2024-11-26 - DEIC Agenda Packet November 26, 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 Joelle Allen
Vice Chair, Ruth Paradise Tracy Murphy Kristian Baker
Kira Jimenez Andrew Alberth
4.Approval of Agenda
5.Approval of Minutes
5.A.Approval of Minutes - October 22, 2024
6.Discussion Items
6.A.Bill Hobbs Award Nominations and Selection
6.B.2025 Commission Draft Work Plan
6.C.City Ice Rinks and Wetland Preservation
6.D.Council Agenda and DEI Commission Future Topic 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 MS
Teams and entering passcode jCvmxK.
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 26, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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7.Subcommittee Updates
7.A.City Systems
7.B.Communication and Networking
7.C.Events
1. BAEGV
1. December 2024 BAEGV: DEIC Year In Review & Celebration
2. 2025 MLK Contest
8.Staff Updates
8.A.Recommendations to Council
8.B.DEIC Budget
8.C.Upcoming City Initiatives and Programs
9.Adjournment
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting November 26, 2024 — 6:30 PM
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October 22, 2024 — 6:30 PM Council Conference Room
Hybrid Meeting DEI COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 6:37pm
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Roll Call, Introductions, and Oath of Office
Commissioners present: Lee Thoresen, Tracy Murphy, Joelle Allen, Kristian Baker, Kira Jimenez, and Andrew Alberth Commissioners absent: Ajani Woodson, Nyre Chester, and Ruth Paradise Staff present: Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager Current and new commissioners introduced one another. Commissioners Baker, Jimenez, and Alberth took the oath of office and signed Commissioner Agreements.
4. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve agenda by Commissioner Allen, seconded by Commissioner Murphy
Motion carries 6-0
5. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve minutes by Commissioner Allen, seconded by Commissioner Murphy
Motion carries 6-0
6. Discussion Items
6.A. DEI and Human Rights Commission Meeting Recap
Commissioner Allen shared that it was a fantastic forum and great opportunity to work and learn
across cities. Commissioner Allen shared that other people in attendance shared that they want
this to be an annual event and offered for the City to host the next one.
6.B. Awards
1. Bill Hobbs
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Commissioner Allen shared that the flyer is complete and will begin distributing.
Commissioner Allen and Thoresen provided an overview of the origins of the Bill Hobbs
Award and what the Commission currently does with the award.
Staff Kaempfer shared that there are currently three nominations.
2. MLK
Commissioner Murphy provided an overview of the MLK Contest to new commissioners.
Commissioner Murphy noted that the entries can be anything that relates to the selected
quotes.
Commissioner Murphy has been reaching out to all schools in the area and asked for
Commissioner Baker to take to Breck and distribute.
6.B. Topic, Date, and Location Selection for 2025 BAEGV Forums and “Hate Has No Home Here”
Events
Commissioners further discussed the topics for the 2025 BAEGV Forums and officially selected the
topics, dates, and locations. Commissioners continued to talk about who could be in partnership
with the various topics to continue the effort of fostering and nurturing community connections.
Commissioner Allen shared that her and Commissioner Paradise met to further talk about the
various topics, specifically the topic on Indigenous Communities/Indigeneity along with Neighborly
Relations. For Indigenous Communities/Indigeneity, wanting it to be more action oriented. For
Neighborly Relations, looking to create an opportunity to nominate good neighbors and
highlighting the difference from one another is the connection.
The finalized dates, topic, and locations along with partner(s) are below:
Date Topic Partner(s)/Speaker(s) Location
March 20th Disability WorkAbilities WorkAbilities
June 20th Indigenous
Community/Indigeneity
TBD Brookview
September 18th Neighborly Relations PEACE Commission Brookview
December 11th DEIC Year in Review &
Celebration
TBD Brookview
Commissioner Allen shared a distinction regarding previous conversations about the Neighborly
Relations topic and that there was conversation about “suspicious neighbor” engagement.
Commissioner Thoresen and Allen noted that the topic of “suspicious neighbor” should and would
connect with the Hate Has No Home series of events.
Staff Kaempfer provided an overview of the Hate Has No Home series. Commissioner Murphy and
Thoresen provided specifics about the various events within the series and their impact.
Commissioner Allen noted that two current topics for the Hate Has No Home series would then be
“suspicious neighbor” and ageism.
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7. Subcommittee Updates
7.A. City Systems
Commissioner Thoresen shared about policy work related to co-naming things across the City and
asked what the process would be to make those recommendations. Staff Kaempfer shared that
the Commission would need to go through the Commission’s Council Liaison to inform them of
their recommendation/demand, then potentially attend a Council Work Session to provide
background and justification, and then it would go before Council at a Council meeting. Staff
Kaempfer also shared that if it doesn’t need to go to a Work Session then it could go directly to a
Council meeting.
Staff Kaempfer said that he would reach out to both Councilmember Harris and the City Manager
to ask for any forms or template for submitting the recommendations. Commissioner Allen said
that she would right up the recommendation. Staff Kaempfer also shared that he would connect
with Director Kiefer of Public Works for the cost of changing signage and Director Crossfield for
getting past documents of renaming policy and process work.
Commissioner Thoresen shared that the subcommittee met with Staff Kaempfer to go over the
Equity Analysis and Scan Tools. Staff Kaempfer provided an overview of the toolkit and tools.
Commissioner Thoresen provided an overview of the functions of the subcommittee.
Commissioner Alberth noted that he would like to be part of this subcommittee.
7.B. Communication and Networking
Commissioner Thoresen provided an overview of the functions of the subcommittee.
7.C. Events
Commissioner Thoresen provided an overview of the functions of the subcommittee.
1. BAEGV
1. October 2024: Equity in Minnesota Public Education Recap
Commissioner Allen shared that it went well and both superintendents provided
great information and it was incredibly important that we had the legislator who
authored the bill. Commissioner Murphy and Allen noted that the audience was
well engaged although it was small.
Staff Kaempfer noted that there was also great information that was provided by
the panelists about how to use the data that they collect to better inform the work
of the City.
2. December 2024: DEIC Year in Review & Celebration
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Commissioner Allen shared that the flyer is complete and will be dispersed.
Commissioner Thoresen will be creating the draft work plan and send out a
cleaned up version for Commissioners to comment on, which will also be used as
guide for the discussion at the forum. Commissioner Murphy asked that the draft
work plan be added to the agenda for next meeting.
Commissioner Allen noted that she would like the structure of the discussion to
have table topics for attendees to have focused conversation at each table to
garner better information.
8. Staff Updates
8.A. DEIC Budget
Staff Kaempfer shared an update of the budget. Staff Kaempfer shared that the Commission has
$1,306.00 to use for the end of the year but should maintain about $400 for the MLK Contest.
8.B. GARE Overview and Online Access
Staff Kaempfer shared an overview of GARE and what it means that the City is part of GARE. Staff
Kaempfer also shared a presentation about the opportunities provided to both staff and
Commissioners of being able to engage with the organization via their online portal. Staff
Kaempfer will email Commissioners the presentation to help guide the commissioners on how to
register and get access to the online portal.
8.C. Getting Informed
Staff Kaempfer shared that at other Cities’ DEI Commission and Human Rights Commissions that
they bring in staff to talk about upcoming project and initiatives and thought it might be a good
idea to do something similar with this Commission. Staff Kaempfer asked how they would like to
be informed about upcoming project and initiatives. Commissioners noted that they would like to
be informed by overviewing the upcoming agendas for what is coming up and then make the ask
during Commission meetings to reach out to appropriate staff and departments to attend
upcoming Commission meetings.
9. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 8:03 pm.
_______________________________
Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Lee Thoresen, Chair
_______________________________
Date
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DRAFT For Discussion Purposes 11.20.24
2025 Proposed Work Plan
Golden Valley Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission:
Proposed Work Plan, January 2025-March 2026
DEIC Charge
Proposed 2025 Outputs
1. Analyze the City’s systems
and recommend DEI
improvements (in
coordina<on with City staff,
council, mayor).
• Consult with the Equity and Inclusion manager to monitor
adop<on and use of Equity Analysis Toolkit
• Resume work with City staff, city council on naming public
assets policy
• Begin reviewing City housing, transit and other community
development policies and programs with an equity lens
2. Help City officials and staff to
communicate the City’s DEI
work and facilitate
community engagement and
feedback on that work.
• Expand rela<onships with historically excluded community
groups and leaders (including Golden Valley neighborhood
leaders), providing input and feedback on City’s DEI work
(and who could partner w/DEIC when relevant)
• Provide/partner with City communica<ons staff to ensure
publicity for specific events that DEIC organizes, co-organizes
or endorses
3. Collaborate with
organiza<ons to organize
events and other ac<ons that
educate the community and
increase apprecia<on for DEI
and human rights.
• Present at least four BAEGV community forums (March:
Disabili<es – Workabili<es, June: Indigenous Communi<es,
September: Recognizing Neighbors, December: DEIC Report
to the Community and Community Input into Priori<es for
2026)
• Support Sweet Potato Comfort Pie events, Ho-Chunk history
event, Golden Valley Pride
• Sponsor MLK Essay & Art Contest, Bill Hobbs Award
• Start planning for a bigger mul<cultural celebra<on event in
summer 2026
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DRAFT For Discussion Purposes 11.20.24
DEIC 2025-Q1 2026 Work Plan by Quarter:
Q1 2025 (January-March)
DEIC overall:
• Begin planning June BAEGV on Indigenous communi<es
• Begin discussion on hos<ng Region wide forum for DEI Commissions
City Systems:
• Begin reviewing City housing, transit and other community development policies and
programs with an equity lens
Communica<ons:
• Communica<ons for MLK contest
• Communica<ons for March BAEGV
• Ini<al communica<ons planning for June BAEGV
Events:
• Sweet Potato Comfort Pie Event (January)
• MLK Youth Essay/Drawing Contest (January)
• BAEGV Forum: Disabili<es - Workability (March)
Q2 2025 (April-June)
DEIC Overall:
• Con<nue discussion and promo<on of inter-commission coopera<on at Board and
Commissions Annual Mee<ng
• Begin planning for Sept BAEGV re recognizing neighbors (with PEACE Commission)
• Begin discussion on hos<ng Region wide forum for DEI Commissions
City Systems:
• Evaluate use and effec<veness of Equity Analysis Tool
• Work with Open Space and Recrea<on Commission to research about and implement
dual-naming for signage to include Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ
Communica<ons:
• Communica<ons for June BAEGV
Events:
• BAEGV Forum: Indigenous Communi<es (June)
• Support Pride Fes<val (June)
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DRAFT For Discussion Purposes 11.20.24
Q3 2025 (July-September)
Overall:
• Begin planning Q4 BAEGV Forum
• Planning for hos<ng Region wide forum for DEI Commissions
City Systems:
Communica<ons:
• Communica<ons for September BAEGV
• Begin promo<ng Bill Hobbs Award, MLK Contest opportuni<es
Events:
• BAEGV Forum: recognizing neighbors (with PEACE Commission)
Q4 2025 (October-December)
Overall: Begin drajing 2025 (April 2025-March 2026) DEIC Work Plan
City Systems:
• Discuss City Equity Plan implementa<on progress with City staff and Council
Communica<ons:
• Promote Bill Hobbs Award, MLK Contest opportuni<es
• Communica<ons for December BAEGV
Events:
• Conduct Bill Hobbs Human Rights Award process, begin MLK Contest process
• BAEGV Forum: 2025 DEIC Year in Review, Input into 2026 Work Plan (December)
• Con<nue enlis<ng partners, sponsors, exemplars for mid-2026 celebra<on event
Q1 2026 (January-March 2026)
Overall: Develop workplan for April 2025 – March 2026
City Systems:
• Update City equity plan implementa<on goals for 2026 as necessary
Communica<ons:
• Communica<ons for Q1 BAEGV
Events:
• Sweet Potato Comfort Pie Event (January)
• MLK Youth Essay/Drawing Contest (January)
• BAEGV Forum (topic TBD) (March)
• Planning for 2026 mul<cultural celebra<on event
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