2024-5-28 - DEIC Agenda Packet May 28, 2024 — 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
Tracy Murphy Drew Jones Joelle Allen
George Kannenberg Ruth Paradise Imara Hixon
4.Approval of Agenda
5.Approval of Minutes
5.A.Approval of Minutes - April 30, 2024
6.Commission Onboarding and Refresher
7.Discussion Items
7.A.Planning for Summer 2025 Culture Event
8.Subcommittee Updates
8.A.City Systems
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 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 May 28, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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1. June 13th BAEGV
8.B.Communication and Networking
8.C.Events
1. Hate Has No Home Here Sessions:
1. July 2024: Islamophobia
2. August 2024: Transphobia
2. Golden Valley Pride
1. Commissioner Participation
9.Staff Updates
9.A.Meeting with Other Cities' DEICs
9.B.Board and Commission Appreciation Event
9.C.DEIC Budget
9.D.Vice Chair Nomination and Voting
10.Adjournment
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting May 28, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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April 30, 2024 — 6:30 PM
Council Conference Room
Hybrid Meeting
DEI COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 6:35pm
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
Commissioners present: Lee Thoresen, David Scheie, George Kannenberg, Drew Jones, Ruth
Paradise, and Imara Hixon
Commissioners absent: Nyre Chester, Joelle Allen, and Ajan Woodson
Councilmember present: Maurice Harris
Staff present: Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
4. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve agenda by Commissioner Scheie, seconded by Commissioner Hixon
Motion carries 6-0
5. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve minutes by Commissioner Hixon, seconded by Commissioner Kannenberg
Motion carries 6-0
6. Discussion Items
6.A. DEIC Budget and Council Ask
Commissioner Thoresen shared that a focus on asking for more budget could regard the large
culture event. Commissioner Thoresen asked for an overview of the budget and Staff Kaempfer
provided that information.
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Councilmember Harris shared that if the Commission has a specific ask to put that forward to
make that ask for FY 2026, especially for the large culture event. Commissioner Paradise asked
about the ability to fundraise and if that should go through the GV Foundation and
Councilmember Harris agreed that this would be the best effort as well as the Commission being a
conduit for fundraising dollars to go to GV Foundation.
Commissioner Hixon asked what could be possible for a FY 2024 budget ask and Councilmember
Harris said make a proposal. Commissioner Thoresen noted that reaching out to GV Pride to get a
better scope on what cost and budget would entail. Councilmember Harris suggests that the
Commission pulls together some kind of proposal for summer 2025 and put the ask in now but to
scale it accordingly for a years’ worth of planning and then show how to scale up for summer
2026.
Commissioner Paradise and Thoresen agree that something smaller and show how scale could
occur would be a better approach for the culture event in summer 2025. Councilmember Harris
shared that providing a prototype budget would be helpful. Commissioner Thoresen stated that a
steering committee would need to be created and implemented.
Commissioner Thoresen asked for time to be dedicated in May’s meeting to further discuss the
overarching details and outline for the culture event. Commissioner Hixon said they would create
a presentation and have it ready for the next meeting. Staff Kaempfer shared that he will share
the event template to use for the next meeting.
Councilmember Harris that if the Commissioners had something to present that they should place
it on the work session agenda in July. Councilmember Harris stated that the presentation should
include the following: outline of the event, who is who the Commission talked to already and who
the Commission has buy-in from. Commissioner Kannenberg agrees that doing something scaled
down in 2025 and ideally scale it out in 2026.
6.B. Golden Valley Pride Merchandise/Swag
Staff Kaempfer reminded the Commission that last year they bought stickers, pamphlets, candy,
and book prizes for last year’s GV Pride. Commissioner Thoresen suggested that we do something
similar and Commissioner Kannenberg asked that buttons are added to the list.
Commissioner Scheie asked if something could be purchased that could show artwork related to
the MLK Contest. Commissioner Thoresen added that a postcard with the artwork could be
created to help also draw interest in the contest but uniquely show off the artwork.
Commissioner Scheie also suggested that they have documents of the Commission presented at
the table as well as one-pagers of the Commission does. Commissioner Paradise also suggested
that the Commission could hand out cookies with the DEIC logo on it or “GV DEI Commission”
written on them.
7. Subcommittee Updates
7.A. City Systems
1. June 13th BAEGV
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Commissioner Scheie shared that the subcommittee met that morning and discussed the
structure of the event. Commissioner Scheie shared that the structure would include a
welcoming, a presentation of the data provided by City departments, a panel of City staff,
and then have breakout discussions interspersed throughout the stages of the event.
Commissioner Scheie asked if Councilmember Harris would be able to provide a welcome
statement at the event and Councilmember Harris indicated that he would need to check
his calendar but most likely could. Commissioner Scheie asked the other Commissioners
to be present to assist in the breakout discussions. Commissioner Scheie and Paradise
informed the Commission that further details are being created, which includes the
specific discussion questions, and the subcommittee has another meeting on Wednesday,
May 22nd to finalize details.
Commissioner Paradise asked Councilmember Harris about ways to promote the event.
Councilmember Harris suggested doing an op-ed with SunPost and having something
promoted on CCX. Commissioner Scheie liked the idea of the op-ed and Staff Kaempfer
stated that if an op-ed was written it would need to go through the Communications
department before going to SunPost. Staff Kaempfer suggested to Commissioner Scheie
asked for an op-ed to drafted by May 15th and then he will send to the Communications
department.
7.B. Communication and Networking
Commissioner Paradise shared that information will be going out for both the June BAEGV and the
HHNHH events with a focus on mailing flyers to local businesses for the upcoming BAEGV.
7.C. Events
1. April 11th Event: Antisemitism
Commissioner Paradise shared that the event was successful and had good attendance.
2. July 11th Event: Islamophobia
Commissioner Paradise shared that the panelists have already been contacted and have
agreed to participate. Staff Kaempfer reminded commissioners that for future events if they have
named panelists to provide that so those panelists can be named on the promotional material.
8. Staff Updates
8.A. DEIC Commissioner Membership
Staff Kaempfer shared that Council recently conducted interviews and have approved a potential
new commissioner. Councilmember Harris shared that they reappointed Commissioner Allen and
Woodson.
Staff Kaempfer also shared that Commissioner Scheie’s last meeting is today and that then opens
up the position of Vice Chair.
8.B. Connecting with Other City’s DEI/Equity Commissions
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Staff Kaempfer shared that the DEI Commission in New Brighton has asked to meet and connect
with other suburban DEI and equity commissions and that Staff Kaempfer submitted that the
Commission would be interested based on previous conversations had by the Commission.
Staff Kaempfer and Commissioner Paradise also shared that the Commission will be highlighted by
Minnesota Department of Huaman Rights for the work that they all have been doing.
8.C. DEIC Budget
Staff Kaempfer shared an overview of the budget and that he will continue to keep it updated.
8.D. Commissioner Reminders
1. Monthly Agenda Creation
Staff Kaempfer shared with the Commission that if Commissioner have anything in
particular that they want on the agenda for each month to provide that in advance.
2. Annual Onboarding
Staff Kaempfer noted that in the next month’s meeting there will be the annual
onboarding, which will be a refresher for some Commissioners and an onboarding for new
Commissioners.
9. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 7:58pm.
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Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
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Lee Thoresen, Chair
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