2023-08-22 - DEIC Agenda Packet August 22, 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, Lee Thoresen Vice Chair, David Scheie Nyre Chester
Ajani Woodson Drew Jones Joelle Allen
David Berry Ruth Paradise Imara Hixon
George Kannenberg
3.A.Check-In: What is something that you've recently experienced that has expanded your
cultural mindset?
4.Approval of Agenda
5.Approval of Minutes
5.A.Minutes of July 25, 2023 Meeting
6.Staff Updates
6.A.Employee Equity Survey
6.B.League of Women Voters September Event
6.C.Naming-Renaming Public Owned Assets Process
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 August 22, 2023 — 6:30 PM
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6.D.Bill Hobbs Award Process
7.Subcommittee Updates
7.A.City Systems
7.B.Communication and Networking
7.C.Events
8.Discussion Items
8.A.Haha Wakpadan– Joint Environmental and DEI Commission Meeting
8.B.Reimagining MLK Contest
9.Adjournment
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting August 22, 2023 — 6:30 PM
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REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order Meeting was called to order at 6:31 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.
Roll Call
Commissioners in person: Lee Thoresen, Ruth Paradise, Drew Jones, Nyre Chester, Imara Hixon, George
Kannenberg
Commissioners absent:David Scheie, Joelle Allen, Ajani Woodson, David Berry
Staff present: Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
Commissioner Oath of Office
Commissioner Kannenberg is sworn in as a new commissioner.
Approval of June 27 minutes and July 25 agenda
MOTION by Commissioner Paradise, seconded by Commissioner Chester. Motion carries 6-0
Staff Updates
Staff member Kaempfer reminds commissioners to send their experiences serving on a
commission to staff member Mel Croft to use for educational and recruiting purposes.
Staff member Kaempfer relays deadlines for the City newsletter, which fall mid-month the
month prior to the first month of the bi-monthly newsletter, e.g. 12/15 for the
January/February letter.
Staff member Kaempfer advises he met with staff member Birno about the Public Asset
Naming/Renaming Policy and learned that staff and commissioners’ recommendations
aligned closely. The City hopes to have a final draft completed in August to be sent through
the Equity and Legal Review process and presented for public comment in September with
potential implementation happening in December or January.
July 25,2023 –6:30 pm
Council Conference Room
Golden Valley City Hall
7800 Golden Valley Road
Hybrid Meeting
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City of Golden Valley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission Meeting
Minutes
July 25, 2023 – 6:30 pm
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Subcommittee Updates
City Systems subcommittee members met with staff member Kaempfer to review the
equity assessments that had been submitted by City Departments. A report on their findings
will be presented to the management team, and potentially to City Council this fall, and will
help inform the City’s equity plan.
Communications and Networking subcommittee members worked on a cultural calendar
that noted important holidays and gave information on their significance, but have stalled
due to lack of feedback from City staff. The subcommittee agreed to meet with staff
member Kaempfer to determine a plan moving forward.
Events subcommittee has not met but will make an appointment to meet with staff
member Kaempfer.
Discussion Items
The DEI Commission’s November Building An Equitable Golden Valley (BAEGV) event is a
forum on Golden Valley’s Indigenous Heritage held in partnership with the Environmental
Commission. Chair Thoresen requests staff Kaempfer connect with the EC to clarify the
extent of their involvement.
Commissioners discuss the timeline of the annual Bill Hobbs award, with Commissioner
Paradise reminding the Commission that the deadline passed last year without any
submissions. Commissioners decide to move the deadline back to November and renew
focus on publicizing the award in hopes that nominations will be submitted. Some changes
are made to the questions on the submission form for clarity and accessibility, and staff
member Kaempfer agrees to talk to Communications to make changes to the web page the
award is posted on.
MLK award discussion tabled until the next meeting to include absent commissioners.
MOTION to adjourn by Commissioner Hixon, seconded by Commissioner Chester. Adjourned at 7:47 PM
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Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
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Date
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Lee Thoresen, Chair
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