreed two reps might work better so we could increase the
odds that someone could attend. Penny volunteered, Lawrence back-up.
7. Proposed amendment to City Conflict of Interest Ordinance – Shari updated history.
Lawrence asked that Gender Identity get added to the Ordinance. Motion to approve with
gender identity being added. Lawrence moved. Dvedi second. Motion carried.
Email from City Attorney Steve Britzman on Jan 21, 2013: … “This one will have to go to
the City Council, however. State law to my knowledge unfortunately does not recognize
gender identity discrimination as prohibited conduct, and these types of modifications
can’t go into a recodification unless the Council specifically approves the change.”
8. Final arrangements for Dr. Martin Luther King Award Event – Tuesday, Jan. 22.
Certificates awarded at City Council meeting. Everyone was asked to be there by 5:30 to
greet awardees and families. George will present awards along with the Mayor.
9. 2012 Annual Report – Chandradhar forgot that he volunteered and he and George will
work on it and send it to us by email.
10. Action on goals/objectives and 2013 work plan – the only change was striking
Reconciliation goal, Motion to approve with change Chandrahdhar, Shafiour seconded,
motion carried.
11. Election of Vice Chair – Patty nominated Penny, Chandradhar seconded. Motion carried.
Chandradhar moved, Lawrence seconded. Motion carried.
12. Proposed Legislation in 2013 – Lawrence said Sen. Stan Adelstein was going to introduce
legislation to get Gender Preference into the Act. Equality SD is encouraging him not to
introduce it this year because they do not have funding to lobby and get grassroots
support.
13. BHRC Newspaper Column Proposal (Tabled)
a. International Recipes (Submission Process, Contributors, Schedule)
b. Student Byline / English Department Coordination
c. Promotion ( Website, Government Channel, Social Media, Other)
The committee tabled it indefinitely.
14. Proposed Joint Statewide Human Rights Committee Meeting – Lawrence is going to check
with Dave Volk. He will report out at next meeting.
15. Membership Update – opening for committee. Members were encouraged to recruit
applicants to submit an application.
16. Announcements/Correspondence/Calendar
• Budget Report (Enclosed)
• April 14th Spring Diversity Potluck
• Mayor’s Volunteer leadership coffees for Chair and Vice Chair in May
• Possible review of Ordinance creating this committee
17. Adjournment – 6:40 p.m.