HomeMy WebLinkAboutHRCMinutes_2023_11_09
Brookings Human Rights Commission Minutes (unapproved)
Thursday, November 09, 2023
Brookings City/County Government Center and Zoom Meeting App
Attendance: Dianne Nagy (chair – in person); Behnoosh Amandi (vice chair & county representative –
in person); Lawrence Novotny (recorder, LGBTQ and CLEAR Partners liaisons – in person); Amanda
Fickes (in person); Carla Gatzke (in person); Mark Johnson (online); Erica Moore (online); Nieema
Thasing (online); Joseph Ulloa (student representative – online): Marjoanne Collins (SDSU liaison -
online);Michele Vande Weerd (school liaison - online); Casey Bell (city human resources & staff liaison
– in person);
Absent: Emma Qurashi (behavioral health liaison – excused absence); Chloe Wisser (SA diversity
liaison); Caleb Johnson (police liaison);
Guest: police chief Michael Drake
Chair Nagy called the meeting to order at 5:31 pm.
Ulloa moved, Thasing seconded, to approve the agenda. Motion approved.
Ulloa moved, Amandi seconded, to approve the minutes of the September 14 and October 12 meetings.
Motion passed.
HRC vacancy
The terms of Gatzke, Thasing, and Novotny expire at the end of December. Gatzke and Thasing will
run for another 3-year term. Novotny decided to step down from serving for 24 years on the BHRC
(from 1994 – 2003 and 2008 – 2023).
Two applications were received for Novotny’s position. The applicants were identified as A and B.
Nagy explained that the applicants’ names were blanked out since they are being considered in a public
meeting. Some BHRC members wanted to know the names of the applicants. Some members did not
receive the e-mail with the applications. Action on the applicants was tabled to the December meeting
and the BHRC members will be supplied with a separate sheet identifying the names of applicants A and
B.
Recorder
Amandi moved, Ulloa seconded, to approve Gatzke as the new recorder starting with the January
meeting. Motion passed.
Research opportunity
The city manager received an e-mail from a professor in Public Policy Studies at Arizona State
University. The professor is asking if the city has the need for one of their graduate students to conduct
a research project for the city. It was suggested to propose 2 ideas: working on the city’s DEI economic
development plan and refining our complaint resolution process.
Budget
We have an uncommitted balance of $3000 to be spent by the end of this year. Suggested expenditure
items were:
Purchase of swag ($500 budgeted and approved at the September meeting)
$600 for printing of brochures
Setting aside an amount to be used for DEI training next year.
The diversity signs, stickers and window clings were delivered today.
Thasing moved, Moore seconded, that we give Julian Beaudion a $100 honorarium for his DEI
presentation in September. Motion passed.
Educating ourselves
Nagy reported that SD Voices for Peace has an individual who is willing to conduct bystander/upstander
training. The program was presented at the Brookings Public Library in the past. It is possible that the
library has a recording of the program. It was decided that we should evaluate that individual’s
presentation before inviting them to do a public program. Nagy will see if the individual can give us a
presentation either in-person or by Zoom. An alternate would be viewing the library’s recording.
Curating resources
It would be ideal to have a central listing of various DEI training programs. The DEI task force will
work on this.
HRC calendar
Bell reported that the city has limited options to access a calendar notification program as proposed by
Amandi. The best option is the SharePoint software that the city uses.
LIAISON REPORTS
BROOKINGS POLICE: Police Chief Drake gave an overview of the suspension of an officer’s
certification that was reported in the Brookings Register.
BROOKINGS SCHOOL: Vande Weerd reported that the Brookings Boys & Girls Club is holding DEI
trainings. A full day training is coming up which BHRC will be invited to attend.
SDSU: Collins reported that the drag show last night was a quiet affair. A program on Kristalnacht
will be presented on November 15.
SDSU SA: Asledi Castillo resigned as the Students Association diversity officer and has been replaced
by Chloe Wisser.
CLEAR (Community Law Engagement and Action Response) Partners: Novotny reported that CLEAR
met with Police Chief Drake to discuss the Weets issue and met with Sheriff’s Office investigator to
discuss the Kyla Red Bear case.
TASK FORCE REPORTS
PEAK campaign: The task force was asked to advocate with a parent for her child when meeting with
the school superintendent. Moore will bring the task force together to work on strategy.
DEI initiative: Gatzke is arranging a meeting with the city manager to discuss creating a website hub to
bring visibility to various DEI organizations and events occurring in Brookings.
WORKING GROUP REPORTS
The INCLUSIVITY/OUTREACH WG will be holding a listening session focusing on our elderly
population on November 14 at 2 pm. Johnson is organizing the listening session.
AFRICANS IN DIASPORA CULTURAL AWARENESS:
There are only 2 individuals (Thasing and Nagy) working on the MLK contest. More help is needed.
Thasing will be conducting a poll to set a date for Juneteenth.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES event will not happen this year due to lack of response from the school
district regarding final venue setup.
LGBTQ AWARENESS: Brookings Pride has been recognized as a non-profit by the SD Secretary of
State. Pride will be decorating a tree as part of the Brookings Arts Council Christmas Tree Show.
COMPLAINT PROCESS: Gatzke is arranging a meeting with the city manager to inform him that
BHRC members feel they are not qualified to legally investigate a discrimination complaint and to
recommend that Brookings City look at following the process used in Sioux Falls where city legal staff
does the investigations.
Adjourn:
Meeting adjourned at 7:01 pm.
Submitted by Lawrence Novotny, recorder