2025-2-25 - DEIC Agenda Packet February 25, 2025 — 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
Interim Chair, Ruth Paradise Kristian Baker Joelle Allen
Tracy Murphy Kira Jimenez Andrew Alberth
4.Approval of Agenda
5.Approval of Minutes
5.A.Approval of Minutes - January 28th, 2025
6.Discussion Items
6.A.DEIC Chair Updates and Process
6.B.DEIC 2025 Work Plan
1. City of Golden Valley 2030 Strategic Directives
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 February 25, 2025 — 6:30 PM
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2. Letter from City Manager
3. Language Regarding DEI
7.Subcommittee Updates
7.A.City Systems
7.B.Communication and Networking
7.C.Events
1. BAEGV
1. March 2025: Neighbors & Friends That Live/Thrive with Disabilities
2. May 2025 Forum
2. Global Golden Valley Festival (Working Title)
8.Staff Updates
8.A.DEIC's Bylaws Updates
9.Future Agenda Items
10.Adjournment
City of Golden Valley DEI Commission Meeting February 25, 2025 — 6:30 PM
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January 28, 2025 — 6:30 PM
Council Conference Room
Hybrid Meeting
DEI COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
1. Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 6:33pm
2. Land Acknowledgement
3. Roll Call
Commissioners present: Ruth Paradise, Tracy Murphy, Andrew Alberth, and Kira Jimenez
Commissioners absent: Joelle Allen and Kristian Baker
Staff present: Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
4. Approval of Agenda
Motion to approve agenda by Commissioner Murphy, seconded by Commissioner Jimenez
Motion carries 4-0
5. Approval of Minutes
Motion to approve minutes by Commissioner Murphy, seconded by Commissioner Alberth
Motion carries 4-0
6. Discussion Items
6.A. DEIC Chair Updates and Process
Staff Kaempfer provided an update regarding the stepdown of Chair Thoresen and Vice Chair
Paradise taking the role of Interim Chair. Staff Kaempfer also shared the process and timeline for
electing a new chair and vice chair.
6.B DEIC 2025 Work Plan
Commissioner Paradise provided an overview of the updated work plan to the commission.
1. New Brighton Equity Committee Work Plan Presentation
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Staff Kaempfer provided a presentation on how the City of New Brighton’s Equity
Committee puts together and organizes their annual work plan.
Commissioners indicated that they would like to mimic some aspects of the New
Brighton’s plan, which includes indicating how certain actions align with city plans, council
plans, and the Equity Team’s work along with having “owners” of each action and due
dates. Commissioner Paradise, Murphy, and Jimenz will work on reformatting the work
plan.
2. Annual Funding Approval
Commissioners discussed the structure of the annual budget to include the following,
which now includes paying speakers and presenters with an honorarium:
4 BAEGV forums at $500 for food and supplies $2,000
Sweet Potato Pie event support $400
MLK Contest prizes $400
Pride event support $340
Bill Hobbs award (plaque) $60
Honorarium for speakers and panelists $1,600
Miscellaneous $500
Total: $5,300
Motion to approve budget spending by Commissioner Paradise, seconded by
Commissioner Alberth
Motion carries 4-0
6.C. DEI Commission Calendar Date Adjustments
Staff Kaempfer noted to the commission that annually that look at their future meeting dates to
see if any need to be adjusted for holidays or other circumstances. Commissioner Alberth noted
at this time that September DEIC meeting date would need to move because of a religious holiday.
Motion to approve move September DEIC meeting date to Thursday, September 25th by
Commissioner Alberth, seconded by Commissioner Jimenez
Motion carries 4-0
6.D. “Separation Law” (Previously knowns as “Sanctuary Cities”) Policy
Commissioner Paradise shared information about the current conversations being had across the
community and in the news about cities establishing Separation Laws. Commissioner Paradise
noted that this is something that should be connected with the PEACE Commission as they have
direct contact with the Police Department.
Staff Kaempfer shared that he would find the information and policy of the Police Department
that talk about their connection to federal policies and send that over to the Commissioners.
7. Subcommittee Updates
7.A. City Systems
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Staff Kaempfer shared that he will be training staff during the month of February on the Equity
Decision Making Toolkit and Tools along with the updated Equity Review process. Staff Kaempfer
indicated that the updated Equity Review process should be starting end of February or the
beginning of March.
Commissioner Alberth reminded Staff Kaempfer to send over the documents related to the toolkit,
tools, and process for review.
7.B. Communication and Networking
Commissioner Alberth and Paradise provided an overview of the information in the City’s
newsletter, which included information about upcoming DEIC events and the Commissions’
statement of reaffirming the work of DEI.
7.C. Events
1. MLK Contest and Event
Commissioner Murphy provided a wrap-up of the contest and information on the
Sweet Potato Comfort Pie MLK event. Staff Kaempfer shared submissions to the
Finance Department have been completed and winners should soon receive their
prize money.
2. BAEGV
1. March 2025: Neighbors & Friends that Live/Thrive with Disabilities
Commissioner Murphy provided an update about the event and along with a
breakdown of the evening. Commissioner Murphy asked for some feedback
from the Commissioners about the communication of the event.
Commissioner Paradise also shared about needing to move the June BAEGV to
May and that the overarching topic would remain the same. Commissioner
Paradise shared that they are interested in showing a movie and Staff
Kaempfer noted that there will be licensing fees and that partnering with an
educational institution can sometimes cut down on fees or be considered an
educational experience which means fees could be zero.
3. Global Golden Valley Festival (Working Title)
Commissioner Paradise provided an overview of the meeting with Dean Penk about the
event and what is possible. Commissioner Paradise noted that a meeting was held at
Brookview about gaining interest in bringing back an “Art and Music Festival”, which was
indicated to Commissioner Paradise and Allen that this is where conversation could be
had about the partnering with the DEIC but was only talked about being arts- and music-
centric festival instead of a being a larger multicultural and multiethnic festival.
Commissioners indicated that with the festival not being aligned with the
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Commissions interest that it would be a difficult partnership. Commissioner Paradise also noted
to their feedback meetings are being held a times in which community cannot be present, which
limits the ability for a vast amount of community from different backgrounds and lived
experiences to not be present during that decision making meeting.
8. Staff Updates
8.A. DEIC Commissioner Membership
Staff Kaempfer provided an update on the status of commissioners as well as the upcoming
recruitment period from Council and City Manager for the City’s commissions.
9. Adjournment
Meeting adjourned at 8:04 pm.
_______________________________
Seth Kaempfer, Equity and Inclusion Manager
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Ruth Paradise, Interim Chair
_______________________________
Date
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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission (DEIC)
City of Golden Valley
Functional Work Plan 2025 -2026 (first quarter)*below for City newsletter schedule
TIMEFRAME TOPIC COMMISSION TASK LEADER
Q1
2025
January -
March
BAEGV Forum –Q1, Disabilities –
Workability
Event Date: March 20th. Plan for program format, speakers,
food, and publicity.
Tracy, Ruth,
Joelle
BAEGV Forum –Q2, Indigenous Community Possible event Date: May 22 or 28.Determine Date, Location,
specific topic. Look into having a co- sponsor of the event.
Submit *Template by mid-February.
Ruth, Joelle
BAEGV Forum –Q3, Neighbors Approach PEACE commission regarding joint Q3 BAEGV
forum.
Ruth
“Hate Has No Home Here” series event: -
Agism
Determine Date, Location, specific topic Possible date –July?Andrew, Ruth,
Joelle
MLK contest / event recognition Event Date: January. Complete the award planning process,
coordinate with Sweet Potato Pie.
Tracy, Ruth,
Joelle
Global Culture Celebration Participate in community meetings. Decide if proceeding with
the current initiative is feasible. If yes: participate in planning
the structure of the festival and the initial event.
Joelle, Ruth’
DEIC
City Systems Begin reviewing City housing, transit and other community
development policies and programs with an equity lens
City System
Committee,
Staff
Regional DEIC Joint Meeting Beginning planning process Staff/Chair
“Separation Law” at City Level As first step contact the PEACE commission to see if they want
to cooperate in this advocacy effort. Look into what existing
code the city has that could affect the final decision.
Ruth, Seth
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TIMEFRAME TOPIC COMMISSION TASK LEADER
Q2
2025
April -
June
BAEGV Forum –Q2, Indigenous Community Event Date: May 22 or 28. Coordinate with co-sponsor.
Plan for program format, speakers, food, and publicity.
Ruth, Joelle
BAEGV Forum –Q3, Neighbors Proposed Event Date: September 18th.
Begin plan for program format, speakers in coordination with
the PEACE commission.
Kira,Joelle,Ruth
“Hate Has No Home Here” series event -
Agism
Event Date: July? Continue Planning - Date to determine
place in process. (Possibly July)
Andrew, Ruth
“Hate Has No Home Here” series event –
Immigration/immigrants
Determine Date, Location, specific topic (Possibly late October
or November)
To be
determined.
Pride Festival booth Event Date: June. Plan for booth, order t-shirts/swag, plan quiz
questions.
Joelle, Ruth,
staff
Global Culture Celebration Continue enlisting partners, sponsors, exemplars for mid-2026
celebration event.
Joelle
City Systems Evaluate use and effec?veness of Equity Analysis Tool City System
Committee,
Staff
Regional DEIC Joint Meeting Event Date: September
Continue Planning process. Speakers. Possible diversity
training activity.
Staff/Chair/
Others?
Inter-Commission cooperation Discuss and promote inter-commission cooperation at Board
Commissions Annual Meeting, and as opportunities arise.
DEIC/Staff
Dual-naming for signage to include Ȟaȟa
Wakpadaŋ
Work with Open Space and Recrea?on Commission to
research about and implement dual-naming for signage to
include Ȟaȟa Wakpadaŋ
Had been Lee.
To be
determined.
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TIMEFRAME TOPIC COMMISSION TASK LEADER
Q3
2025
July -
September
BAEGV Forum –Q3, Neighbors Proposed Event Date: September 18th.
Program format, speakers in coordination with the PEACE
commission. Food, publicity.
Kira, Joelle,
Ruth
BAEGV Forum –Q4, End of Year Event Date: December 4th r. Begin planning an event.
Determine, topic, date and location. Submit Template.
Joelle, Ruth
“Hate Has No Home Here” series event -
Agism
Event Date: July? Program format, speakers in coordination
with the PEACE commission. Food, publicity.
Andrew, Ruth
“Hate Has No Home Here” series event –
Immigration/immigrants
Continue Planning. Secure speakers finalize topic focus,
location. Submit Template.
To be
determined.
Global Culture Festival Possibly the opening event will be held in Sept. 2025 Joelle
Regional DEIC Joint Meeting Event Date: September Final planning including food,
handouts, publicity, invitations, hosting.
Staff/Chair/
Others?
City Systems Prepare to be able to discuss City Equity Plan
implementa?on progress with City staff and Council
City System
Committee,
Staff
Bill Hobbs Award Awards Given: December City Council Meeting. Begin
promoting nominations for the award.
Joelle, Ruth,
Other?
MLK Contest Decide on themes, deadlines, begin notification to schools Tracy, Ruth
Global Culture Celebration Continue enlisting partners, sponsors, exemplars for mid-2026
celebration event. Template.
Joelle
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TIMEFRAME TOPIC COMMISSION TASK LEADER
Q4
2025
October -
December
BAEGV Forum –Q4, End of Year Event Date: December 4th. End of Year. Format program,
publicity. food
Joelle, Ruth
BAEGV Forum –Q1 2026 Event Date: March. Topic, location, date. Template Joelle, Ruth
“Hate Has No Home Here” series event –
Immigration/immigrants
Event Date: Oct. Nov.? Format program, publicity.food To be
determined.
Bill Hobbs Award Awards Given: December City Council Meeting. Publicity,
identify, notify award winners, coordinate with Council.
Ruth, Other?
MLK Contest Awards given out: January. Publicity, decide on award
winners, coordination with Sweet Potato Pie.
Tracy, Ruth
Work Plan Begin developing work plan for April 2026 –March 2027 DEIC, Chair
City Systems Discuss City Equity Plan implementa?on progress with City
staff and Council
City System
Committee,
Staff
Global Culture Celebration Continue enlisting partners, sponsors, exemplars for mid-2026
celebration event. Template.
Joelle
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TIMEFRAME TOPIC COMMISSION TASK LEADER
Q1
2026
January -
March
Work Plan Develop work plan for April 2026 –March 2027 –BAEGV
Forums, other events, etc.
DEIC, Chair
City Systems Update City equity plan implementa?on goals for 2026 as
necessary.
City System
Committee,
Staff
BAEGV Forum –Q1 2026 Event Date: March. Program format, speakers. Food,
publicity.
Joelle, Ruth,
other?
BAEGV Forum –Q2 Determine Date, Location, specific topic. Look into having a co-
sponsor for the event.
Submit *Template by mid-February.
Ruth, Joelle.
Other?
MLK Contest/ Sweet Potato Pie event Event Date: January. Finish coordinating with Sweet Potato
Pie, attendance of awardees, awards.
Tracy, Ruth
Global Culture Celebration Continue enlisting partners, sponsors, exemplars for mid-2026
celebration event. Template.
Joelle
City Systems Begin reviewing City housing, transit and other community
development policies and programs with an equity lens
City Systems
Committee,
Staff
Inter-Commission cooperation As needed and when opportunity arises, meet with/share
information and project participation with other commissions.
DEIC/Staff
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*City Newsletter Schedule: bi-monthly
January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December
BAEGV Forums, “Hate Has No Home Here series events:
*Template for use by the Communication Department to be submitted to them 90 days in advance of event.
The template must be submitted to Seth first. He will send it on
Coordinate submission so that the publicity will appear in a City newsletter before the event.
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Strategic
(Re)Development
• Pursue vibrant, identifiable community nodes, including a “downtown,” with diverse housing
and retail options that attract and engage residents and visitors.
• Foster a healthy mix of housing stock that accommodates various price points and
life stages.
• Ensure transparency and inclusivity in (re)development decision-making by intentionally
partnering with residents, business owners, and visitors.
• Cultivate a reputation as a supportive partner in (re)development efforts.
• Retain and actively engage local businesses, recognizing their role as vital
community members.
• Prioritize the redevelopment of existing commercial and residential infrastructure to uphold
our commitment to thoughtful stewardship of land and natural resources.
Infrastructure Maintainance
& Enhancement
• Prioritize quality infrastructure designed to last, emphasizing environmental sustainability
and climate resiliency.
• Stay ahead of City infrastructure needs, prioritizing timely maintenance and replacement.
• Strategically use park land to offer diverse amenities that fulfill community needs while
advancing environmental goals.
• Improve responsiveness to emerging safety and maintenance issues such as crosswalks,
potholes, and curb cuts.
Effective Governance
& Management
• Maintain our local control and ability to represent our community’s values and priorities.
• Ensure effective City operations through strategic leadership and proactive planning that
addresses current needs while ensuring longterm sustainability.
• Enhance resident understanding about City projects and initiatives by clearly and regularly
communicating trade-offs and the rationale behind investments.
• Uphold transparency and accountability with the community, acknowledging mistakes and
promptly addressing them.
• Stay at the forefront of advancing equity and inclusivity by fostering strong, welcoming
relationships with community, maintaining a workplace that fosters belonging and
equitable outcomes, and embedding equity and inclusion into all City policies, initiatives,
plans, and projects.
• Create a workplace that attracts and retains talent by investing in staff development,
engagement, and morale while promoting accountability and focusing on solutions
to challenges.
Page 1 | 2030 Strategic Directives
2030 Strategic Directives
CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY
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Page 2 | 2030 Strategic Directives
Financial Wellness • Increase the tax base to distribute the tax burden more evenly and better respond to
emerging community needs.
• Cultivate taxpayer confidence in our financial stewardship and the value of their investment
by providing high-quality services, actively seeking alternative funding sources (grants,
philanthropy, community partnerships), and transparently sharing our story.
• Address the immense needs within a limited budget by planning strategically for future
financial requirements and pursuing alternative funding sources.
• Foster partnerships with nearby jurisdictions to collaboratively tackle infrastructure
challenges affecting Golden Valley.
Community Affairs • Prioritize inclusivity and engagement with ALL Golden Valley populations, co-creating initia-
tives and regularly soliciting input.
• Treat taxpayers as valued customers, fostering a community-centric approach that responds
promptly to inquiries and keeps them up to date on progress.
• Strengthen community identity through a sharpened brand, more community gatherings, and
effective communication.
• Build community understanding about local government functions and roles to manage expec-
tations and help them effectively access the resources they need.
• Leverage City events and projects to reflect our environmental values (eg, zero-waste, ze-
ro-plastic community gatherings, etc).
2030 Strategic Directives
CITY OF GOLDEN VALLEY
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BYLAWS – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission 1
BYLAWS
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Commission (DEIC)
Article I: Purpose, Mission, and Prescribed Duties
The Commission shall be an advisory commission to the City Council.
A. Mission, Vision, Values
The Commission’s mission is to promote and nurture a safe and welcoming community dedicated to the
values of social equity, inclusion, and justice.
The Commission shall advise and make recommendations to the Council in matters relating to diversity,
equity, inclusion, and human rights.
B. Duties
In accordance with its bylaws and annual work plan, and through the collaboration and cooperation of City
staff, the DEI Commission shall:
(1) Analyze the City’s processes, procedures, policies, and ordinances as directed by the City Council on
matters of diversity, equity, inclusion, human rights.
(2) Present the results of programs of research and recommend changes to processes, procedures,
policies, and ordinances to the City Council based on those results.
(3) Regularly review and evaluate the City’s community outreach methods and activities to ensure
messaging reaches diverse populations and provides inclusive participation opportunities.
(4) Annually provide input on the City’s Equity Plan and, as requested by City Manager, their designee,
or City equity staff:
a. Analyze City systems to identify systems of inequality (including systemic racism), and
b. Make recommendations relating to changes in ordinance, policy, or practice to dismantle
those systems.
(5) Communicate the City’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) work and facilitate community
engagement and feedback.
(6) Collaborate with organizations to host and promote events that educate the community on issues
of diversity, equity, inclusion, and human rights, and other issues and to promote awareness and
appreciation of diversity.
Article II: Membership, Appointments, Terms, and Officers
A. Membership
Initially, any current member of the existing Human Rights Commission or Rising Tides Task Force who
submits an application, shall be automatically appointed to the Commission. After the initial
appointments, the Commission shall consist of nine regular members, and two youth voting members.
The reduction in membership size shall happen gradually over the first three years as initial appointment
terms expire so that there are 11 members by May 2023. Youth members shall live or attend school within
Golden Valley, the Robbinsdale Area District or Hopkins School District and be enrolled in school grades 9
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BYLAWS – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission 2
through 12.
In accordance with the City’s values and Welcome Statement, the Council shall seek to have said
appointments reflect the diverse voices and perspectives in the community, including:
• Individuals who have professional, volunteer, or personal experiences with communities that have
historically experienced or presently experience the stress and trauma of discrimination, for
example, individuals with work or volunteer experience in the field of diversity, equity and
inclusion, or personal involvement in advocacy or activism;
• Individuals who have professional, volunteer, or personal experiences with healing of marginalized
communities; and
• Individuals with personal experience involving discrimination.
At a minimum the DEIC membership shall consist of:
• One member with a connection to multi-family or group housing; and
• One member of a community group that has demonstrated commitment to the values of racial
equity, inclusion, social justice, and human rights.
If the City does not receive qualified applications from one of the above categories, the remaining spots may be
filled with any person who lives, works, attends school, volunteers, or worships in the City of Golden Valley.
B. Appointments and Terms
Appointments are made effective May 1 of each year. The Council shall appoint regular members of the
Commission for three-year staggered terms. Youth members shall be appointed for a one-year term. The
terms of Commission members shall be fixed and determined at the time of appointment by the governing
ordinance. The City Council shall appoint the members of the Commission and to fill vacancies for
unexpired terms. A vacancy shall be deemed to exist if a regular member ceases to meet the residency
requirements or a youth member who ceases to meet the residency, age, or school requirements.
C. Officers
The Commission shall elect officers of Chair and Vice-Chair from the Commission membership by its voting
members at its regular annual meeting, (no later than the second meeting after May 1 in each year). The
Chair and Vice Chair positions rotate, and members may only serve two consecutive years as the Chair or
Vice-Chair. Should the office of Chair or Vice-Chair become vacant, the Commission shall elect a successor
from its membership at the next regular meeting and such election shall be for the unexpired term of said
office. Officers may also delegate the duties of their position to other Commissioners as deemed
appropriate by the Commission.
Chair responsibilities include:
• work with staff liaison to develop meeting agendas • conduct and preside at all meetings in a productive and time-efficient manner
• ensure the Commission conducts its activities within the stated mission and bylaws of the
Commission
• appoint Commissioners to subcommittees
• monitor and ensure the progress of the Commission
• report to the City Council
Vice-Chair responsibilities:
• perform the duties of the Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair
• perform all other duties as prescribed by the Commission
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BYLAWS – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission 3
Article III: Meetings and Attendance
A. Meetings
All meetings of the Commission shall be conducted in accordance with the Minnesota Open Meeting Law
and City code. This means all business and discussion occurs at a meeting which has been posted and is
open to the public.
The presence of a majority of all regular members currently appointed to the Commission shall constitute
a quorum for the purpose of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes.
In the event a quorum is not reached, a smaller number of members may meet to have informal
discussion, however, formal action shall not be taken and must be reserved for such time as when a
quorum of the Commission is reached. A quorum of the members should not discuss Commission business
by email, forms of social media, telephone, or informal meetings. Commission meetings may be cancelled
by the staff liaison if there are no items on the agenda for discussion.
The proceedings of meeting should be conducted using standard parliamentary procedure.
i. Regular Meeting
The regular meeting of the Commission shall be held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at City Hall
at 6:30 pm. The Commission may, by a majority vote, change its regular meeting dates for any reason
provided proper public notice of the changed meeting is provided.
ii. Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of the commission shall be a regular meeting, typically the first meeting after May
1 of each year, at which time elections will be held.
iii. Special Meetings
A special meeting of the Commission may be called by the Chair or two commissioners, or by the City
Council, for the purpose of transacting any business designated in the meeting notice. The notice for a
special meeting shall be posted in compliance with the Minnesota State Statutes governing public
meetings. The staff liaison shall notify Commissioners at least three days prior to the meeting of the
date, time, place and purpose of the special meeting. A special meeting must also be posted in
accordance with the requirements of the Minnesota Open Meeting Law.
B. Attendance
Members are expected to attend all meetings, including the annual board and commission joint meeting. If
a member is unable to attend a meeting, they should contact the staff liaison, who will inform the chair. If
a quorum cannot be attained, the meeting will be canceled. Staff liaisons will track attendance at each
meeting. Each April, the City Manager’s office will review attendance records for the preceding calendar
year (April-March) and send a standardized letter of warning to any member that has missed:
• two consecutive or three total meetings for groups that meet once a month; or
• two consecutive or five total meetings for groups that meet twice a month.
Because attendance is so important to the work of the City’s boards and commissions, the City Manager
may ask the member to explain the reasons for their absences. If circumstances prevent the member
from committing to consistently attending future meetings, the member may be asked to step down. The
City Manager will not ask the member to step down if their inability to attend meetings is due to health
reasons. If the member’s attendance does not improve within 3 months after receiving a warning, the
City Manager or their designee shall ask the member to step down. If the member chooses not to step
down, the Council may take action to remove the member.
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BYLAWS – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission 4
Article IV: Rules
A. Agenda
The agenda for regular and special meetings of the Commission shall be prepared by the staff liaison.
Items to be placed on the agenda may be proposed by the Chair, a Commission member, the staff liaison
or at the request of the City Council. Residents, businesses, or other interested parties may contact the
staff liaison to request that an item be placed on the agenda for consideration. All agenda topics
presented by the City Council will be placed on an appropriate agenda; requests from other parties will be
placed on an appropriate future agenda at the discretion of the staff liaison.
The agenda shall be approved at each meeting prior to discussion of any item on the agenda. At the time
of agenda approval, items may be removed and the order of business may be modified by a majority vote
of members present at the meeting. No items shall be added to the agenda unless deemed as urgent by
the staff liaison. Prior to adjournment, members present may communicate items recommended for
inclusion on future agendas.
B. Recordkeeping
All minutes and resolutions shall be in writing and shall be kept in accordance with City procedures,
Minnesota Statute and Rules regarding preservation of public records and the Minnesota Data Privacy Act.
C. Work Plan
The Commission will draft an annual work plan that details activities and projected timelines for the
upcoming year.
• The Chair may appoint Commissioners to be primarily responsible for each work plan activity.
• The Commission may establish subcommittees to oversee work plan activities. The subcommittees
will be chaired by Commissioners appointed by the Chair.
• The Commission’s work plan will be submitted to the City Council, typically during the first quarter
of the calendar year. The Chair and/or Commissioners will attend a Council/Manager meeting to
discuss the annual work plan with the City Council.
• The Commission’s work plan must be agreed upon by the City Council.
D. Annual Report
The Commission shall submit an annual report to the City Council summarizing the past year's activities.
The report may highlight information the Commission feels appropriate to convey to the City Council.
• The Chair or Vice-Chair will prepare the report for approval by the Commission. Commission
members may submit signed addenda presenting alternative conclusions or perspectives.
• The report and addenda are submitted to Council with the current year work plan in the first
quarter of the calendar year or as soon thereafter as possible.
E. Subcommittees
The Commission may create subcommittees to plan and direct activities related to topics of interest to the
Commission and to oversee work plan activities.
• Subcommittees will be chaired by Commissioners appointed by the Chair and shall not consist of a
majority or more of currently appointed Commission members.
• A majority of the subcommittee must be present to conduct business, including the subcommittee
chair.
• The Commission may consolidate or dissolve subcommittees at any time.
• The subcommittee chair may appoint other Commissioners and representatives from the broader
community to the subcommittee, provided that the subcommittee at no time consists of a
majority or more of currently appointed Commission members.
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BYLAWS – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission 5
• The subcommittee chair shall report back to the Commission about its activities as an agenda item
at regular Commission meetings.
• Subcommittee meetings shall be held at a date and time that does not conflict with the
Commission’s regular and special meetings. The staff liaison shall be notified of the date, time,
location and topic of all Subcommittee meetings.
F. Performance of Duties
Commissioners are expected to adequately prepare for meetings. Commissioners unable to complete an
assigned task should notify the commission chair or subcommittee chair as soon as possible. The
Commission staff liaison may ask the City Council to review a Commissioner’s appointment based upon its
assessment of significant lack of performance.
Article V: Amendments and Revisions
The Commission will review these bylaws no later than the second meeting after May 1 every three years.
Members may present recommendations for changes and amendments. These bylaws can be altered or
amended at any regular monthly Commission meeting with a majority of members present, provided that
notice of the proposed changes and amendments is provided to each member at least 10 business days before
the meeting. The Council must review and approve any changes to, and has final authority regarding, these
bylaws.
Appendix: Glossary
This glossary is a set of terms adopted by the City to ensure common language and understanding regarding
diversity, equity and inclusion. When discussing the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, use these terms and
definitions in all contexts:
Accountability: Processes and procedures that ensure the centering of equity in the decision-making process
Barrier: Social, economic and physical impediments constructed to decrease access to resources essential for
positive life outcomes
BIPOC: An acronym for Black, Indigenous, People of Color
Bias: A mental process that evaluates and classifies others by their appearance and/or behaviors based on
personal schemata. Bias influences our actions, beliefs and attitudes about others positively and negatively.
There are two types of bias in regards to equity and justice:
• Explicit: Bias we are aware of and act in the name of
• Implicit: Subconscious feelings, perceptions, attitudes and stereotypes developed over time i
Capacity Building: Exercises and trainings developed to ensure all members of a community work towards
equity
Community Engagement: Employment of a range of tools and strategies to ensure successful, accountable
relationships between an organization and the people it serves
Community Indicator: An impact on a life-outcome influenced by public policy
Disparity: A pattern of disproportionate life outcomes based on a social identity
Diversity: A measurement of individuals’ differences from one another in the form of social identities and lived
experiences; all the ways in which people differ.ii
Equity: Fair treatment, access, opportunity and advancement for all people; one’s social identity cannot
predict the outcome.
• Racial Equity: practices and policies to mitigate adverse impacts one’s race has on life outcomes
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BYLAWS – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Commission 6
Equality: Evenly distributed tools and assistance to access resources and opportunities
Human Rights: Rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of race, sex nationality, ethnicity, language,
religion or any other status. Human rights include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and
torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, and many more.iii
Inclusion: Systems that allow for access to all spaces regardless of social identity; a variety of people have
power, a voice, and decision-making authority.
Inequality: Unequal access to opportunities and resources
Justice: Fixing the system to offer equal access to both tools and opportunity
Oppression: Intentional harm, construction and upholding of access to human and civil rights
• Personal: Thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes about yourself, coworkers, supervisors, customers, residents,
etc. based on their social identity
• Interpersonal: Negatively expressed words and actions based on social identity
• Institutional: Golden Valley (or other agency) enforced practices, policies and procedures that create
barriers to resources and opportunities
• Structural/Systemic: Golden Valley (or other agency) enforced practices, policies and procedures
created by larger entities (local, state, federal government and agencies)
Racialized Violence: An instance of bodily/mental harm as a result of systemic racism
Social Identity: All of the ways people are grouped and stratified in society e.g. race, socioeconomic status,
gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, nation/language of origin, family structure, age, religion,
immigration status, marital status, etc.
Systemic Racism: A collection of institutions that create unequal access to resources and opportunities
i Source: US Justice Department
ii Source: City of Portland Office of Equity and Human Rights
iii Source: United Nations
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