HRC Minutes 051310GOLDEN VALLEY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes from the Meeting of May 13, 2010
Members Present: Christopher Jordan, Marion Helland, Roger McConico, Debra Yahle and Bob
Hoyt. Commissioner Anne Dykstra participated via conference call.
Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Chief Stacy Altonen.
The meeting was called to order by Chair Jordan at 7:00 pm.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
There were no revisions to the agenda.
OPEN FORUM
There was no one present requesting to address the Commission.
CHAIRPERSON'S REPORT
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair Jordan moved to approve the minutes of the March 11, 2010 meeting; seconded by
Commissioner Helland. The minutes were approved by consensus.
NEW BUSINESS
Presentation on Minnesota Open Meeting Law
Attorney Jana O'Leary Sullivan from the League of Minnesota Cities gave an overview of the open
meeting law. O'Leary Sullivan discussed electronic communication and advised e-mails that are
sent or forwarded to several commissioners (even if sent individually) violates the open meeting law
if city business is discussed and they are sent to a number of commissioners that would satisfy a
quorum. Liability for violating the open meeting law falls on individual commissioners.
O'Leary Sullivan advised open meetings can be closed if protected data is going to be discussed.
OLD BUSINESS:
iNeighbor Setup and Calendaring option for GVHRC
Commissioner Yahle recommended this topic be tabled considering the information presented by
O'Leary Sullivan concerning the open meeting law. Chief Altonen advised she will obtain more
information about iNeighbor and will present it at the next meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
I. Executive Committee
Chair Jordan advised the executive meeting discussed creating a Human Rights
Commission logo. Mayor Loomis sent a response indicating the city would not support a
distinct logo for HRC. Chair Jordan stated the executive committee inquired if a juvenile
could join the commission as a member and Mayor Loomis indicated she would support
waiving the residential requirement if a juvenile were interested that did not reside in the city.
Chief Altonen recommended the executive committee make a written proposal of this
change to the commission by-laws. Commissioner Dykstra recommended partnering with
the Hopkins Human Rights Commission to seek student members who reside in each city
for their respective commissions.
II. Nomination and Governance Committee
There was nothing new to report from this committee. Commissioner McConico advised he
has contacted a potential new member who is still considering an application.
III. League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission
Commissioner Dykstra advised the commission will be partnering with the Human Rights
Department of Minnesota to sponsor the statewide human rights meeting again in
December. Various speakers and workshops are planned. During the second half of the
year the commission intends to reach out to local commissions and offer specialized
services in case they are needed.
IV. Program Committees
Human Rights Community Issues
Chief Altonen advised there is nothing to report.
Share the Dream
There was nothing to report.
45th Anniversary of Golden Valley HRC
Commissioner Helland distributed materials from the 40th anniversary celebration as a
reference for planning the 45th anniversary celebration. The subcommittee continues work
to plan this event.
NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Dykstra stated she wished to discuss sponsoring community meeting on civility in
political discourse concerning the upcoming elections at the next HRC meeting.
Chief Altonen advised the e-mail group for HRC is only routed to her or Amanda Johnson for
inclusion on the next meeting agenda for discussion. Due to the open meeting law e-mails cannot
be routed to all commissioners.
Commissioner McConico advised juvenile members should be added as a topic to the next agenda.
Chief Altonen will research the legality of juvenile members and voting rights prior to the next
meeting.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 8th, beginning at 7PM.
ADJOURNMENT
Moved by Commissioner McConico, seconded by Commissioner Yahle to adjourn the meeting at
8:20 pm.