2023-11-28 - DEIC Agenda Packet November 28, 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 Ajani Woodson Nyre Chester
Vice Chair, David Scheie Drew Jones Joelle Allen
George Kannenberg Ruth Paradise Imara Hixon
4.Approval of Agenda
5.Approval of Minutes
5.A.Approval of Minutes - October 24, 2023
6.Staff Updates
6.A.DEIC Commissioner Membership
6.B.Employee Equity Survey Report
6.C.Center for Economic Inclusion - Racial Equity Dividends Index Report
7.Subcommittee Updates
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
Microsoft Teams .
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 November 28, 2023 — 6:30 PM
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7.A.City Systems
1. City of Golden Valley 2022 Equity Plan Assessment Report
7.B.Communication and Networking
1. Cultural and Spiritual Calendar
7.C.Events
1. MLK Contest
2. Current Plans for Q4 BAEGV Forums:
a. December: 2023 Year in Review, 2023 Work Plan Input, and Cultural
Celebration
8.Discussion Items
8.A.Bill Hobbs Award Nominations and Selection
8.B.Future Agenda Items
9.Adjournment
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting November 28, 2023 — 6:30 PM
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October 24,2023 –6:00 pm
Council Conference Room
Golden Valley City Hall
7800 Golden Valley Road
Hybrid Meeting
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Call to Order Meeting was called to order at
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: Drew Jones, Ruth Paradise, David Scheie, George Kannenberg, Ajani
Woodson, Joelle Allen, Lee Thoresen
Commissioners absent:Nyre Chester, Imara Hixon
Staff present: Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
Approval of September 26 minutes and October 24 agenda
MOTION to approve the agenda by Commissioner Paradise, seconded by Commissioner Woodson.
Motion carries 5-0
MOTION to approve the minutes by Commissioner Paradise, seconded by Commissioner Woodson.
Motion carries 5-0
Staff Updates
Staff member Kaempfer reminds Commissioners that there are still open seats on the DEI
Commission and members and Commissioners should be mindful of folks they can refer to
apply.
The December BAEGV Forum is taking place December 7 from 6:00-7:30 pm at Brookview.
The DEIC December meeting will be held on the 19th from 6:30-8:00 pm at Brookview
instead of the regularly scheduled meeting which would have been held on December 26.
As of now, there is one submission for the Bill Hobbs award so Commissioners should be
thinking about others who could be nominated by the November 17 deadline.
Communications has posted about the award.
Subcommittee Updates
City Systems
The Employee Equity Survey is finished, and staff member Kaempfer tells commissioners he
will be hosting focus conversations with employees about the survey with the results of
these conversations being included in the Equity Plan.
Commissioner Scheie asks for an update on the Racial Equity Dividends Index being
performed by the Center for Economic Inclusion. Staff member Kaempfer advises that
results have not been delivered yet, but they should be available in early November.
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City of Golden Valley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission Meeting
Minutes
October 24, 2023 – 6:00 pm
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Commissioner Paradise suggests collaborating with Valley Presbyterian regarding the Land
Acknowledgment and elevating the Indigenous population in the area.
Commissioner Paradise voices concern about the Neighborhood Initiative project
potentially being used as a tool to exclude various groups of people such as renters, People
of Color, and young people. There are positive reasons for wanting to create defined
neighborhoods, like requesting grant money for development and infrastructure, but these
concerns need to be addressed as the City considers this project.
Communications and Networking
Commissioner Paradise tells members that the City’s Communications department has been
given the information on the MLK and Bill Hobbs awards and they will be featured in the
bimonthly newsletter as well as on social media.
Commissioners discuss the benefits and downsides of the DEI Commission creating a
calendar featuring various events and holidays, and what other features they may include.
Events
Commissioner Jones suggests the MLK award should be chosen by a DEIC subcommittee in
the days following the December 15th submission deadline. Commissioners discuss lowering
the prize amount to prevent the recipient from having to fill out a tax form. Commissioner
Allen motions to amend the rules to allow submitters to choose from a list of quotes and
that the number of prizes and age groups remain unchanged from last year, Commissioner
Scheie seconds.Motion carries 7-0
Commissioner Jones asks how the Commission can contact the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie
group to inquire about collaborating with their MLK event again. Staff member Kaempfer
says he will facilitate that conversation.
MOTION to adjourn by Commissioner Thoresen, seconded by Commissioner Kannenberg. Adjourned at
7:32 PM
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Date
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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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