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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2013_03_20Brookings Human Rights Committee March 20, 2013 1. The Human Rights Committee held a meeting on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at Noon in the City & County Government Center. Hamer called to order at 12:07 p.m. Present: Hamer, Novotny, Bayer, Rahman, Dwivedi, Larsen and Bacon. Absent: Hauffe, Hatton, and Jennings II. Shari Thornes was also present. 2. Adoption of the Agenda. Thornes added discussion regarding rental housing issue. Bayer moved, Dwivedi seconded, to approve amended agenda, motion passed. 3. Approval of minutes. The minutes were amended to correct the bill number in Novotny’s report. Dwivedi moved, Novotny seconded, to Approve the February minutes, motion passed. 4. Schedule April meeting date – April 17th at 5 pm 5. Volunteer Leadership Coffee with Mayor – May 16th & May 30th : Hamer and Hauffe will attend. 6. Butler Human Rights Award 2013; schedule, location, proposed date(s). Call for nominees in April, award in May, and work with nominee for possible dates for reception in September. 7. Spring Diversity Potluck – April 14th – 5-7 pm at McCrory Gardens Visitor Center a. Promotion: Radio Shows (Hamer & Bacon) – Staff will schedule, Hamer will attend April 9 City Council meeting to promote, email list will go out – we’ll all push it to our personal email lists, Larsen will work on getting it in Collegian and campus radio station and campus members will work on getting as much campus promotion as possible. Hamer will take the lead on getting posters out in the community. Bacon, Hauffe, and Novotny will assist if necessary. b. Review assignments – Thornes will work with Aramark to get enough plates and utensils and the right amount of chicken. Committee committed to get there by 4:30 for set up. c. Hamer will pick up supplies when he is at City Hall on the 9th for Council meeting. d. Chinese Student Program – Dwivedi made arrangements and will double check with facility and students to make sure audio visual needs are met. 8. Community Common Read (Hauffe, Larsen, Bacon) – Larsen reported that The Heart and the Fist: The Education of a Humanitarian, the Making of a Navy SEAL by Eric Greitens had been chosen. April 3 is roll out on campus. Community publicity will be addressed at April work meeting. We can announce at Diversity Potluck. Author will be here on November 13. Promote at Brookings Library 100th Anniversary on the 14th. Larsen will see if we can borrow campus’ poster. Committee will assist with delivery and pick up from library. 9. MLK 2014 Poster Display Location – We’re working to get the Joint Powers Board to reconsider letting us put them in City County Building again next year. We will work to provide the scientific proof that poster putty does not damage walls, that the damage was a result of incorrect paint on the walls. 10. Legislative Updates – killed in conference committee. a. Novotny announced that SB 109 was amended in the House to change the clause to read “Person of the opposite sex who are or have been living in the same household”. So this would eliminate protection orders for same-sex couples. This amended bill passed the House 52-18. But it was killed in conference committee. b. Bacon announced SD Housing Opportunities Fund victory. Habitat for Humanity – South Dakota and a coalition of other affordable housing agencies worked for 2 years to put it together. It was put in the Build SD economic development package, SB235, and sponsored with bipartisan support from the leadership of both parties in both houses. This fund will provide approximately $5 million a year for affordable housing development in communities across SD. 11. Proposed Joint Statewide Human Rights Committee Meeting: Dave Volk said he would work on it and Lawrence offered to assist. 12. Rental Housing Concern. Mayor Reed was notified by Steve Erpenbach about a concern voiced by Steve Hildebrand who sits on the board of Multi Cultural Center board. Hamer suggested the Committee reach out to SD Multi Cultural Center on this issue and at the same time talk to them about the Statewide Human Rights Committee. Dwivedi mentioned there are some experiences in Brookings that he is aware of. Bayer suggested that we find out if we can find actionable items. We can also use this is an opportunity for public education. We could also meet with landlords and with renters and provide proposed solutions to the issues like: the renters cooking leaves “cooking odor.” It could be treated like smoking. It would be made clear to the renter prior to renting – if your cooking causes long term odor, if you use this solution your deposit will be returned, if not we will keep your deposit and address it ourselves. 13. Membership. Sam Jennings II will be our newest BHRC member. 14. Budget 2014. Thornes said the 2014 budget process will begin soon and wanted to know if there were any national conferences the Committee may be interested in attending. 15. Announcements/Correspondence/Calendar • Budget Report (Enclosed) • April 14th Spring Diversity Potluck • April 17th Human Rights Committee Quarterly Meeting @ 5:30 p.m., Brookings Public Library (pending) • May 16th Volunteer Leadership Coffee with Mayor – 8:30 a.m., City & County Government Center • May 30th Volunteer Leadership Coffee with Mayor – 5:00 p.m., City & County Government Center 16. Adjournment – Bayer moved, Dwivedi seconded, to adjourn at 1:07 p.m., motion carried.