HomeMy WebLinkAboutBHRCMinutes_2015_03_16Brookings Human Rights Committee Minutes
Monday, March 16, 2015 at 12:00 p.m.
Suite 230, Room 241- Brookings City & County Government Center
Attendance: Penny Hauffe, Patty Bacon, Steve Bayer, Sam Jennings, Hanna Larsen, Judy Karen,
George Hamer, Chandradhar Dwivedi and Lawrence Novotny. Absent: Shafiqur Rahman. Also
present: City Staff Shari Thornes.
Hauffe called the meeting to order at 12:01 pm. A motion was made by Dwivedi, seconded by
Bayer, to approve the amended agenda adding item F – Spanish translation updates. All present
voted yes; motion carried. A motion was made by Bacon, seconded by Hamer, to approve the
revised February 25, 2015 minutes. Motion carried.
Schedule next meeting. Quarterly meeting on Monday, April 6 at 5:30 pm. Bacon will take
minutes in Jennings’ absence. Police Department liaison will be invited to all quarterly meetings.
Butler Human Rights Award 2015. The committee agreed to a proposed date change in July to
account for city staffing, which also corresponds with anniversary of the signing of the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA). The committee will need to accelerate the nomination process to
accommodate a July recognition date.
Reports/Updates:
a. Proposed Ordinance
1. Revisions – The revised ordinance will be forwarded to the City Council with
minor adjustments from the City Manager. The committee will review to use
gender-neutral language. The only changes not included on the marked copy
are:
i. Page 10, item 10 to more clearly articulate the bounds of “programs of
compliance.”
ii. Page 10, item 10 to omit the closing phrase indicating that failure to
abide by the procedural expectations may provide grounds for contract
dismissal.
On April 28 the ordinance is scheduled for a second reading and will be open
for comments and questions. The committee will not be consulting with
Brookings businesses. Any business who is interested in not allowing the
ordinance to move forward is likely the kind of business with which the
committee would have concern. The ordinance is a public record. As with
any other ordinance, it is open to the public to view, review and comment.
2. Meeting with Sioux Falls Human Relations Commission – Meeting with staff is
scheduled on April 2. Several members of the committee are planning to
attend.
3. Procedures Development – No update.
4. Department of Justice Training – A preliminary conference call was made with
a Department of Justice representative regarding commission and diversity
training. The committee is looking ahead on location and types of training
prior to July.
b. Community Common Read 2015 Committee – Early April is the projected decision date.
All the books appear to have human rights interests and connections to cultural
diversity. The Brookings Public Library will be involved in the promotion. Finalists
include:
1. The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
2. Touch the Top of the World by Eric Weienmayer
3. Tears of the Desert by Halima Bashir
c. Legislative Updates – Novotny reported both transgender bills were originally killed in
the Senate Education Committee. The Senate then smoked out of committee HB1195
(which rescinded the transgender policy of the SD High School Activities Association).
HB1195 was killed on the Senate floor by 3 votes. The House then proceeded to
hoghouse SB140 by replacing its original language with the language of HB1195. The
House passed the amended SB140 but the Senate refused to accept the amended bill.
SB140 finally died when a conference committee could not agree on language.
d. Diversity Potluck
1. Spring arrangements – The speaker will be Dr. Thandiwe Nleya. The
committee will spread the word to faculty for students to bring something for
the potluck and/or the food drive.
2. Select fall date and tentative arrangements – Discussion that adding the
educational component might have an effect on attendance and to keep
presentations short to allow for more social interaction. Possible dates include:
October 4, 11 and 18.
e. Diversity Training at Police Department – Carol Russo is opening up training to a larger
audience and larger array of diversity (i.e. not focused exclusively on transgender).
Trainers will be brought in, but she likes to use local people to provide sustainable
training and support. Within the next month, an outline for the training will be drafted
and a call will be made regarding the schedule.
f. Spanish Translation Update – Jennings has a connection with Modern Languages which
may quickly yield translation services. Options for recognition were discussed.
“Translation provided by …” is an option. A financial honorarium may provide
administrative difficulties. The fostered relationship may be more important than any
kind of financial response.
Adjourn. A motion was made by Bacon, seconded by Karen, to adjourn. All present voted yes;
motion carried. Meeting adjourned 1:15 p.m.
Submitted by Sam Jennings.