Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2015_01_29Brookings Human Rights Committee Minutes Thursday, January 29, 2015 at 5:30 p.m. Suite 230, Room 241- Brookings City & County Government Center Attendance: Penny Hauffe, Patty Bacon, Shafiqur Rahman, Sam Jennings, Hanna Larsen, Judy Karen, George Hamer and Chandradhar Dwivedi. Absent: Steve Bayer and Lawrence Novotny. Also present: City Attorney Steve Britzman, PFLAG Regional Director Terri Carlson, Lieutenant Derrick Powers and City Staff Shari Thornes. Adoption of the agenda. Hauffe called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm. A motion was made by Dwivedi, seconded by Karen, to approve the agenda. All present voted yes; motion carried. Approval of the minutes. A motion was made by Dwivedi, seconded by Larsen, to approve the December 9, 2014 minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried. A motion was made by Karen, seconded by Larsen, to approve the January 18, 2015 minutes. All present voted yes; motion carried. Schedule next meeting. Wednesday, February 25 at 12:00 pm. Meeting with City Attorney, Steve Britzman, to review proposed Brookings Human Rights Ordinance revisions. The initial Human Rights Committee ordinance was passed in 1988. Britzman advised to draft an ordinance such that investigation and enforcement would remain outside of the ordinance. It was helpful to fully understand the statute and allow the Committee to grow and develop. The members are looking to expand the duties of the Committee. A Commission must include the power to investigate claims of discrimination. The Committee is looking to modify the responsibility and title per state statute. Within the ordinance review it was determined the state statute aligned with the draft ordinance. Thanks were given to Thornes for preparing the draft ordinance. Guidance and other regulations are constantly changing, which is encouraging toward a more updated ordinance. Discrimination on gender identity, sexual orientation and marital status is not well defined in the state statute, but the Commission should be prepared to provide investigation where and when allowed. A municipality may not enforce a decision in these particular areas at this time. However, the Commission may investigate and educate toward the elimination of discrimination and might be able to function as an ombudsman. PFLAG Regional Director Terri Carlson advised the description on the complexity of managing concerns regarding restroom use by individuals who are transgendered was used as an example of the lack of clarity of creating a linguistic policy as the only response. It was decided to retain the definition of gender identity in the ordinance. If the ordinance is approved, Department of Justice training could be provided. The timeline is as follows: follow guidance of Mayor and City Manager regarding bringing the ordinance to the City Council; Hauffe and Bacon will work with Thornes to schedule a meeting with the City Manager; the goal is for a first reading on February 24 and preparing for a second meeting the end of March. A motion was made by Bacon, seconded by Hamer, to accept the draft Brookings Human Rights Ordinance, considering the edits by the Mayor and City Manager. All present voted yes; motion carried. A meeting was scheduled on February 9th at 12:00 pm to review the edits. Thornes will send an updated draft for the committee to review. View video: “Faces & Facets of Transgender Experience” with Terri Carlson, PFLAG Regional Director, as discussion leader. PFLAG Regional Director Terri Carlson led the discussion and provided resources. Meeting with Brookings Police Department and University Police Department LGBT Liaisons. Lieutenant Derrick Powers introduced himself and advised his role and related responsibilities. Discussion was explored regarding possibilities for training and partnerships. Action to approve the 2014 Annual Report. Discussion pursued regarding fine-tuning. The Committee thanked Dwivedi for his work on the project. A motion was made by Hamer, seconded by Rahman, to approve the 2014 Annual Report. All present voted yes; motion carried. I, TOO, AM SDSTATE. Novotny is the primary contact. The topic will be renamed to “Town Gown Interactions.” A subcommittee of Novotny, Hamer and Karen will review the images to be selected for the sponsor with a goal of April 1st to have a recommendation for the Committee. Spring Diversity Potluck: Select Date, Finalize Speaker, and Arrangements. The date was selected for Sunday, April 26, 2015 and Dr. Thandiwe Nleya is a possible speaker. Reports/Updates: a. Final Arrangements for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Award Event – Poster removal is scheduled for Saturday, February 7 and Bacon, Karen and Hamer volunteered. Posters to be returned to Bonnie for return to the schools. b. Renter’s Rights & Responsibilities Brochure Distribution & Promotion – Jennings will get copies to University (International Affairs) and will ask for Spanish translation. Bacon, Larsen and Novotny staffed the off-campus housing fair table on January 28, 2015. The students appreciated the checklist. Mills Property has the checklist on their standard operating procedure. The Committee will distribute the brochure to other areas of town after the translation is complete. c. Community Common Read 2015 Committee – A meeting is scheduled on Wednesday, February 4 to narrow down to 4 semi-finalists. March 4 is the finalization date. In moving forward, Mayor Reed has made notes regarding more communication, reserved seating for community and more involvement with Brookings Public Library. d. Legislative Updates – Novotny will report at next meeting or shortly thereafter. Adjourn. A motion was made by Dwivedi, seconded by Rahman, to adjourn. All present voted yes; motion carried. Meeting adjourned 7:54 p.m. Submitted by Sam Jennings.