HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRCAgenda_2022_04_21
Brookings Human Rights Commission Minutes
Thursday, April 21, 2022
Brookings City & County Government Center and Go To Meeting App
Attendance: Nieema Thasing (chair -in person); Lawrence Novotny, (recorder – in person); Tracy
Chapman (in person): Joel Gindo (online); Erica Moore (online); Charlene ‘Charlie’ Ward (county
representative – in person); Mikaela Neubauer (library liaison – in person); Keith Theroux (police
liaison – in person); Casey Bell (city human resources & staff liaison – in person);
Absent: Dianne Nagy (vice-chair); Dan Berg; Erinn Thomas; Marci Gebers (sheriff’s office liaison);
Michele Vande Weerd (school liaison); Alex Wood (SDSU liaison);
Chair Thasing called the meeting to order at 5:32 pm.
Ward moved, Chapman seconded, to adopt the agenda with the addition of library liaison. Motion
passed.
Moore moved, Ward seconded, to approve the minutes of the March 17 meeting with this addition of
Thasing will be involved in the radio promotion in the paragraph on first responders recognition. Motion
passed.
Novotny moved, Moore seconded, that the approved minutes of the February 17 meeting be changed by
deleting the listing of the identified areas of concern and the mention of focus groups. Motion passed.
Note: This correction was requested by Becky Kuehl with the Brookings Inclusive Collaborative
because the listed areas were not correct.
Liaison Reports:
Brookings Police Dept – Theroux reported that the search process is underway for the new police chief.
Chief Erickson is retiring. The city hired Meliora, a public safety consulting firm, to coordinate a
nationwide search process. Meloria held a public forum on April 11 to seek input from the public as to
what they want in a new chief. The city manager created a citizens advisory committee to aid in the
search. Thasing is representing BHRC and Novotny is representing CLEAR and the LGBTQ+
community on the committee.
Theroux stated that Brookings Health System’s EMT is taking longer to respond to an emergency due to
both ambulances being out on call at the same time. There is a need for more ambulances and EMTs.
The police dept is dealing with an average of 2 mental health calls per day.
Theroux announced that he will be retiring from the police force on May 20. He was thanked for
everything he has done.
Sustainability Council – Novotny will check with the council about their interest in having a liaison.
Disabilities Awareness Committee (Ward).
People with disabilities have difficulty attending events on evenings and weekends when the BATA bus
is not operating.
Committee members have family members who are or have a close connection with first responders.
Library Neubauer reported on the More Than A Month Community Conversation that was part of the
library’s Black History Month program. The Conversation was co-sponsored by BHRC. About 20
people from the event agreed to pursue small group community dialogues. The library is partnering
with BHRC and Brookings Inclusive Collaborative on these. Planning is underway for these dialogues.
Neubauer compiled a 4-page listing of anti-racist resources that library has.
Neubauer will be working with the social media WG about posting book reviews on a periodic basis.
Common Read:
The book is Crossing the Line: A Fearless Team of Brothers and the Sport That Changed Their Lives
Forever by Kareem Rosser. It is about his life and serving as captain of the first all-black squad to win
the National Interscholastic Polo Championship.
May 4 is the deadline to have all common read events submitted to SDSU for inclusion in the common
read calendar.
Our community common read event will be the showing of the film Pride: the story of Jim Ellis at the
Brookings theatre on Saturday, October 15.
Complaint Training:
The WG has held two meetings with city attorney Steve Britzman and Bell and have been walking
through the process. Another meeting will occur tomorrow. All meetings have been recorded.
Budget
The unspent funds from last year have been carried over which sets our budget for this year at $12,680.
It is estimated that $1108 of the budget has not been spent or committed so far.
Statewide HRC meeting
Novotny visited with Katlyn Gustafson, the staff liaison for the State Human Rights Commission which
is under the Division of Human Rights in the Department of Labor and Regulations. The SD Human
Relations Act covers discrimination in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations and
public services, and education. The SD Human Relations Act covers discrimination ONLY on these
categories: ancestry, creed, race, color, national origin, disabilities, and religion, Sexual orientation and
gender identity are not covered (Brookings is the only city that covers this). If the State Division of
Human Rights receives a complaint dealing with age or pay inequity, the complaint is turned over to the
federal Economic Employment Opportunities Commission for them to handle. The State Human Rights
Commission does not conduct any educational programming and it does not do any advocacy. Its
function is to serve as a last resort commission to deal with discrimination complaints that failed to be
resolved via a previous negotiation process. The Commission has not met for years since it has not had
any complaints to process.
Thasing is working on finding a date whereby all of the HRCs in South Dakota can have a joint Zoom
meeting.
Thasing had a 2.5 hour conversation with Hugo Barron with the Sioux Empire Housing (SEH). SEH
has righter rights brochures in Spanish which he will share with us. SEH also has translators available
to handle other languages. SEH is willing to provide trainings to minority groups on renters rights and
for first time home buyers.
CLEAR liaison:
Novotny submitted an application to the liaison between BHRC and CLEAR (Community Law
Enforcement Action Response) Partners. The mission of CLEAR is to support community focuses
policing through increasing communication between civilians and law enforcement.
Ward moved, Chapman seconded, that Novotny be approved as the liaison for CLEAR. Motion passed
with Novotny abstaining.
Council Retreat
Thasing and Nagy summarized BHRC’s activities during the City Council’s April retreat. The
councilors asked several questions. The Council stated that they want to be kept apprised of any
changes that may impart our MEI score. Councilor Collins asked why he wasn’t part of each listening
session. Bell compiles a summary of our activities that is included in a weekly report submitted to the
Council by the city manager.
Business cards and e-mail:
Bell reported that a draft of a BHRC business card is underway.
Bell will check on the technological capabilities of having all BHRC members to receive BHRC e-mail
correspondence and to prevent members from responding to the sender
Moore and Theroux left at this point.
First responders recognition:
There is a question as to why are we doing a first responders recognition? Thasing’s explanation is to
show the community that law enforcement is our family – this is who they are. Thasing’s original
intent was to recognize the Brookings Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office. The idea has grown
to include all types of first responders. It was suggested that a paper be drafted that outlines the purpose
and activities of this recognition. Thasing, Chapman, Thomas, and Novotny will work on the paper.
Diversity potluck
The April 3 event drew 65-70 attendees. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. At future events, we
need to try to determine how many different ethnic dishes there were. A full large shopping cart of
non-perishable food items was collected for the food pantry. There was a problem with the outside
door of the McCrory Garden Visitors Center automatically locking at a set time which prevented late
arrivals from getting in. This issue will have to be resolved for future potlucks.
Listening Session
The report of the indigenous listening session was accepted and will be submitted to the city manager.
The inclusivity WG will be reviewing the action items from all of the listening sessions.
Student applications
Chisimdi Iheme submitted her resignation as the student representative on BHRC. Two new
applications were reviewed. Ward moved, Novotny seconded, that the application of Emma Quaraski
be forwarded to the mayor for appointment to the BHRC. Motion passed.
Working group reports:
Thasing reported that she has been receiving fantastic comments about the new diversity signs and
stickers.
First Bank & Trust picked up 50 signs for their employees.
Thasing will be delivering signs and stickers to the Chamber of Commerce.
Dakota News Now TV did a feature on the new diversity signs that aired on April 9. Nagy was part of
the story.
Juneteenth will be held on June 19 – Fathers Day. Fathers will be recognized. Speakers and children’s
events are being organized.
Brookings Pride is June 11 in Pioneer Park. BHRC obtained permission to fly the pride flags on
downtown street poles from June 6-12.
Other
The Disabilities Awareness Committee uses a spreadsheet to highlight and track their activities. A copy
was distributed along with the agenda. Ward recommended that this item be tabled until the meeting
when we are discussing our annual report.
Adjourn: Meeting adjourned at 7:17 pm.
Submitted by Lawrence Novotny, recorder