2023-06-27 - DEIC Agenda Packet June 27, 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 Lee Thoresen
David Berry Ruth Paradise Imara Hixon
3.A.Officer Election
4.Approval of Agenda
5.Approval of Minutes
5.A.Minutes of May 23, 2023 Meeting
6.Staff Updates
6.A.DEIC Commissioner Contact Information
6.B.Golden Valley Equity Plan
6.C.Haha Wakpadan Events and Information
6.D.Staff and Commissioner Communication
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 2461 935 1376 .
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 June 27, 2023 — 6:30 PM
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7.Subcommittee Updates
7.A.City Systems
7.B.Communication and Networking
7.C.Events
8.Discussion Items
8.A.Subcommittee Selection
8.B.DEIC Logo
8.C.Golden Valley Pride Feedback
8.D.Naming-Renaming Publicly Owned Assets Process Additional Feedback
9.Adjournment
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting June 27, 2023 — 6:30 PM
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REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order Meeting was called to order at 6:34 pm
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.
Swearing In of New Commissioner: New Commissioner Berry was sworn in
Roll Call
Commissioners in person: Ajani Woodson, Ruth Paradise, Lee Thoresen, Nyre Chester, David Scheie,
David Berry, Joelle Allen
Commissioners absent:Imara Hixon, Drew Jones
Staff present: Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
Approval of May 23 agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Scheie, seconded by Commissioner Thoresen. Motion carries 7-0
Approval of April 25, 2023 minutes
MOTION by Commissioner Thoresen, seconded by Commissioner Scheie, Motion carries 7-0
Commissioner Onboarding and Orientation
Staff member Kaempfer discusses changes that will be implemented with this process next year,
presents onboarding slideshow.
Staff Updates
Staff member Kaempfer shares that the Annual Report and Work Plan didn’t make it on the
last Council agenda but will be on the next (June 13th)
Commission is advised that staff cannot provide personal information of other
Commissioners, but they are able to share that with each other if they choose. Chair Allen
asks if staff can change onboarding so new commissioners could opt in to share contact
information.
Requests have been put in for stickers and a brochure for Pride table. Commissioner Allen
coordinated with Zaylore Stout to obtain his book at a discount for a giveaway.
May 23,2023 –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
October 25, 2022 – 6:30 pm
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Subcommittee Updates
City Systems
o Commissioner Scheie shared updates about Staff Kaempfer moving forward with doing a
gaps analyses to evaluate the current Equity Plan. Commissioner Shceie also asked for
more representation on the subcommittee and Commissioner Thoresen as well as
Commissioner Paradise said yes to joining
Communication and Networking
o Commissioner Paradise shared updates regarding colloborationg with the Communication
Department to get more word out about various programs coming from the commission.
Commisioner Paradise also said that there will be strong networking efforts at the
upcoming Golden Valley Pride to get the word out about the commission as well as to
establish better relationships with community members and the organization.
Events
o Commissioner Paradise provided follow-up and updates regarding the previous BAEGV
events as well as the notes taken. Commissioner Paradise also put out a request to do a
follow-up event with the concerns and ideas provided at event to see what solutions
could be ideated amongst the commission and community members.
Discussion Items
Staff members Birno and Erickson from Parks and Rec joined the meeting to discuss the
DEIC partnering with the OSRC to create a convention for naming and renaming publicly
owned assets. Council would like a formal process in place for requests going forward.
Commissioners discuss and agree that honoring people and organizations in this way is
appropriate, and that not allowing assets to be named after people may rob people of color
and others of an honor we have historically given to people which contradicts what the
DEIC stands for. Commissioner Thoresen notes that a vetting process will be required but
not naming after people is inequitable. Commissioners discuss whether organizations
should be able to pay for an asset to be named and agree organizations should go through a
strict vetting process to prevent this. Staff member Birno asks if amenities should only be
named after people affiliated with Golden Valley. Chair Allen believes affiliations should be
prioritized but banning them altogether would preclude the City from naming assets after
MLK for instance. Commissioners agree entities and persons should embody the values of
Golden Valley and if the name would be in the best interests of the community. Discussion
moves to vetting process and costs, agreeing that expense shouldn’t prevent a problematic
name from being changed but that cost should be considered in all cases. Commissioners
also agree that requests for naming should come from a resident or entity that is active in
the community, not an outsider. Residents should be prioritized and background
investigations should occur on each request, ideally by an outside firm in conjunction with
panel of residents. Commissioners believe a nominal application fee would be appropriate
to help offset the cost, and that all requests should be reviewed on an annual basis.
MOTION to adjourn at 9:02
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City of Golden Valley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission Meeting Minutes
October 25, 2022 – 6:30 pm
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__________________________
Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
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Date
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Joelle Allen, Chair
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Date
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