2023-04-25 - DEIC Agenda Packet April 25, 2023 — 6:30 PM
Council Conference Room
Hybrid Meeting
1.Call to Order
2.Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge and honor the Dakota nation, on whose ancestral land the City of Golden Valley
is built, and whose land resources we use. We commit to counteracting the erasure of the
cultural practices and presence of the Dakota people through education and by amplifying a wide
range of indigenous voices.
3.Roll Call
_ Chair, Joelle Allen _ Vice Chair, Ajani Woodson _ Nyre Chester
_ David Scheie _ Drew Jones _ Carol Luo
_ Chris Mitchell _ Ruth Paradise _ Imara Hixon
_ Lee Thoresen
4.Approval of Agenda
5.Approval of Minutes
5.A.Minutes of March 28, 2023 Meeting
6.Staff Updates
7.Subcommittee Updates
7.A.BAEGV
7.B.Communication
8.Work Plan Discussion
DEI COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Commission meetings are being conducted in a hybrid format
with in-person and remote options for attending.
Remote Attendance Options: Members of the public may attend this meeting by streaming via
Webex, or by calling 1-415-655-0001 and entering access code 2454 255 5094 .
Questions/Comments: Members of the public who have questions about the commission or any items
on the agenda should contact the staff liaison - Seth Kaempfer at (763) 593-8045.
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting April 25, 2023 — 6:30 PM
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9.Discussion Items
9.A.Golden Valley Pride Tabling
9.B.Co-Response Model Partnership with PEACE Commission
9.C.Sweet Potato Comfort Pie - Kumbayah: The Juneteenth Story Volunteering
9.D.New Commissioner Recruitment and Representation
10.Future Agenda Items and Current Events
11.Adjournment
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting April 25, 2023 — 6:30 PM
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REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order
Meeting was called to order at 6:34 pm
Roll Call
Commissioners in person: Ajani Woodson, Ruth Paradise, Chris Mitchell, Lee Thoresen, Nyre Chester,
Carol Luo, and David Scheie
Commissioners absent: Joelle Allen, Drew Jones, and Imara Hixon
Staff present: Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager and Kirsten Santelices, Deputy City
Manager/Human Resources Director
Approval of Agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Scheie, seconded by Commissioner Chester. Motion carries 7-0
Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge and honor the Dakota nation, on whose ancestral land the
City of Golden Valley is built, and whose land resources we use. We commit to counteracting the erasure
of the cultural practices and presence of the Dakota people through education and by amplifying a wide
range of indigenous voices.
Staff Introduction and Updates
Staff Santelices introduced the new Equity and Inclusion Manager, Seth Kaempfer. Staff Kaempfer
provided background and introduction to the Commission. Each Commissioner introduced themselves to
staff and each other. Commissioners Luo and Mitchell announced that they would not be seeking
reappointment
Council Liaison Harris provided some updates from the City Council, including current projects like the
Wells Fargo project, rezoning, high-density residential across from Brookview, fire station updates, such
as bonding and financing, local option sales tax, etc. Council Member Harris described these initiatives as
critical needs for the City. Commissioners also asked about the status of the police department staffing
levels and about how DEI focus is incorporated into the police department. Commissioner Thoresen
asked if there was an opportunity for DEIC to get involved in training for police officers and play a role in
the healing of a rift that appears in the community around the topic of policing. Staff Santelices shared
that the PEACE Commission is considering a forum with similar undertones.
March 28, 2023 – 6:30 pm
Basset Creek Room
Brookview Golden Valley
316 Brookview Parkway
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City of Golden Valley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission Meeting Minutes
March 28, 2023 – 6:30 pm
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Staff Santelices reminded Commissioners to check their Golden Valley emails and ensure they ask if they
have issues signing in. Lastly, Staff Santelices announced the promotion of Tara Olmo to the Human
Resources Generalist position and started a process to hire a new Executive Assistant in the City
Manager’s Office.
Umoja Mixer Recap
Feedback from the mixer is that it all went well. Several commissioners expressed disappointment that
they were unable to attend. Commissioners also discussed the importance of ensuring timing of events is
clear and everyone within the city and commission know their roles and responsibilities.
BAEGV Q2 Forum Planning
Commissioners Paradise and Thoresen shared they are co-chairing the event, working with Housing and
Economic Development Manager Cherie Shoquist on the topic of senior housing. The event is May 18 at
PRISM. The Commission will discuss future BAEGV and the budget implications at the April work session
as part of the larger work plan discussion.
Environmental Subcommittee Update
Commissioner Mitchell will contact the EC Chair to check in about the environmental equity conversation
that the EC had proposed. Will also work to hand off the EC collaboration to Commissioner Woodson
after the April meeting.
Commissioner Paradise shared that she needs to make sure each commissioner shares information in
advance so that processes with communications are efficient.
Calendar Committee
Commissioners Paradise and Chester started working on cultural calendar, but expressed that it wasn’t
clear what they are supposed to be doing, as they knew staff were also working on some cultural
calendar things. Staff Santelices shared that the initial task of the DEIC was to look at holidays and make
recommendations to the City about planning.
Staff will pull together a meeting with the subcommittee and make sure there is alignment and
understanding with the calendar of holidays (which staff described as the task to consider City business)
and the City’s internal Equity Advancement Team where folks internally are working on cultural
recognition and intentionality behind holidays and cultural celebrations. i.e., intentionally highlighting
Muslim owned businesses during Ramadan.
Public Naming Committee
Commissioner Thoresen provided an update about the Open Space and Recreation Commission meeting
the night prior. Thoresen described it as an “eye-opening conversation with OSRC,” where she shared
information about white supremacy and asked folks to consider some of our practices of historical
segregation. Commissioner Thoresen expressed that folks with different lived experiences would be
helpful on other commissions as well. Thoresen handed out a draft of the proposed policy and asked
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City of Golden Valley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission Meeting Minutes
March 28, 2023 – 6:30 pm
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commissioners to review and come to the April meeting prepared with a list of questions. Further, Park
and Recreation Director, Rick Birno will attend a future DEIC meeting.
Work Plan Discussion
Commissioner Scheie shared a proposed work plan, which lays out the goals, themes, and timelines for
some of the DEIC input and role in the council priorities related to defining neighborhoods, using the
quarterly plan as a guide.
Staff Santelices shared that the Work Plan is on the May 9 City Council Work Session, so all decisions
need to be finalized at the April 25 meeting. Commissioner Scheie requested that everyone to think
through and send comments and Commissioners Paradise, Scheie, or Chair Allen.
The Commissioners should think about other ways of doing things, especially with Bill Hobbs and MLK
events. The cultural event got brought up as something the DEIC would like to pursue. Staff Santelices
shared the recommendation about how to move toward the Councils’ priority of partnering with
nonprofits, which is to hire someone to do research into the non-profits and other organizations who
may be interested, understanding their resources, and then working with the Commission to research
grants, etc, to come up with a plan, etc. The Commission was open and positive to that idea. Staff shared
that Staff Williams can be brought in to these conversations about relationship building and intentional
relationships
Adjournment
Meeting Adjourned at 8:07 pm.
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Date
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Kirsten Santelices, Deputy City Manager/Human Resources Director
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Date
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Joelle Allen, Chair
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